Hello All. I have been up for the day, nervous, and cramming through information all about Questbridge and it’s process. I am currently traveling in Asia and received a text from my daughter that she was selected as a " Finalist " back on 10/19. Her matched schools are Princeton, Columbia, and Duke. So exactly was does it mean? Her announcement said " now that you are a finalist, you will officially be considered for a full 4 year QB National College Match Scholarship ". I am having an emotional mess right now wondering about everything. She is too busy to return my text and I can’t call QB because it’s the weekend. So she now has to apply for Princeton before Nov 1. Is there a chance that my dream could be crushed if she gets rejected by Princeton? What could go wrong? Is it a shoe in? The word " considered " frightens me. My daughter is an academic beast and such a well rounded person. She worked so hard for everything. Please please let me know if this dream of any parent can come true. I am so nervous I can’t think straight. Thank you. Alex
Only a small percentage of QB finalists are matched. So yes, she may be rejected.
Questbridge FAQs provide that in 2016, approximately 5,000 students were selected as finalists. Of those 5,000, 767 matched and another 1,800 got accepted to a partner school through RD. Odds are very long. And I’d imagine the percentage that gets matched to Princeton is probably as low as their regular admissions number given the overall 15% match rate and inclusion of schools with higher match rates, comparatively speaking (look at how few are matched to Princeton each year compared to some of the other partners). Good luck to your daughter!
Look at post #242 of this thread for number of students matched to each partner.
Looks like Princeton takes a significant number of finalists for around an 8% chance of being selected.
Again, good luck to your D!
Like others have mentioned, please read more about what a QB finalist entails. There were over 5000 students selected. “Considered” is the key word, no different than if she were applying regularly. If she doesn’t get selected she is not rejected, she will be deferred to regular decision with the masses. Shoe in? Not even remotely close. What could go wrong? Basically, you misunderstanding what the finalist status really means. She has not been matched anywhere yet. Being a finalist means she has qualified to be considered to be matched.
Also, you do understand that if she is matched with Columbia or Duke she is required to attend that school, correct?
Your daughter is a finalist, which means her application will now be forwarded to the colleges she ranked. Assuming she submits all her supplemental materials by November 1st (such as the FAFSA, CSS Profile, writing supplements for each college) she will be considered for admission at each of these schools. On December 1st, she will find out if she was matched with Princeton, Duke, Columbia, or none. The majority of finalists do not match with a school, and since these 3 schools are extremely selective, no one is a shoe in. Depending on the school, she may have to opportunity to do early decision if she doesn’t match. If not, she will apply regular decision (and hopefully also apply to some safety schools). The 4 year scholarship is only guaranteed through the match (the one where you hear back dec. 1) and they are provided by the schools themselves, not Questbridge. However, all Questbridge schools meet 100% of demonstrated need, so while you may not receive a 4 year scholarship (or you might! I don’t know about the policies for these specific schools but some QB schools have free tuition for families under a certain income), the financial aid should be very generous.
I wouldn’t worry too much about your daughter. If she’s a finalist, she must be very mature and hardworking. Rejection is part of the process for most applicants, Questbridge or not. Being matched with a school is ideal, but keep in mind that there will be other opportunities to reapply, and that there are many amazing Questbridge partner schools that are not Princeton or the other schools she’s ranked- Yale, Dartmouth, Stanford, Amherst, Wellesley, and MANY more.
Congrats to her for being a finalist! I’m a finalist as well and I know how confusing the QB process can be, as I’ve had to explain it to my teachers, family, and friends.
OP I would suggest you look at this from two very different angles. Two possible outcomes:
Dec 1 – your daughter is matched! Yay! She is obligated to attend the very wonderful school which she ranked in her order of preference. She is guaranteed a full four year scholarship…AND she is done with the college search (imagine the relief!)
Dec 1 – the reality for the vast majority of QB finalists – she is not matched. Have a Plan B. Is there one particular school with generous need-based aid which she likes best, and if so, is there still time for an ED 2 round? Do the schools on her “long list” accept the forwarded QB app? Are there supplements she has to write to send them?
And…have a Plan C. Are there QB schools where her stats are in the top quarter and whose aid is still generous enough for her to attend through RD? Did she visit a couple of non QB schools which she likes (demonstrated interest)? Did she apply to a state school, maybe an honors program? Talking out the scenarios with your D can help both of you to be prepared.
It is an intense time. I am also an emptional mess at times, and this is our second round with QB. It is going really well for your D. Just be sure to take time – quality time – to check in with her regularly so you can share it with her, every step of the way.
Thank you all. Much greatly appreciated!!! We can always hope, right?