Low test scores and Questbridge Schools?

Paying for College Access Programs (Questbridge, Posse)
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Hi everyone. I found out today that I am a questbridge finalist. I have ranked Brown, Princeton, Columbia, Dartmouth, Rice, Stanford, and Vanderbilt but I have low test scores. Please let me know if I have any shot at being matched.

I am a latina, native-cuban immigrant. I will be first gen high school grad and first to ever go to college. I am also low income (~35k). Other “hooks” would be I was homeless for two years throughout my childhood and my father is disabled and unemployed. I go to a Title 1 public school (very poor school with little funding and in bad neighborhood).

Intended Major: Biochemistry
GPA: uw 3.95 and w 8.34. Number 1 in my class of 400.
ACT: 29 highest comp, 31 SS

I have 17 AP courses including my current courses and take dual enrollment classes, I will be graduating with my associates degree as well (4.0 college GPA)

I am in the Early Childhood Education program and will be getting my national certification this year.

EC’s:

  1. 984 Community Service hours. As a freshman I created a free program to teach English to Spanish speakers and give them U.S. Citizenship classes. I was able to help 7 of my students pass their citizenship exam.
  1. Senior Class Council President c/o 2020
  2. Student Environmental Action League board member for the Florida Aquarium
  3. GSA vice president (sophomore) and president (junior, youngest president ever)
  4. Spanish National Honor Society, Science National Honor Society, National English Honor Society, National Art Honor Society, Mu Alpha Theta, and NHS president (12th).
  5. Member of AMSA at my community college
  6. Founder of a Hispanic Aide Community Center
  7. Student Representative for non-profit
  8. Work two jobs, manager at one of them. Needed to pay bills.
  9. Lead teacher and preschool manager for the early childhood program

Awards:

  1. Questbridge CPS (now a finalist)
  2. Scholastic Writing Award Silver Key for a poem detailing the struggles of immigration.
  3. Anne Frank Humanitarian Award
  4. Young Woman of Promise
  5. West Point Society Seminar Leader
  6. NHI full scholarship recipient, graduated program with distinction and two honors cords
  7. “Be the Change” school-based award for leadership
  8. Volunteer of the Year (3x)
  9. AP Scholar
  10. Latina with the highest GPA in my county’s history (my county was established in the 1800s)
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First, congrats on finalist!

(I’m a finalist too, thought I would share my 2 cents) We are on the same boat regarding test scores. My highest composite is a 30 and 31 ss (1250 with 1300 ss sat).

We actually share a lot of common ecs and stats! Stuco President, nhs, mu alpha theta, 4.0, latino, College prep scholars, but you have much, much more impressive awards! You also took 17 aps :stuck_out_tongue: I took 1 (i have 60 or so college hours and I’m considered a college sophomore)

In my opinion, you have a really good chance at getting matched! As long as you wrote really good essays, I wouldn’t worry about your test scores getting In your way. I’ve read of a lot of matched students (stanford being most notable) with low 30s. A friend got a 29 and was matched to Duke! After all, Questbridge is her to help underrepresented high achieving students attain a higher education at an elite university. (Average act is 28-32, your act is smack in the middle, even a bit higher)

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Thank you! I wish you the best of luck in everything :smiley: !! If you have reddit, my user is u/kamylam so feel free to message me anytime and we can stress out over supplements