Official 2008 Questbridge National College Match Discussion and Help

Applying to College
201

<p>In your case, I think it would depend on how much you want to apply to QB's other partner schools early. If you're sure Stanford is your first choice, you can apply SCEA, while also filling out the QuestBridge application and asking them to forward your application to certain universities RD.</p>

<p>It might be possible to submit the Common App, arts supplement, etc. by October 15th, for the SCEA deadline, but still participate in the Match process. You should contact Stanford and QuestBridge about this, as I am not sure this would be allowed.</p>

202

<p>The app is finally up. Good luck, everyone.</p>

203

<p>testing requirements?</p>

<p>why do some schools want
SAT and 2 Subject
or
ACT</p>

<p>why is ACT by itself, why don't they require subject test with those?
and, are subject test really important or is the SAT reasoning more important</p>

<p>what if I get a really high score in the ACT 34-36 and SAT Subject 750-800?</p>

<p>or stick with my current subject test scores 720,620,600 and improve my SAT score which is 1980</p>

<p>... I can only take the SAT one more time before the questbridge deadline</p>

204

<p>my areas gpa goes above a 5.0 can i put that gpa for the application?</p>

205

<p>1) What if I have more than 6 (which is the max you can put in the online application) AP scores? Where should I put the others (they are all the same score)?</p>

<p>2) Is there a place we can upload additional info for Questbridge? Or should we save it after we are a finalist and submitting our supplements to the colleges we ranked?</p>

206

<p>If you can, take the ACT twice before the colleges review your application for the College Match, do so (September and October date). You will have to figure out which schools require which scores, and if you don't have them, unfortunately, you can't apply for the College Match (for Regular Decision you can though, if you get them by then). Every school has different required testing: QuestBridge</a> College Match Program - Required Standardized Tests </p>

<p>Note, however, that for the QuestBridge Finalist Selection process they can only review the scores that you have RIGHT NOW. In your case, this isn't a big problem. From what i have read they search for two things: overcoming obstacles (socioeconomic related) and strong academic performance (which your SAT scores show). The criteria can be read here: National</a> College Match - Selection Criteria</p>

<p>i hope i helped.</p>

<p>As for your GPA, they ask for unweighted GPA (on a 4.0 scale) weighted GPA (which is where your above 5.0 GPA would go) and class rank. The former gives them information about all your scholastic grades and the latter two allows them to compare you to your peers</p>

207

<p>There is a place where you can input "additional information." They are very flexible, allowing you 500 words to clarify anything you want. This would be the ideal place to fit other AP scores.</p>

208

<p>NOTE FOR EVERYONE: </p>

<p>THE APPLICATION IS ONLINE!!!!!!!!!</p>

<p>register for a new account - QuestBridge</a> National College Match Program | QuestBridge - to view the real application for 2008.</p>

209

<p>Carlos, sorry if I seem slow but do you know where exactly the additional info spot is?</p>

210

<p>Sandra33162:</p>

<p>
[quote]
why is ACT by itself, why don't they require subject test with those?

[/quote]
</p>

<p>I’d need to know which schools you’re talking about. Where did you see this?</p>

<p>Generally, it’s the SAT or the ACT+writing. If subject tests are required, you typically need to take them regardless of whether you take the SAT or the ACT.</p>

<p>
[quote]
and, are subject test really important or is the SAT reasoning more important

[/quote]
</p>

<p>I would say SAT reasoning scores tend to be more important.</p>

<p>
[quote]
what if I get a really high score in the ACT 34-36 and SAT Subject 750-800?

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Those are strong scores.</p>

<p>
[quote]
or stick with my current subject test scores 720,620,600 and improve my SAT score which is 1980

[/quote]
</p>

<p>It depends on where you’re applying. If you’re shooting for the ultra-selective schools like Yale, then you should probably improve both your SAT score and your subject test scores (generally, any score above a 700 is good). However, if you had to improve one of the two, it would be the SAT reasoning.</p>

<p>
[quote]
... I can only take the SAT one more time before the questbridge deadline

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Another option is to take the ACT, and if you do better on it than you did on the SAT, you wouldn’t need to take the SAT again (they’d consider your ACT instead). That way, you can take the subject tests as well.</p>

<p>
[quote]
my areas gpa goes above a 5.0 can i put that gpa for the application?

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Unfortunately, no. You need to recalculate your GPA based on normal standards. QuestBridge specifically has a scale:</p>

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

<p>laststopforme:</p>

<p>
[quote]
2) Is there a place we can upload additional info for Questbridge? Or should we save it after we are a finalist and submitting our supplements to the colleges we ranked?

[/quote]
</p>

<p>You wouldn't exactly upload it, but write it in a field; this is where you could put your additional AP scores. There might be (and should be) an additional info box, but I can’t seem to find it on last year’s printed application. Check all the links and sub-links in the new application.</p>

211

<p>Yup, I found it. </p>

<p>Also is a photo necessary? It seems that most people who were matched last year had one...</p>

212

<p>laststopforme, a photo is not necessary for your application. The ones one the website were submitted after the match. Questbridge asks for a picture and photo and that time.</p>

213

<p>@ GA2012MOM, that makes sense. I thought that maybe having a photo was correlated with getting accepted in the Match process (guess not)</p>

<p>I feel like I'm hogging up this thread...but just curious - did many of your teachers use the online form or requested the printout?</p>

214

<p>Obviously, they were not "my teachers" but my DD teachers did use the online form. Questbridge is very generous and grateful to those teachers, as they sent them a huge plaque to recognize them upon my DD match! Both teachers have them hanging in their classroom, so it is beneficial to students to ask what it is and then apply, as our school does not know what the Questbridge program is.</p>

215

<p>
[quote]
Also is a photo necessary? It seems that most people who were matched last year had one...

[/quote]
</p>

<p>From what a staff member told me, the only reason they ask for a photo is for your profile if you get matched. It isn't used for finalist/admission purposes.</p>

<p>
[quote]
did many of your teachers use the online form or requested the printout?

[/quote]
</p>

<p>I actually didn't know that they could use the online form--the year before I applied, that was the only method, but the year I applied, I was told my teachers had to fax in the forms (which is what caused a lot of chaos last year).</p>

<p>Also, to all those who have questions about QB, if they are not personal, try to post them on this thread instead of PMing me directly. That way others can read them too. :)</p>

216

<p>Is it just me or does that 800 word biographical essay seem VERY intimidating? Boy, do I have a lot of work to do!</p>

217

<p>
[quote]
Is it just me or does that 800 word biographical essay seem VERY intimidating?

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Really, don't let it be. Let that essay be the one in which you speak with complete earnest, that you write with complete freedom, that you articulate without worry of judgment. Of course, make it appropriate, but it's such a broad topic that you can take it in any direction you want, and you can write meaningfully since it's your own (often very personal) experience.</p>

<p>See posts #73 and #75.</p>

<p><a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-admissions/508411-official-2008-questbridge-national-college-match-discussion-help-5.html%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-admissions/508411-official-2008-questbridge-national-college-match-discussion-help-5.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

218

<p>Yeah, the problem I'm having with Questbridge is that it is so suffocating with its character/word limits - I dont have ENOUGH space. Though it does make me think a lot about word choice, how to cut down sentences, etc</p>

219

<p>
[quote]
Yeah, the problem I'm having with Questbridge is that it is so suffocating with its character/word limits - I dont have ENOUGH space. Though it does make me think a lot about word choice, how to cut down sentences, etc

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Sorry to say, but if QuestBridge's application is "suffocating," you have a rough road ahead--QuestBridge is very generous with its space, in comparison to the often very stingy college and scholarship applications. The only other college application that I can think of that compares to QuestBridge's essays is Stanford's (Common App + supplement); not even HYP's are as detailed.</p>

220

<p>I'd like to remind QuestBridge applicants (and general college applicants, even) of the invaluable resources that QuestBridge offers students, notably the essay help:</p>

<p>QuestBridge:</a> Applying to College</p>