Hello,
After I had been notified that I was a QuestBridge Finalist, I have been unable to understand whether or not applying through QuestBridge is harder than only applying through the Common Application. I understand that being accepted through QuestBridge Regular Decision allows Finalists to, “Receive a very generous financial aid package that will meet 100% of your demonstrated financial need.” However, would it not be much more difficult to be matched to a college as a result of being promised a “very generous” financial aid package? I would suspect that it would be much harder for those applying through QuestBridge to be selected by a college as they are now competing both for admittance into college and a chance for a full-ride to the school they are matched to. The common application on the other hand will already list of my status as a QuestBridge Finalist and allow me to simply compete for admittance at top colleges for the price of some additional essays.
Am I thinking about this the wrong way? Because at this point, I cannot think of any way applying through QuestBridge would be easier than simply applying through the common application. I already have anxiety about whether or not I can make it into Ivy Leagues, wouldn’t I simply have a harder chance of getting in through this program?
@Scooby6363 The financial aid package you receive (applying QB Reg Decision vs through Common App) is identical. It is just another way to be admitted, allows you to use your QB app and not have to complete the Common App, and waives application fees. (The only chance you had for a full ride was to Match to the school.)
My son chose to apply Early Action at a school that is a QuestBridge school and therefore used the Common App (because QB only allows you to do Regular Decision). Applying Early Action (nonbinding) will allow him to hear his decision sooner than regular decision. He did list QuestBridge Finalist on his honors and activities. QB also told him that he could list his QuestBridge scholar ID # in the “Additional Comments” section of the COmmon App and then make the ‘reminder’ comment that they can go into the QB system with his ID if they would like to see his QB application also. All QuestBridge schools guarantee to meet 100% of demonstrated need for ALL applicants- so that is the "generous financial aid’ they are referring to when QB encourages you to apply Reg Decision.
@Scooby6363 Also, keep in mind that some Finalists aren’t planning to compete the Common App at all - they just choose to look at QB schools only and use their QB app and pick from those schools (free application, much less work since they aren’t planning to do the Common appl anyway). But again - the financial aid package they are offered is going to be the same at that point.
A number of the QB schools do require an additional writing supplement from all FINALISTS, however, when applying through QuestBridge. Depending on what schools you are considering, go into the QB website, select “Partners” then select your school. On each “school page” there is a tab for Admission Requirements and it will show, once you scroll down to the bottom for QB Regular Decision admission requirements, what they require from a QB Finalist seeking admission (if there is another writing supplement etc…)
Thanks so much for answering my question; I was very worried that it would be better for me to apply through the common application rather than QB.
My daughter’s experience was this… She did not get into a single school she applied to through Questbridge. She got into all the other schools she applied to, except two where she was waitlisted. She is now a happy sophomore at Cornell University. My take… if you do not have some other hook that may make you appealing, do not advertise the fact that you will need a lot of financial aid.
@dedex13 what schools did your daughter apply to through QB, if you don’t mind me asking?