I’m really nervous right now. Lol, pretty bummed too. My application is probably sitting in the admissions office with a big fat red rejected stamp on it. 
Curiosity is killing me, and, it’s none of my business; but… did anyone get asked to an almuni interview with any of their match schools?
@exocticportrichey I haven’t been following this thread as much as I would like to nor am I eligible for the QB program yet (HS junior), but I was told by a Dartmouth admissions person that QB takes place too early for anyone to receive an alumni interview like in the usual ED rounds.
@exoticportrichey. I got an interview offer from UChicago, but the alum still hasn’t confirmed a date. I don’t know if they’re fully aware that I’m applying through QB or just EA.
@QueenOfBohemia @exoticportrichey I had an interview with a Penn alum last week and I also got an offer from Princeton, but no follow up from the alum so I’m assuming that there wasn’t enough time for it.
I also had done on campus interviews at Rice and Tufts during overnight programs but the other 8 schools I ranked didn’t offer me an interview.
@exoticportrichey. I forgot to mention that I live abroad, something which my prospective interviewer seemed unaware of.
@exoticportrichey I got an interview for MIT and Upenn
I didn’t get an interview offer from either of the schools I ranked (one of which was mentioned above, so I know they’re offering interviews). Also (I know someone had the same concern a while ago in this thread) one school I ranked emailed me about applying to their summer college program (not a general QB email), which to me comes across as I didn’t make it into the school but I still have a good chance for the summer program :-S I’m getting really nervous but trying not to be too paranoid or read too much into stuff. 8 days till rankings come out! Good luck guys! 
I had an interview from both UChicago and Princeton
Did anyone get an email from CalTech to apply to their school through Regular Decision? It was sent by Questbridge on behalf of CalTech and I did not rank CalTech.
Or is it just a promotional email??
re Alumni interviews: thanks to everyone for the input. Trying very hard to not put much weight in the UPenn Alumni interview. It was the only one offered of the ten schools ranked, and was a whole learning experience on its own. If a match isn’t offered… still grateful to Questbridge and the second chance to update the applications. Hope everyone here gets what they need.
Did you or they offer Skype or anything?
I got an email from Swarthmore through Questbridge saying that I should apply Regular Decision. But I didn’t rank Swarthmore! Should I be worried?!!
I’m so terrified!
@DominicBayer sorry Did they offer a Skype interview?
@QueenOfBohemia I think a lot depends on the strength of the alumni outreach program. Every school is different. All the advice articles say that this interview doesn’t get you into a school, but I have to assume that it might keep you out of one. That being said, it’s not necessarily a bad thing to not be offered an interview. And, hoping you don’t mind much, I have three pieces of advice to you and future Questbridge hopefuls.
-
Start early! Start now, even! Develop personal relationships with your counselor and teachers so they know who and what they’re writing about. Possibly even the principal if your counselors are rotating like ours are. Get your SAT and subject tests (at least two hard, one soft) and ACT done and done again because the delivery of those reports can be laggy. Read this year’s Questbridge site edge to edge, especially the individual school profiles so you know what test requirements next year’s might want. Write up a resume and keep it updated so the app is a breeze (or as much as a breeze can be when you’re laying your soul bare). Ask for your referrals early, mid-summer isn’t too early at all, if your people know you and what you want (need) to accomplish. Research your preferred schools, their programs, and the area surrounding (thank goodness for the internet).
-
Once your Questbridge application is in (congratulations!), ASSUME YOU’RE A FINALIST. No, really, you need to take a day, celebrate, and then start your common application along with the supplements to each university you want to rank right away. In addition, immediately start rattling the financial cage to complete the CSS profile because that’s a b**ch kitty for everyone involved. The 21-ish days are barely enough to gather, write, polish, and deliver; much less if you decide to rank more than three or four match schools. Follow each school’s requirements to the letter down to how to mark each page (Post-it note tape is your friend, ask me why!). And,
-
After you’re a finalist (WOW, and CONGRATULATIONS) and have all your apps into your ranked schools on-time and stress-free because yes, you are that good (congratulations!); take a day, and then start prepping your safety schools and primping up the regular decision applications to your Questbridge ranked schools. Don’t wait! A Questbridge match is a long shot, but not the end all to be all because Questbridge finalists do quite nicely in the ED-2 and regular decision. Quite nicely, indeed. But, you might as well use the waivers for your safety schools because you never know. They might be able to offer a financial package worth considering. And you have all that practice putting together a fabulous application because of Questbridge. Then, because yes, you are that good, you’ll be ready to either really celebrate, or push the button for the next round.
A deep secret? If you rank a school and then need something important (really, really important like you can’t get your SAT scores to them because you ran out of College Board waivers, or can’t fax because you don’t have one important), then call the school’s financial aid department. Ask for the Questbridge representative and only talk to the Questbridge representative if they have one. Identify yourself as a Questbridge finalist and tell them your difficultly. They are very invested, kind, and can offer solutions that the receptionist will never never even consider. WARNING: do not call them for something that’s already on the Questbridge site or the school site. You need to consider this person as the most valuable asset you have; please don’t annoy them and ruin them for other hopefuls.
So I’ll hop off my box now, but not before telling you, and all other future Questbridge applicants, that I hope you get everything you need.
So QB called me and emailed me today urgently like 5 times because on the bottom of my final match agreement form I was missing the name of my school and guidance counselor even though I had my signatures.
The Rep walked me through filling out that tiny part and before I had seen her email left me a voicemail and was extremely prompt in all of our correspondences. Like we took care of it over email and phone all within 5 quick minutes.
Did this happen to anyone else today? Does this mean I’ve been matched?I don’t want to read to much into it but a part of me is thinking they wouldn’t bother with such a minor detail otherwise…
@ethiopienne It could definitely be a sign that you have been matched! But don’t read too much into it and get your hopes up.
Goodluck to us all! T minus 7 days !
@lilmonet1 With no personal knowledge whatsoever, I have to say ‘fear not’. Not that it helps, I know. But so much depends on the school’s alumni resources and outreach programs. My guess is that the lack of an interview isn’t going to make or break your application. My recommendation is that you not even try reading into anything, just grab all the opportunities offered. Chin up! You are a Finalist, and that really is something. Though, I confess, I’m pretty anxious, too.
@exoticportrichey. The alum offered a phone or skype interview.