Questbridge application, then ED?

Paying for College Access Programs (Questbridge, Posse)
1

<p>My dream school is Rice. It is far and away my top choice, and I am currently considering my options. I am deciding whether to apply for the National Match Program or go down the Common App route. If chosen as a finalist I would most likely not participate in the Match Program, due to its highly selective nature.</p>

<p>I would love to try the Questbridge program, but I feel that others have a much stronger chance than me. For one, I have not always been in the lower income bracket. I have lived a comfortable life, but there has been a recent, dramatic drop in my family's income, so financial aid is a must for pretty much anywhere I go. I feel (and completely understand why) that others who have had a lower income their whole lives have a much stronger chance than me in becoming a finalist. I also have weaker grades than the normal applicant, although I do have a good upward trend (my school does not rank but I am NOT in the top 10%, I think I am around top 15%). Without freshman year I would have around 4.23 W and I have around a 3.7 (it's closer to a 3.75 without freshman year because of a very bad start to sophomore year). </p>

<p>I think that my main strengths lie in the future. I am currently a research assistant in the field I plan to pursue in college and as a career. I already know I want to be involved in student government, newspaper, and radio, and I plan on never repeating the academic mistakes I made in high school.</p>

<p>Because of these reasons, I know there is a strong chance for becoming a nonfinalist. Even if this is the case, would it be better to apply with the Questbridge app and go ED instead of using the Common App? Are there any advantages to either?</p>

2

<p>I would suggest applying to Questbridge because you have nothing to lose, and a potential hook to gain. I was under the impression (and have yet to hear differently) that you can become a Quesbridge finalist and then apply ED to Rice or elsewhere using the Common App. I don’t even think it’s possible to apply ED through Questbridge outside of the college match.</p>

<p>Applying through Questbridge is something you could (and don’t necessarily have to) do to apply Regular Decision to the partner colleges. I’m not sure if using a particular method would provide an advantage, but applying through Questbridge does get you application fee waivers.</p>