Official 2008 Questbridge National College Match Discussion and Help

<p>MattsMomFL: You're welcome! I hope you and your son do not rule out any schools thinking that he just can't get into them. He sounds like a neat young man whom I think colleges would love to have, and QuestBridge offers him the perfect opportunity to show them exactly who he is. Again, best wishes to the both of you this season! :)</p>

<p>alexblake:</p>

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what percentage of QB finalist are matched?

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<p>Roughly 11%.</p>

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Why would a low income student apply to top schools through QB when if that student will recieve an almost full scholarship from such schools if admitted?

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<p>Plenty of reasons:</p>

<p>1) You are guaranteed a full, four-year scholarship. Some of the scholarship packages guaranteed through QB are better than the general ones they give to low-income students, depending on the school.</p>

<p>2) Applying through QB flags you automatically as a high-achieving, low-income student. As Tom Parker, Dean of Admissions and Financial Aid at Amherst, said:</p>

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The moment you are identified as a QuestBridge applicant, you are prioritized in a way that very few applicants are. When you're a QuestBridge student, you're in a priority bin. They've got a leg up in a way that perhaps an athlete or legacy would have a leg up.

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<p>3) There is evidence that QB finalists have an easier time getting into QB schools in the RD round. Roughly 700 got in RD, or nearly half of the finalists. That does not even count the number of acceptances--just the number of students who got in to some QB school RD (many students were accepted to more than 1 QB school).</p>

<p>4) You can apply to more than 1 school ED in the Match round. It's essentially ED for low-income students (and ED has historically put low-income students at a disadvantage), but some of them are more like EA (Stanford, Yale, Notre Dame, Princeton, MIT--they are non-binding).</p>

<p>5) The QB application allows much more flexibility. It's designed specifically for the needs of low-income students; thus, it gives specific space to expand on family income, family relationships (which are often troubled for low-income students), and so on. The essays, too, give more space for students to elaborate on the context they've grown up in, such as the 800-word biographical essay (which is broader than most essays and gives much more space than the typical 500-word essays on the Common App), as well as the two shorter essays and the many short short answers.</p>

<p>6) QuestBridge offers you so many resources to succeed--from the newsletters they send out, to the college opportunities (support, similar students, etc.) they connect you to, to the network they offer, and so on.</p>

<p>Oh gosh, I'm becoming even more paranoid! I've asked this before, but now that I started the QB application, I got a bit confused when it told me to rank the schools I wanted to be considered for through the Match, and then to check which schools I wanted my application forwarded to. So, even if I am not a finalist (basically, if QB wants NOTHING to do with me,) they will still send in my QB app to the schools i checked for it to be forwarded to (of course, I would have to send in the Common App as necessary.)</p>

<p>All applications are forwarded, regardless of finalist status, but the decision to evaluate your Questbridge application is entirely up to each individual school. </p>

<p>For example, last year, Amherst would allow you to use QuestBridge application to replace theirs(with a supplement), regardless of whether you became a finalist or not. Whereas Columbia, if you didn't become a finalist, wouldn't even read the QuestBridge application (they requested that you copy and paste information onto their app). The table for last year's Regular Decision requirements: QuestBridge</a> National College Match - Regular Decision Table</p>

<p>They say this year's table will be posted "in early September." (Arg)</p>

<p>Carlosd3co, is that what this means:</p>

<p>If you have submitted the Columbia application as a finalist, you will automatically be considered for Regular Decision unless you contact Columbia and request to withdraw your application. </p>

<p>?</p>

<p>Also, can I apply to one of the QB partner schools ED (seperate from QB)?</p>

<p>^ No. You have to choose ED or Questbridge</p>

<p>So...if you're not match through QB, does that mean you are rejected from the schools on your list? (Sorry if this has been asked before.)</p>

<p>@AmbitiousMind07 - Yeah, I think so. Though you could not be matched and still get in RD (much more likely scenario) so in a sense you are simply "deferred"</p>

<p>Hello there! I've come back to ask you more questions! I'm sorry for asking you again and again but for some reason, it just doesn't seem to end quick... please understand...</p>

<p>One thing I was a bit confused about was the fact that we are SELF-REPORTING the sat scores and fthe financial information. Do I need to send in the "official" sat scores from collegeboard as well as the copies of 2007 tax returns in order to verify my claims? I just thought it was rather weird on QB's part to trust students like that? Not that people would really lie about them, but perhaps they did? </p>

<p>Another thing, could I repeat the Questbridge essays for my common apps? Could there be a penalty for repeats? I'm sorry if this question has been asked before...</p>

<p>Thanks again(although I know this isn't enough!) and please take care~</p>

<p>"Another thing, could I repeat the Questbridge essays for my common apps? Could there be a penalty for repeats? I'm sorry if this question has been asked before..."</p>

<p>Yup, you can - or at least I am. I don't think there's a penalty.</p>

<p>As for the self-reporting part...there really is no incentive whatsoever to lie about them and I don't think anyone has in the past. If you are made a finalist, the Questbridge partner schools require official reports from Collegeboard as well as your parents' 1040's + W-2's + earnings schedules. Besides, if you are caught lying - there goes your chances out the window</p>

<p>"Applying through QB flags you automatically as a high-achieving, low-income student"
but couldn't you show this in your essays? just wondering..
Does Quest Bridge rank students according to their financial needs as well?<br>
should I apply through QB even if my academic/extraciricular records may be stronger if I apply regular?</p>

<p>"should I apply through QB even if my academic/extraciricular records may be stronger if I apply regular?"</p>

<p>I'm debating with a somewhat similar dilemma. My advice: apply to QuestBridge with whatever you have now and rank colleges that you are SURE you would attend if matched (this is assuming you have all the required testing done - QuestBridge</a> College Match Program - Required Standardized Tests ) and keep improving your academic record-retaking SATs, improving your GPA, etcetera.</p>

<p>Send in the QuestBridge application no matter what. Even if you aren't matched, the essays will provide college admission officers in the partner colleges valuable information about your background-which just might make the difference between a rejection and acceptance in the regular decision round.</p>

<p>"Does Quest Bridge rank students according to their financial needs as well? "</p>

<p>I don't believe "rank" would be the word they would use if you asked questbridge this question. I'm not an admission officer but if you asked them this question they would probably respond with something like this:</p>

<p>All applicants are considered HOLISTICALLY. Read the finalist selection criteria: National</a> College Match - Selection Criteria .</p>

<p>thanks for the responses everyone. So QB applicants are never rejected in the early round, they're either admitted or deferred?
can I send in supplments (eg. an extra rec, a research paper,ect) between the time when I submit my QB application and the time I am notified whether I am matched or not?
what are the downsides of applying through QB? I'm not trying to be negative , just want to know all the facts before applying.</p>

<p>jay123:</p>

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So, even if I am not a finalist (basically, if QB wants NOTHING to do with me,) they will still send in my QB app to the schools i checked for it to be forwarded to

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<p>I believe so. I have to get confirmation from QB, because the forwarding issue is a little fuzzy; the site emphasizes that applications are forwarded for the finalists who are not matched. However, I believe QB also forwards the application for those who did not become finalists and for matched finalists as well.</p>

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If you have submitted the Columbia application as a finalist, you will automatically be considered for Regular Decision unless you contact Columbia and request to withdraw your application.

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<p>If you submit it as a finalist, you will be considered for the Match; if you are matched to Columbia, your application is not forwarded to Columbia. If you are not matched, then your application is forwarded to Columbia and the other schools you checked off on the application.</p>

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Also, can I apply to one of the QB partner schools ED (seperate from QB)?

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<p>No. If you are going through the Match program, you may not apply to any other school early, QB partner or not. If you don’t go through the Match program—either you choose to opt out or you are not chosen as a finalist—then you can apply to a school early.</p>

<p>AmbitiousMind07:</p>

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if you're not match through QB, does that mean you are rejected from the schools on your list?

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<p>Short answer: no, it’s a deferral.</p>

<p>Long answer: A friend and I actually debated this. She argued that not getting matched is the same as being rejected, since it’s for a scholarship; I argued that it’s a deferral, since you’re vying for admission and a scholarship, and that you would be considered again (automatically) in the RD. She was assuming that they didn’t find that you, the unmatched finalist, needed the scholarship, so you were “rejected.” However, in many cases, the scholarship you’re offered in the RD round is as good as the one you would have gotten in the Match round (I got into Stanford RD, as well as some others, and the packages were as good as those listed in the Match scholarships on QB’s site), so they did find that you needed the scholarship. In short, it’s a deferral by definition.</p>

<p>unefille:</p>

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One thing I was a bit confused about was the fact that we are SELF-REPORTING the sat scores and fthe financial information. Do I need to send in the "official" sat scores from collegeboard as well as the copies of 2007 tax returns in order to verify my claims?

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<p>You self-report your scores on the QB application (and, depending on the requirements of the school, the additional applications necessary for the Match round). You do not send QB your official scores; you do, however, send an official score report to the colleges you rank.</p>

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I just thought it was rather weird on QB's part to trust students like that? Not that people would really lie about them, but perhaps they did?

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<p>Well, scores are not that important for choosing finalists; the average SAT score for finalists in 2007 was 1332 (CR+M). Plus, the colleges typically verify the scores and would probably alert QB if the student lied on their application.</p>

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Another thing, could I repeat the Questbridge essays for my common apps? Could there be a penalty for repeats?

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<p>You can. As long as it’s your own original work, that’s fine.</p>

<p>Here’s what Stanford had to say about it:</p>

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Yes. As long as all of the work is your own, you may copy and paste the same essay submitted through the QuestBridge application on to your Common Application with Stanford Supplement for submission online.

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

<p>I remember having read somewhere on the QB site that if given the extra space, it would be in your best interest to take advantage of that space, but of course you are not required to.</p>

<p>alexblake:</p>

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but couldn't you show this in your essays? just wondering..

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<p>You can. But if you did, then you wouldn’t have room to talk about other things. QB’s application gives you room to do both—it’s designed specifically for students like you. In addition, being part of QB puts you in a “priority bin”—you’re in a separate pool (though I think some schools just join the QB pool with the early pool when evaluating them). </p>

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Does Quest Bridge rank students according to their financial needs as well?

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<p>No. They take financial need into consideration when choosing finalists, of course, but they don’t necessarily rank students.</p>

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should I apply through QB even if my academic/extraciricular records may be stronger if I apply regular?

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<p>I’m not quite sure what you mean. How could they be stronger? You mean, in the few months between the QB deadline and the RD deadline, you’ll be able to accomplish more?</p>

<p>I think you should just apply to QB anyway—you aren’t losing anything, since you can’t be rejected in the Match round, and if you don’t get matched, you can just apply RD and update the colleges on your accomplishments.</p>

<p>I agree with Carlosd3co.</p>

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So QB applicants are never rejected in the early round, they're either admitted or deferred?

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<p>Essentially, yes.</p>

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can I send in supplments (eg. an extra rec, a research paper,ect) between the time when I submit my QB application and the time I am notified whether I am matched or not?

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<p>I think you can until the applications to the colleges are sent in (early November, after you’ve found out whether you’re a finalist or not). In that case, you do not send them to QB, but directly to the colleges you’re ranking.</p>

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what are the downsides of applying through QB?

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<p>a) You can’t apply to non-QB schools early; b) there’s very little time between the day you find out your finalist status and the day you have to submit applications to the colleges (though not all require it); c) the majority of students are not matched (though many more get in RD); d) for some schools, there’s too much duplication—so for example, you have to submit the QB app, but Stanford also requires you to re-submit your teacher recommendations, the Common App, etc., which can be a real pain; e) QB limits you to 8 colleges that you can apply to in the Match round (some would prefer to apply to more); f) some dislike the fact that they’re bound to attend the college they’re matched to; g) in many cases, the scholarship is no different from the one you would get in RD; h) in some cases, you have to re-apply for financial aid every year, and that aid could change, depending on your family’s income changes.</p>

<p>You should read through the thread; many students have questions whose answers are not quite what they wanted. </p>

<p>Phew, I hope I was able to answer these questions successfully. :) I'm emailing QB about some additional matters that need clarification (e.g. application forwarding).</p>

<p>It appears that most of the new QB partners' pages are up--with the usual info on campus setting, size, admissions, financial aid, Match scholarship package, requirements, additional links, etc. Go to QuestBridge</a> Home Page and click the partners' pages off to the right. The only one that isn't up is Penn's, and the RD requirements for the new partners are not up yet, either.</p>

<p>I'm really impressed with MIT's package: no loans, no work-study, no summer work, no student savings, no family contribution--100% grants.</p>

<p>Partner</a> School: MIT 2008 College Match Scholarship Package</p>

<p>That is, by far, the best scholarship package I've ever seen, from QB's partners or not. I remember having read about MIT's expanded financial aid that is, even today, unable to be on par with HYPS's, due to the much larger endowments. But clearly, MIT is the leader on this one. Even Yale, with the largest endowment of QB's partners, requires $2,500 in work-study, $1,200 summer contribution, and 25% of student savings.</p>

<p>There is another thing i would like to add,</p>

<p>If your first language isn't Spanish, MIT allows you to sen in TOEFL in lieu of the SAT I or ACT. This is a HUGE advantage to Hispanic students who many not stratospheric SAT critical reading and writing scores (mine were 470 and 500, respectively). However, the TOEFL is a four and a half hour test and there is a minimum score (MIT=90 in the internet based test).</p>

<p>I wasn't going to participate in the match process but MIT's match scholarship is simply too enticing.</p>

<p>I would like to know what income QB counts. I mean gross income or net income on income tax 1040.</p>

<p>it seems to me that most(all) finalists are from public schools. will I still have a chance if I go to a private school but am low income?</p>

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I would like to know what income QB counts.

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<p>For choosing finalists, QB doesn't get very elaborate--they look at gross income and such from the parents, but they don't look much at assets and so on.</p>

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it seems to me that most(all) finalists are from public schools. will I still have a chance if I go to a private school but am low income?

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<p>Yes, definitely. The only reason that more finalists come from public schools is that they're typically free, and are usually the ones with many students in the lower socioeconomic quartile. Many students go to private schools, but can barely pay for it, and others are there on scholarship, so going to a private school doesn't necessarily mean that they will consider you "too rich" for the scholarship. It won't harm you in any way; they will look more at your income.</p>