Official 2008 Questbridge National College Match Discussion and Help

Applying to College
101

<p>unefille: I'm glad to be of such help. I expect to be answering questions all the way through RD. :)</p>

<p>1) They could. However, not all the schools (if any) are need-blind for internationals, so that would be the biggest obstacle. If you did get into these, you would get full financial aid if you have the need. You need to check each school's policy.</p>

<p>2) If you don't want to be bound, don't rank them; instead, check them off for RD (you'll just check the colleges that you want QB to forward your app to in the RD round). That's what I and others did, and it worked out fine: we weren't bound to go, and we got to go through the Match round. If you're a finalist, are matched, and still want to apply to a school that's "binding," well--there's no way you can be bound to attend it, since the Match round blocks you from applying to any school non-QB schools early; thus, once you're matched, the early rounds are over, and the only time you can be bound to attend is in the early round. So you'd just apply RD (asking QB to forward your app). Though I think Swarthmore does ED II, which is after the Match is made.</p>

<p>Depending on the Match school, you may not even be able to apply to other schools if matched. Then again, since you're an international, the only schools that you can be matched to (Yale and Princeton) are non-binding. So you should be set.</p>

<p>(Hope that wasn't too confusing.)</p>

<p>3) Yes, internationals usually apply with the same application. Some schools have different applications, or modified ones, and many have additional/different requirements for international students. However, many if not most of QB's partners use the Common App, and international students use that too.</p>

<p>Quicksandslowly:</p>

<p>No, not having SAT IIs will not hurt your chances. Others were asking this, but QB does not indicate that it will.</p>

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

102

<p>I just want to say, wearing both my moderator hat and my just-plain-user-here hat, that I appreciate kyledavid80 posting all this information about the QuestBridge program. I know some people locally who fit the income guidelines and who may fit the other criteria. I urge everyone reading along to read the FAQ </p>

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

<p>which will be updated in a month or so for the new admission cycle, and meanwhile includes general information from last year that should still apply to this year.</p>

103

<p>if not selected as a finalist, is there an advantage to having QB forward your QB application, other than admissions having access to those essays? I mean, if you were a finalist, that says something about you, but if you werent, is there a point?</p>

104

<p>
[quote]
if not selected as a finalist, is there an advantage to having QB forward your QB application, other than admissions having access to those essays?

[/quote]
</p>

<p>I would say yes. There's a few things that would give you an advantage: you were a finalist in QB, and they have access to essays that can give them a better picture of you. That gives you an advantage, which is why some 500 students are accepted each year RD.</p>

<p>
[quote]
I mean, if you were a finalist, that says something about you, but if you werent, is there a point?

[/quote]
</p>

<p>I'd think so--QB would still forward your app, and they could see the essays that would help them make a decision (preferably in your favor!).</p>

105

<p>Hi. I noticed on the Questbridge app that the last essay prompt is the same as the one on the Common App. If it's the same this year too, is it ok to use the same essay or would it be best to just write another? I'd hate to have to write a different answer to the same prompt.</p>

106

<p>
[quote]
If it's the same this year too, is it ok to use the same essay or would it be best to just write another?

[/quote]
</p>

<p>This has been asked before, and QuestBridge answered it, but I can't seem to find it now. Basically, what they said is that it's fine to reuse the essay, but keep in mind that it might not look the best to the colleges that consider both the QB app and their own app if you seemed reluctant to want to show more about you.</p>

<p>Take advantage of the added space, in other words.</p>

<p>Stanford also mentioned that it's okay to reuse the essay (though of course it will depend on the college):</p>

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

107

<p>How much impact would being awarded the CPS, though not applying through College Match, have?</p>

108

<p>
[quote]
How much impact would being awarded the CPS, though not applying through College Match, have?

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Impact where? Applying to QB schools without going through the Match program? It would not harm you in any way--plenty of CPS winners choose not to go through the college match (not everyone wants to apply to those schools / not everyone wants to be bound to go there). However, it's a good award to put on your application, even if not through the Match, and it can only help.</p>

<p>The opposite is true too: not having applied to CPS in no way limits your ability to get matched. I know some who were flat-out rejected from the CPS (didn't even get a conference invitation), didn't get matched, and then got into some great QB schools RD.</p>

109

<p>Kyledavid80, I just have to say thank you so so so very much for all this help your giving all of us. I know that sometimes even teachers and parents are reluctant to help, and what you are doing makes this process so much more easier and better. Thank you very much!</p>

<p>and Unefille: are you french? I REALLY like languages, et j'aime le francais! Je voudrais avoir une amie francaise!</p>

110

<p>kyledavid: I'm sorry that I worded my question poorly. What I meant to ask was: How much would CPS(without college match) help one get into a top school? Is the advantage gained by CPS the equivalent of the advantage of being a URM? (provided that one is not already a URM)</p>

111

<p>I'm happy to help a new applicant pool to QB however I can. :) (As a student at Stanford, I hope to be able to work with QuestBridge, based in Palo Alto, as an employee eventually!)</p>

<p>demonsword55:</p>

<p>
[quote]
How much would CPS(without college match) help one get into a top school?

[/quote]
</p>

<p>A few things I'm not clear on: by "without college match" do you mean that you made it to finalist status and didn't get matched or that you didn't apply at all? I assume the latter. And by "top school," do you mean a QB partner or a non-QB partner?</p>

<p>Of course, I would say it depends on what part of the CPS you received. As you know, there are various "packages," and each has varying selectivity. I would say that winning a summer school scholarship is very impressive and will probably help you quite a bit in top school admissions, whether it's a QB partner or not. Counseling and tele-mentoring are also impressive awards. In addition, winning any of the packages--including the all-expense-paid visits and the conference invitations--is a strong award to put on your applications and can be helpful in admissions, at any school you apply to (well, perhaps only the need-blind ones!).</p>

<p>And of course, having finalist status behind your belt would prove even more helpful, though I'm inclined to think that's more applicable at QB's partners than at other schools, most likely due to yield-protection concerns.</p>

<p>I received college counseling, an invitation to Stanford's conference, and three all-expense-paid visits to some of QB's partners; during the RD round, I got into HYPS, Berkeley, UCLA, and a few other UCs with likely letters from some of HYPS and the Regents scholarship at all the UCs I applied to except Berkeley, where I was one of ~25 to receive the Achievement Award (and I was still in the running for the Leadership Award when I declined Berkeley's offer). I would say that the awards I received from and because of QuestBridge provided a good boost in my applications, especially the CPS.</p>

<p>On that note, if any QB participant is applying to Berkeley, I highly recommend you apply for the Achievement Award Program (TAAP). Most students apply for the Leadership Award, but TAAP requires that you have participated in an outreach program (UC-approved or otherwise), so most don't qualify for TAAP. QuestBridge is a legitimate outreach program. Thus, you are eligible to compete for a scholarship of up to $6,000/year from TAAP, simply by participating in QB. You would need to explain your involvement, and I would think that the CPS is the best form of outreach that this program requires. Without QB, I would not have qualified for TAAP. For more information, see this:</p>

<p>California</a> Alumni Association at UC Berkeley - Student Area</p>

<p>In this way, QB even helps you out without even running the program itself. :)</p>

112

<p>I'd like to clarify this statement I made a few pages back:</p>

<p>
[quote]
If you were one of the winners of the College Prep Scholarship, you can more or less be sure that you'll make it to finalist status in the National College Match.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>I know some students who received only invitations to conferences did not make finalist status. However, most if not all of the winners (of counseling and summer school scholarships) who applied to the National College Match did make it to finalist status. One of the representatives of the QB's partners confirmed this to me.</p>

113

<p>kyledavid: I do not plan on participating in the college match application at all. By and large, however, I will be applying to QB partner schools, with one or two exceptions. As for the package I received, I was invited to the conference, nominated for telementoring(which i already applied for) as well as campus visits. Also, I do have one additional question: When are the applications for the campus visits made available? I've been searching through the QB forums, and it seems nobody has been contacted yet. Thanks so much for your help!</p>

114

<p>
[quote]
When are the applications for the campus visits made available?

[/quote]
</p>

<p>It's being handled a little differently this year; last year, each school contacted CPS students individually, but now QB is handling it formally (as the site says that 30 students will receive all-expense-paid visits). However, if the process is anything like last year's (and I imagine it would be), then you should receive the applications sometime in July or August. Since each has its own deadlines, you'll probably receive them at different times. I think I remember Williams' being due sometime in early August (and I'd received it sometime in mid-July), Swarthmore's wasn't due for a few weeks after, etc. The actual weekends aren't until September-October, so you have plenty of time to receive it, fill it out and send it off, etc.</p>

<p>Out of curiosity, why are you not applying through the Match program if you are planning to apply to some of QB's partners? Is it the binding stipulation? Or do you plan to apply to some other non-QB school early? (Remember, though, that Yale, Princeton, Stanford, and Notre Dame are non-binding through the Match--I don't know if you're interested in these, but keep that in mind if you are.) Also, in the past QB has allowed students to choose whether to go through with the Match round or not after they find out their finalist status. So I know some who became finalists but chose not to go through with the Match round. I think QB still allows this. I'll have to check on that.</p>

<p>Anyway, I hope that wasn't too vague an answer. :)</p>

115

<p>It's mainly the binding part, though I also want to apply early to Georgetown.</p>

116

<p>You could complete the application, ask QB to forward it to certain schools, then (given that you become a finalist) choose not to go through with the Match round and apply to Georgetown early. That way, you're not bound to go to any school, you get to apply to a school early, and you have QB behind your belt for RD, where it can help you to get into QB's partner schools.</p>

<p>But of course, you're free to do what you feel best fits you. :)</p>

117

<p>I'll have to think about it. Thanks for the advice!</p>

118

<p>Hello everyone! I am a rising senior who will be applying to the QB College Match. Now, I have some questions and I'm sorry if they've been asked before; I didn't see them as I was skimming through this thread. </p>

<p>All right, first question:</p>

<p>I know that over 40% of applicants get selected as finalists, but what about applicants who have won a College Prep Award, particularly being invited to a conference? Do the chances rise significantly?</p>

<p>Second question:</p>

<p>What are the colleges that are non binding? If they are non-binding, can you apply to more than one through EA?</p>

<p>Third:</p>

<p>Princeton, although non-binding (I think) will not be a school you can apply to EA, right? </p>

<p>Fourth (and last):</p>

<p>If you are applying to more than one college EA, do the other colleges know of this? I ask because I want to apply to Yale EA but still do Stanford at the same time. However, I heard that Stanford takes into consideration the fact that you applied early more than Yale, so if they knew that they weren't the only college to which I applied early, would they hold that against me?</p>

<p>Thank you so much!</p>

119

<p>
[quote]
I know that over 40% of applicants get selected as finalists, but what about applicants who have won a College Prep Award, particularly being invited to a conference? Do the chances rise significantly?

[/quote]
</p>

<p>These statistics are not officially released. However, as I said in post #112 (clarifying a statement I made earlier):</p>

<p>I know some students who received only invitations to conferences did not make finalist status. However, most if not all of the winners (of counseling and summer school scholarships) who applied to the National College Match did make it to finalist status. One of the representatives of the QB's partners confirmed this to me.</p>

<p>In addition, re: CPS and acceptance to colleges in general:</p>

<p>I would say it depends on what part of the CPS you received. As you know, there are various "packages," and each has varying selectivity. I would say that winning a summer school scholarship is very impressive and will probably help you quite a bit in top school admissions, whether it's a QB partner or not. Counseling and tele-mentoring are also impressive awards. In addition, winning any of the packages--including the all-expense-paid visits and the conference invitations--is a strong award to put on your applications and can be helpful in admissions, at any school you apply to (well, perhaps only the need-blind ones!).</p>

<p>
[quote]
What are the colleges that are non binding? If they are non-binding, can you apply to more than one through EA?

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Yale, Princeton, Stanford, and Notre Dame are non-binding. The only way you can apply to more than one early is through the National College Match. Yale and Stanford have single-choice early action, Notre Dame has early action, and Princeton has no other early program at all.</p>

<p>
[quote]
Princeton, although non-binding (I think) will not be a school you can apply to EA, right?

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Princeton eliminated ED this past year.</p>

<p>
[quote]
If you are applying to more than one college EA, do the other colleges know of this? I ask because I want to apply to Yale EA but still do Stanford at the same time.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>What do you mean by "EA"? Do you mean through QuestBridge? If so, none of the colleges you rank will know about the others on your ranked list.</p>

<p>Both Yale and Stanford have SCEA, so you may apply only to one of them early. Or you can go through the Match program and apply to both early (in addition to 6 other partner schools, if you so choose).</p>

<p>
[quote]
However, I heard that Stanford takes into consideration the fact that you applied early more than Yale, so if they knew that they weren't the only college to which I applied early, would they hold that against me?

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Both require you to sign a contract stating that you are not applying to any other school early (with few exceptions--see each school's policy re: exceptions). If either finds out that you applied to both early, your admission will be rescinded. (There are rumors that schools such as Yale and Stanford share information, though those are unsubstantiated.)</p>

120

<p>In last year's QB thread, there was much speculation as to how many students rank which colleges, and many agreed that most probably ranked Stanford. QB does not officially release this data itself, but from this article on last year's Match round</p>

<p>University</a> admits 16 through QuestBridge - The Stanford Daily Online</p>

<p>of the 1,792 finalists chosen, 1,100 ranked Stanford--or 61% of the finalists. I daresay that Stanford is the most popular college in the National College Match (no, this isn't a plug for Stanford! :)).</p>

<p>A few months ago, Tim Brady had told me at a QuestBridge lunch that Stanford took about 120 students this year in the Match + RD rounds--so assuming that all unmatched finalists choose to have their applications forwarded, that would make an acceptance rate of 11%, roughly the same as the overall acceptance rate. However, we don't know how many did, and we can't say whether Stanford is more or less selective of QB applicants without knowing the relative strength of the QB applicant pool. But as DeAngela Burns-Wallace (really nice person!--she personally made sure I was able to attend Stanford's Admit Weekend :)) said:</p>

<p>
[quote]
QuestBridge students are evaluated under the same criteria as all applications

[/quote]
</p>

<p>She is, though, speaking of the Match process. Either way, QB students on the whole seem to have a leg-up in RD admissions at its partner schools.</p>

<p>I have also contacted QuestBridge and asked them to release statistics re: each college's acceptance rates and other statistics for each round (# who ranked each college / # accepted, # who had their applications forwarded to each college / # accepted, and the like).</p>