Official 2008 Questbridge National College Match Discussion and Help

<p>^ Yup...though my school is closed :(</p>

<p>Well, I don't think the apps are due for a bit, and if you sent them a note explaining that the transcript might be a little late (by no fault of your own), then I'm sure they'd understand.</p>

<p>Hi, great job kyledavid80 has done with this thread! My DD got a match to her #1 choice this past year, so I have a little knowledge about it. l'm sorry if this was discussed earlier, I scanned through but didn't see it. If you are NOT a finalist, they will still forward your application to the partner colleges, but you need to know that ALL QB partners do not waive the application fee for non-finalists, at least that is how it read last year. There was a chart somewhere on the QB link, but I am techno-stupid, and couldn't link it if I found it.</p>

<p>QB gives you a great opportunity to showcase yourself more than other apps. Do be prepared if you are a finalist to have all of your materials for the partners you chose ready, as you have VERY LITTLE TIME to submit them.</p>

<p>I don't remember who asked about taking the SAT or ACT later, but there is a cutoff date on the website that will tell you when the last testing date or reporting date will be. DD had mediocre SAT scores when app was submitted, but then got back her much better ACT score, and she faxed the online copy to them. Good luck all!</p>

<p>Thanks, GA2012MOM. I remember last year when your D was matched. :)</p>

<p>By the way, here's the chart you spoke of:</p>

<p>National</a> College Match Program Overview Diagram</p>

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Do be prepared if you are a finalist to have all of your materials for the partners you chose ready, as you have VERY LITTLE TIME to submit them.

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</p>

<p>Yes, that's very true; you have about a week, so you should be working on the other applications (if they're required for the schools you're applying to--check <a href="http://questbridge.org/cmp/college_requirements.html)%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://questbridge.org/cmp/college_requirements.html)&lt;/a>. I think this is one of the pitfalls of the Match process, but I'd say it's definitely worth it, since you'd probably be applying to these schools anyway (early or not)--the Match deadline just makes sure you finish them early. (In fact, I've heard many past QB applicants say that QB making them finish apps early was one of the big pluses in the long run.)</p>

<p>Here's also the FAQ about the cutoff testing date:</p>

<p>National</a> College Match Program: FAQ</p>

<p>Question about the "official score reports" for Questbridge - do these have to be from Collegeboard? Wouldn't that mean we would have to purchase them from Collegeboard over the summer or early Sept so it arrives in time for the application deadline?</p>

<p>And a second question - is there an "additional info" section on the Questbridge application?</p>

<p>i can answer your second question:</p>

<p>Yes, for explaining "extenuating circumstances." I advise everyone applying through Questbridge to briefly address below-excellent academic performance, rather than dedicate a whole essay to the topic. Nobody likes whiners or people who dismiss their failures with excuses.</p>

<p>They updated the dates on their website: (note!)</p>

<p>August 15, 2008</p>

<p>National College Match application becomes available online.</p>

<p>September 30, 2008</p>

<p>The National College Match application is due at 11:59 p.m., Pacific Time.</p>

<p>October 5, 2008</p>

<p>Final college rankings for the College Match process are due at 11:59 p.m., Pacific Time.</p>

<p>October 10, 2008</p>

<p>Match agreement due at 11:59 p.m., Pacific Time.</p>

<p>October 24, 2008</p>

<p>Applicants are notified of their finalist standing.</p>

<p>Finalists are given instructions about how to proceed. Applicants not chosen as finalists should proceed with their Early Decision, Early Action and/or Regular Decision applications.</p>

<p>November 3, 2008</p>

<p>Finalists must submit required documents to the colleges that they have ranked. See College Specific Requirements for deadlines and details.</p>

<p>December 1, 2008</p>

<p>Finalists notified of College Match results.</p>

<p>Students who are not matched may apply to QuestBridge's partner colleges through the Regular Decision process. See the Regular Decision Process page.</p>

<p>December 15, 2008</p>

<p>Deadline for Regular Decision application forwarding requests.</p>

<p>January 1, 2009</p>

<p>Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) forms become available online and in your counselor's office. This must be filled out according to particular college requirements.</p>

<p>
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Question about the "official score reports" for Questbridge - do these have to be from Collegeboard?

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<p>You self-report your scores on the application. You send official score reports to the colleges that you're applying to in the Match program.</p>

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is there an "additional info" section on the Questbridge application?

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<p>I don't see any on the printed application from last year, but it's possible there is. You'll have to check this year's out (judging from the site, it looks as though it's already out, but maybe not--it was out a little early last year).</p>

<p>Thanks for the replies.</p>

<p>oh and kyledavid, I don't think the new application is up yet...I've checked around the website for a bit</p>

<p>Do you have an account with QuestBridge?</p>

<p>QuestBridge</a> National College Match - The Application</p>

<p>That used to have a link to the old application, but it doesn't anymore. Perhaps they are just preparing for the new application season, as the application deadline on that page is updated to 2008.</p>

<p>^ Yes, I do (because I did the college prep scholarship) but no link. I think they were just updating</p>

<p>The application is coming out this Friday.</p>

<p>Also - does anyone know whether UChicago is binding or not? I remember reading somewhere it wasn't but the Questbridge FAQ doesn't list UChicago as one of the non-binding colleges</p>

<p>Another question - what sort of financial information should I start asking for? Just the 2007 fed income tax returns + schedules, attachments, W-2s, etc.?</p>

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Also - does anyone know whether UChicago is binding or not?

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<p>It is binding.</p>

<p>
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what sort of financial information should I start asking for? Just the 2007 fed income tax returns + schedules, attachments, W-2s, etc.?

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</p>

<p>That sounds about right.</p>

<p>I believe you can start the CSS profile now--it's never too early to start that. All the documents required through that are, I believe, generally what's required for financial aid (except perhaps school-specific forms, which you'll have to check individually). Remember, though, that unless your family has a very low income, the CSS profile costs money, per school. I know someone whose family made $25,000/year (no assets) and who had to pay to send the CSS profile to all her schools. Someone else, who makes about $15,000/year, did not.</p>

<p>i also got an invitation to the WOW and Swarthmore’s all expense paid visit and i have some questions</p>

<p>someone said earlier that questbridge was somehow a part of the campus visits this year. what exactly is their involvement?</p>

<p>who decides which students go, the college or questbridge? and who picked the students to receive the applications? did every CPS winner who was nominated get an invitation? or do the colleges just pick and choose who they want?</p>

<p>Somewhere I read that 200 students were sent applications - I think the school sends them but they may get the names from Questbridge, but I'm not sure. Are you applying to both?</p>

<p>Might as well. It’s free after all and the application doesn’t take that long. Who knows maybe I’ll fall in love with one of them. I do want to go to Swarthmore’s because it will give me the opportunity to look at other colleges in the Philly area. </p>

<p>What about you?</p>

<p>Pretty excited about both - I hope I get to go!</p>

<p>BananaSandwich15:</p>

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someone said earlier that questbridge was somehow a part of the campus visits this year. what exactly is their involvement?

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<p>This year, the campus visits are a formal part of the College Prep Scholarship packages that QuestBridge gives. Previously, they were between the student and the college (though with QuestBridge’s help in contacting the students).</p>

<p>QuestBridge</a> College Prep Scholarship - Awards</p>

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who decides which students go, the college or questbridge?

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<p>The college decides who goes. You send your completed application for the program to the college that invited you. They will send you notification a few weeks later telling you whether you were chosen for the visit. </p>

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and who picked the students to receive the applications?

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<p>The colleges use the CPS application to decide who should receive applications.</p>

<p>While the CPS says that 30 students (minimum) will get the invitation (to apply and to visit), many more will actually get it, as in the past. According to this, it’s 250+.</p>

<p>QuestBridge</a> College Prep Scholarship - Campus Visits</p>

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did every CPS winner who was nominated get an invitation?

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<p>No, only some.</p>

<p>I recommend you apply only to the programs that you are sure you would go to if accepted—the same logic in applying to colleges. (Though, of course, if you are unsure whether it will be completely feasible to go at the time, you can and should still apply.)</p>

<p>Good luck to those applying! :)</p>

<p>My main goal is to get into Stanford. I was planning on applying SCEA and turning in my application by October 15th so they can review my cd for the art supplement. It's just that now I want to apply using the Questbridge application, but the thing is if i don't even make it as a finalist i'll only know by October 24th. Then it will be too late to turn in my application SCEA. Do you think it'll be worth it to still apply with a Questbridge application?</p>