National College Match - 2009-2010

<p>@tsprite: Thanks so much! I think this is valuable encouragement, and its been supported by the interviews with QB scholars Ju_liaa quoted in earlier posts.</p>

<p>Just a couple of thoughts. </p>

<p>tomjonesistheman, I would advise against making ANY of your essays about being low-income. Schools already know that because you are applying through QB. My D’s 800 word essay had one sentence referring in a discrete manner to income. I agree with the notion of not coming off as whiney. They want to hear about you, not your financial status.</p>

<p>Another thought, whether or not you participated in the QB prep scholarship will not have a bearing on your match process. Once you are a finalist, the schools choose you, not QB.</p>

<p>I also want to say that I have met tsprite (and her wonderful mom) in person several times, and she exemplifies why QB exists. If you read last years QB thread you can see her story.</p>

<p>Well i wouldn’t completely ignore your situation either (financially or otherwise). If you spend hours taking care of a younger sibling because your parents work or you have to work yourself, and this somehow relates to any one of your essays, why not talk about it? If you had an abusive father and you and your other parent over came that, why not mention it? </p>

<p>My point is that questbridge is about persevering against the odds and not feeling sorry for yourself, so treat your situation as fact, not misfortune, but don’t necessarily be afraid to use it. </p>

<p>Anyways that’s my philosophy at the moment…</p>

<p>I agree, Ju_liaa. I think it’s imperative to discuss some of your hardships in the QB essay. QB even advises you to write about overcoming financial hardships in your essays (located in student resources section). That’s kinda the whole purpose.</p>

<p>While I agree with Ju_liaa and lsjny09, I think that it is very important to not come off as feeling too sorry for yourself; the point is to show that you haven’t let yourself be pulled down by your hardships, but rather overcome them to the best of your abilities.</p>

<p>There are a great many ways to speak of yourself in an essay. If you have challenged hardship with great resolve, and refuse to acknowledge it as part of you, but rather a blockade to success, the admissions committee will see that shine through your essay. On the other hand, if you let the financial aspects of life pull you down, it will be equally obvious.</p>

<p>@GA2012MOM: I think the real “advantage” to being a CPS recipient is the fact that it gives you added preparation specifically for the admissions process. The QB website says that it “probably” gives you an advantage, but as you put it, the colleges aren’t going to be evaluating you the same way as QB did for the finalist process, as they have their own needs.</p>

<p>Well said, alexandra :)</p>

<p>Yea, very good advice. Thanks!
So for the CPS essay I wrote about one of my family members and how he inspired me to do things, etc.
But the topic was “A range of academic interests, personal perspectives, and life experiences adds much to the educational mix. Given your background, please describe an experience that illustrates what you would bring to the diversity in a college community, or an encounter that demonstrated the importance of diversity to you.” </p>

<p>Does this work? Questbridge automatically transferred the essay onto the application. Should I keep it? I got the CPS thing and I think its a very well-written essay, but the topic doesn’t seem to fit…is that alright? Or should I incorporate this into my 800 word biographical essay? Thanks!</p>

<p>When they say “biographical” essay, do they want us to write an overview of our lives (like one of those biographies we had to do in history class and whatnot) or can we make it more like a narrative and elaborate on one “piece of puzzle” and try to show who we are by detailing a specific incident (like a memorable dinner I had with my mom), rather than “Born in <strong><em>, I moved to </em></strong> at the age of _<strong><em>, when my parents were _</em></strong>”</p>

<p>And also, will the QB application be used only in determining finalists or is it used by colleges also?</p>

<p>I think the biographical should focus on one event…
and the QB app will be used by colleges to determine if you are matched or not.</p>

<p>On my application, I think I clicked submit twice for one of my teacher recommenders, so his name is showing up twice on the list…is this okay? Should I contact QB about it?</p>

<p>You should probably contact them and ask, though even if it ends up showing twice it’s not a big deal.</p>

<p>And the autobiographical is pretty much write about yourself, what makes you you, specific event that made you who you are, something you’ve doen that made you grow, etc etc</p>

<p>It’s so broad that i think you have to work hard to make it cliche. Just make sure htat the main focus of the essay is, in fact, you. </p>

<p>Also before submitting anything, i think it’s really really important to get everything proof-read. I mean we are battleing for spots at top schools, so bad grammar is a horrible reason for not making it.</p>

<p>Anywhoo, are you guys working on the CommonApp/ Suplemments at the same time? I am. >_< Annoyingg</p>

<p>Tomjonesistheman: I am so confused. Are you doing CPS or match this year? You can’t do both right?</p>

<p>Hmm ok can someone answer my previous question? Thanks…
So for the CPS 500 word essay I wrote about one of my family members and how he inspired me to do things, etc.
But the topic was “A range of academic interests, personal perspectives, and life experiences adds much to the educational mix. Given your background, please describe an experience that illustrates what you would bring to the diversity in a college community, or an encounter that demonstrated the importance of diversity to you.”</p>

<p>Does this work? Questbridge automatically transferred the essay onto the application. Should I keep it? I got the CPS thing and I think its a very well-written essay, but the topic doesn’t seem to fit…is that alright? Or should I incorporate this into my 800 word biographical essay? Thanks!</p>

<p>EDIT: Oh, I did CPS summer 2009, and I attended the Stanford conference…so now I am applying to Match…</p>

<p>Tomjonesistheman: </p>

<p>The way you’re making your CPS essay sound gives me the impretion that it doesnt completely satisfy the requirements of the new essay. If that is the case then i wouldn’t suggest rewriting the one you already have, but altering it just enough to fit the new criteria. Unless you have any other ideas you’d like to write about, there wouldn’t be a point in totally replacing a well written essay.</p>

<p>alexandra, are you an applicant also? or were you an applicant last year? if the latter, can I have you edit/proof-read my essay sometime?</p>

<p>OMGG i’m totally spazzing out right now. I emailed my counserlor and teachers about the recom letters a while ago, and have gotten no response >_<</p>

<p>My school year starts on the 10th this year, which is horrible. Too late in the month really…and if i tell the on the frist day of school they’ll be like THIS ISN’T ENOUGH TIME…even though i told thembefore this summer started too. </p>

<p>Kill me now.</p>

<p>I still need to ask my counselor and one teacher. My school starts on the 9th…■■■…</p>

<p>Guys i have a question. If you apply to UPenn business school, are you actually guaranteed a spot at their business school? Or just for the university and then you have to ask them for admitance for the specific school? So confused T_T</p>

<p>^^ Tometc…Why did QB ‘transfer’ your College Prep essay to your College Match Finalist app?? I was CPS (Yale Conf.) and they didn’t transfer my essay? </p>

<p>I wrote new for this year’s app! and I’m not punching ANY buttons until maybe a few days before due date! so app. reads ‘in progress’ …& there’s time to change and proof…</p>

<p>Yep - working the common app & supplements too…Maybe 11 essays to write…I’m not 1/2 there…getting all the forms done and envelopes addressed and sorting everything is a real pain!
I check and keep seeing more stuff to do!</p>

<p>Apps ++Working, self study for Chem SAT =not much relax summertime!</p>