QuestBridge College Prep Scholarship 2015 Decisions Thread

[size=4]Decision: ACCEPTED[/size=4]

Objective:

SAT I (breakdown): 2120 (CR: 740; W: 700, M: 680)
ACT: Took it after deadline, expecting results soon
SAT II: Haven’t taken yet
Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): 3.96
Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): School doesn’t do rank
AP (place score in parenthesis): AP World History (3), Currently taking AP AB Calculus, AP US History, AP Biology, and AP Language and Composition
IB (place score in parenthesis): n/a
Award(s) Granted:
-Invitation to National College Conference
-Kaplan test prep
-Nomination for campus visits
***Applied for two Quest for Excellence Awards (arts and medical one), and they were very vague about when we hear from them, but I’m really hoping to get at least one of them!

Subjective:

Extracurricular Activities (place leadership roles in parenthesis):
School Drama Club (Vice President and Head of Promotions)
Improv Club (Team Leader)
National Honors Society Member
Junior Leadership Task Force (Challenger Level)
Link Leader (mentor)
Orchestra (Concert for one year and I was section leader, Symphonic for two and section leader again, Chamber for two years and first desk)

Job/Work Experience:
None

Volunteer/Community service:
-Link Leader (program at school that mentors incoming freshmen to help them succeed through high school)
-Global Peace Youth Corps (various volunteer projects along with Jr. LTF)
-probably more I can’t remember

Summer Activities:
-International workshop in Korea for leadership

Essays:
Main Essay- I thought that my essay was actually really bad, but I just reread it and it’s actually not too bad. It is still a little scattered though, but I think it told my story pretty well. (6.5-7/10)
Short Answers:I think that this was actually one of the strongest parts of my app. I spent a looot of time perfecting them, and they’re very insighful about my p.o.v. and interests.
-#1: Talked about I wish to alter people’s perception on their relationship with the rest of the community (9/10)
-#2: My interest in Shakespeare and the written language (10/10)
-#3: Experience I had at a summer workshop I attended (8/10)

Teacher Recommendation:
I didn’t get to read it, but the teacher I asked is super great at writing teacher recs and I don’t doubt that it was great. Maybe a tiny bit impersonal at parts but still great. (9/10)

Other:
State (if domestic applicant):
Washington

School Type:
Middle sized, suburband, public, not highly competitive

Ethnicity:
Asian (Korean)

Gender:
Female

Income Bracket(mention if FA candidate):
<70,000

Hooks (First Generation College, Minority,Learning Disability, etc.):
Minority, interesting life story (grew up all over the world), father diagnosed with cancer, mother can’t really speak English

Reflection:
Strengths: Solid SAT especially for first time, short answers, teacher rec, good hooks
Weaknesses: Income on the higher side (but medical bills, so…), my essay was kind of weak in my opinion, and I thought that I lacked extracurriculars and major awards in comparison

Why you think you were accepted/rejected:
I was honestly so shocked that I got in. I thought that because of my income and my essay, I for sure wasn’t gonna get in, but I think that my short answers and teacher rec saved me. Plus, my life story seemed pretty compelling.

What other Scholarships will you be applying for:
Definitely applying for National College Match. Apart from QB I’m not really aware of many programs like this, so if anyone has recommendations, please send them my way.

**General Comments: **
I’m really happy and excited and grateful and still kind of shocked. Congrats to all who got in, and don’t fret for those who didnt!

[size=4]Decision: ACCEPTED[/size=4]

Objective:

SAT I (breakdown): n/a --> taking it this Saturday (PSAT: 228 --> 70 CR, 80 M, 78 W)

ACT: n/a

SAT II: n/a

Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): Cumulative 4.0 (for now, at least lol)

Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): 1/468

AP (place score in parenthesis): Statistics (4)

IB (place score in parenthesis): Taking 7 IB classes, and testing in 3 this year.

Award(s) Granted:

  • An invitation to a QuestBridge National College Admissions Conference, with a $350 travel grant (STANFORD)
  • Free, on-demand test prep from Kaplan
  • A nomination for expense-paid college visits to QuestBridge partner colleges

Subjective:

Extracurricular Activities (place leadership roles in parenthesis):
Math team, FBLA (webmaster), city youth council, district student superintendent committee

Volunteer/Community service:
Hospital volunteer, library tutor, fundraising for refugees, youth group

Various school/city awards, and an essay contest winner (one from those scholarship websites)

Essays:
Pretty compelling, although not extraordinary, in my opinion

Teacher Recommendation:
Idk, didn’t see it, but guessing it was good

Other:
State (if domestic applicant): WA

Country (if international applicant): -

School Type: Large public, suburban

Ethnicity: South Asian

Gender: M

Income Bracket(mention if FA candidate): <20,000

Hooks (First Generation College, Minority,Learning Disability, etc.): First generation college

Reflection:
Strengths: I feel like I look really good on paper, like well-rounded and all. Also, my essays I feel like were strong. GPA is good, and PSAT was relatively high. Pretty low income as well.

Weaknesses: I rushed my personal statement on the very day it was due and submitted at 11:45. Also, I don’t demonstrate any passion for a particular academic discipline or career field, which is why I probably didn’t get into any summer programs. Finally, I wasn’t able to write the supplementary essays for the Quest for Excellence awards.

Why you think you were accepted/rejected: I feel like I was accepted because I’m relatively well-rounded and have an interesting background story. I tried to be as become as possible, while proudly highlighting what I have accomplished.

What other Scholarships will you be applying for: NCM definitely. Gates-Millenium if not Matched.

**General Comments: **
One of the most important lessons I’ve learned from this is to never procrastinate on applications like this, and this is definitely transferrable to the college application process. Also, present yourself as a person, speak in your own voice, in your essays.

Congratulations to all who were selected as College Prep Scholars! To all others, there are a multitude of avenues that you could pursue as you are navigating this process and this is simply the beginning. Don’t stress too much, because it will do no good, because I’ve personally experienced failure, and I’ve made the mistake of over-contemplating thhe circumstances and questioning my self-work. Things did not turn out well thereafter and my grades started going down (which is why I’m not sure whether I’ll be able to maintain my 4.0). If you dont care about your mental health, then at least care about your grades.

[size=4]Decision: ACCEPTED[/size=4]

Objective:

SAT I (breakdown): 2070: 630CR/710M/730W

SAT II: 750 Korean w/ listening

Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): 4.0

Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): n/a

AP (place score in parenthesis): AP English Lang

IB (place score in parenthesis): n/a

Award(s) Granted:
• An invitation to a QuestBridge National College Admissions Conference
• Free, on-demand test prep from Kaplan
• A nomination for expense-paid college visits to QuestBridge partner colleges

Subjective:

Extracurricular Activities (place leadership roles in parenthesis):
• English language school/class (founder and teacher)
• Local church’s youth ministry (founder and leader)
• International youth group (student leader)
• Korean language school (T.A.)

Job/Work Experience: n/a

Volunteer/Community service: look ECs

Summer Activities: n/a

Essays: I haven’t read other essays, so I do not know how to compare mine. All I can say is that I really, really tried my best.

Teacher Recommendation: Very impersonal; I am a full-time online student, so the only time I talked to my online instructor was when I asked her for the rec.

Other:
State (if domestic applicant): n/a

Country (if international applicant): I am a U.S. citizen living abroad

School Type: Online school

Ethnicity: Asian

Gender: Female

Income Bracket: <$30k

Hooks (First Generation College, Minority,Learning Disability, etc.): NOTHING

Reflection:
Strengths: I honestly do not know; GPA means little because the curriculum is very easy at my online school.

Weaknesses: SAT, ECs, not an experienced writer

Why you think you were accepted/rejected: Who knows? I am just so thankful.

What other Scholarships will you be applying for: NCM

**General Comments: **
As mentioned above, I live abroad and study independently. I do not have any guidance with the college process, and cannot participate in lots of ECs and challenging courses like I could have in the U.S. Receiving the title of “College Prep Scholar” means so much to me because of my limited resources. I am so grateful and humbled and blessed. God bless to all the applicants, regardless of decisions. This is only the beginning of our futures and this rejection or acceptance does not define it! Let’s work our best. (:

Congrats, @Aralis. Coincidentally, I also live abroad and study online. BTW, would you happen to be a student at the Keystone School?

@DominicBayer Yes!! How crazy! Congrats to you, too! The personalized essay coaching sounds wonderful.

Crazy coincidence, @Aralis. Yeah, I’m really glad I got it, as I really need good help to develop my essay.

[size=4]Decision: ACCEPTED[/size=4]

Objective:

SAT I : 2260

SAT II: Subject tests on 5/2

Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): 4.0 W= 4.41

Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): 3 out of 189

AP (place score in parenthesis): Calc, Spanish, World History, English Lit, Physics, Government (4)

Award(s) Granted: • An invitation to a QuestBridge National College Admissions Conference (Yale)

• Free, on-demand test prep from Kaplan

• A nomination for expense-paid college visits to QuestBridge partner colleges

Subjective:

Extracurricular Activities (place leadership roles in parenthesis): Orchestra (Viola section Leader), Football, Indoor Track, Outdoor Track, FCA, NHS, Spanish NHS

Volunteer/Community service: Habitat for Humanity, church related volunteer activities

Summer Activities: we shall see!

Teacher Recommendation: She’s a great teacher, I’m sure she wrote her honest opinions

Other:
State (if domestic applicant): MD

School Type: Public

Ethnicity: White

Gender: M

Income Bracket(mention if FA candidate): <60K

Hooks (First Generation College, Minority,Learning Disability, etc.): First Gen

Decision: ACCEPTED

SAT : 2050
Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): 3.9
Weighted: 4.79
Ranked 8/372 at a school with 1750 students
Homeschooled up until High School

Honors: Duke Tip 7th grade Talent Search, Congressional Award-Bronze Certificate
AP’s 4 in Junior Year: AP Euro Hist, AP Bio, AP Cal AB & BC
(going to take 4 more AP’s in senior year plus a Dual enrollment class)

College credit from USC Columbia SC for Intro to Engineering taught at HS
3 years of Spanish thus far

Extracurricular, Volunteer and Personal Activities:

  1. Worship Guitarist for 100’s at church and Youth Group Lead guitarist. Have played with famous musicians.
  2. Co-lead Middle school Boys Bible study
    These first two equal many, many hours of volunteer time
  3. Cross Country
  4. Representative on student council
  5. Beta Club member
  6. Happy Birthday Teacher club member
  7. FCA
  8. Volunteer: Read to kids to help them improve reading, worked in soup kitchen during holidays, Samaritans Purse

Short Answers and Essay: Put a lot into it.
Teacher Recommendation: Strong (did not opt to view)
Grades : All A’s with 1 B in (primarily) Honors & AP classes

Going to Palmetto Boys State camp this summer and also a second mission trip to Colombia, South America.

State : SC
School Type: Public
Ethnicity: White
Gender: M
Income Bracket: <50K

First Generation with Dad, Mom has B.S. Degree but is a homemaker

Quest Bridge Awards:
• Free, on-demand test prep from Kaplan
• Personalized essay coaching (very cool one time help to improve essay)
• A nomination for expense-paid college visits to QuestBridge partner colleges

God has a plan for us all. Keep knocking and He will show the way.

Congratulations, @Irishtwins. Coincidentally, I am living in Colombia. What area of the country will you be going to?

Thanks @DominicBayer! Going to Santa Marta.

Cool, @Irishtwins. It’s a very nice city, even though it’s very warm and the land’s very arid. I hope you enjoy it!