@momofmusician17 Are you sure about this ? I always thought partners schools can see only finalist applications and only finalist can get waivers on their college applications. I did not know they could see every applicant even if they are not selected.
Received an email from QB today. They said decisions for summer programs has not been made yet (so decision will be out by late May). They also mentioned the selection process for summer programs through QB is separate from direct applications (for those who are worried about the Yale program). So don’t lose hope!
Im keeping my fingers crossed.
@Draconiani
you did not have to do the separate application that is directly for the Yale program
QB was one was fine
also got an email from them saying decisions have not been made yet so if you haven’t heard any news, there is still hope!
@MarkTwain007
I’ve searched the Questbridge site to see if they list anywhere that you should apply directly to the summer programs of interest for any reason and it took a lot of searching but I found it in the Q and A section in some obscure area. They mention if you really want admittance to a certain program, that you should also apply directly to the program, along with QB.
I tried to link the area but it rejected my comment so I’m unable to point you to the place where I found it directly.
But if you go to QB, at the bottom go to FAQ and in the college prep scholar area, there is an award area and a question about ‘What is the process of applying to the program’.
This could have been communicated much better. My daughter worked on a Joyce Ivy Foundation application for the summer programs and they were very clear about their process and that students should apply directly to the program as well. They also were very clear that you should apply for financial aid directly with the program.
Questbridge seems to leave a little to be desired in that department.
I am so sorry to hear this happened to your son.
@Tutu8588 Yes. I am 100% sure of this. Many, but not all, of the QB partner schools will allow you to apply regular decision using the QB app and don’t require you to pay an application fee.
https://www.questbridge.org/high-school-students/national-college-match/non-finalists
There is a form that you submit after the match process is over. You don’t have to be a finalist to submit this form. This will notify the school that you are using your QB app to apply. There are some schools that require the Common App, you just have to look at each individual school to determine what the requirements are.
I have nothing left to say about it.
Thanks Littleaussie _ yes, their FAQ is WAY down in the very bottom right corner —I had thought I had scrolled to the bottom of the page …Never saw it - looked for it …
They may have added that after I complained about it. I don’t know tho …
@momofmusician17 Thank you very much for the information . I did not get in 
but I will try again for National College Match. I really needed help with essays and guidance for college applications. Fortunately I have an scholarship for a summer program in Princeton. Thank you
MomofMusician17: “The vast majority of kids who are QB finalists have lived at their current income levels their whole lives. In all likelihood, nothing is going to change during those four years; therefore, they will receive the same FA package every year.”
I completely agree with your above statement. I thought the same thing. Which likely explains the consensus I have seen that the closer an applicant gets to the $65,000 income threshold, the less likely an applicant is going to be selected, REGARDLESS of how good an applicants stats are. I think in one of the emails QB sent me, they said they had never had anyone complain they had not received “a full scholarship.” One way to ensure no one complains, is to only select people who’s incomes are so low, they will never find out they are not full scholarships (if they aren’t) because their income never goes up high enough to find out they were just given needs-based aid. In fact, in the college match finalist profile it says the median income for a match finalist is only $35,000, WAY below the $65,000 threshold. (And 73% of the finalists selected, are “first generation to go to a 4 year college.” Another way to ensure income never goes up high enough to lose needs-based aid.)
So it could be that QB is forced to select people that far below their stated range, so that no one they selected ever finds out they were given needs-based aid instead of a full scholarship, if that is the case. However, that doesn’t make it any less fraudulent, if that is what they are doing. That $35,000 figure is not the AVERAGE, it is the MEAN, which means the majority of their finalists household income is only $35,000 per year, NOT the $65,000 (or below) that QB says makes a person eligible for their benefits.
Another thing I thought of is that QB cuts down on the number of applications a partner college has to sort thru. (Why else would partner schools “pay” QB to participate?) Which makes sense if you think about it. Low income people apply to LOTS of schools. Lots of the top schools. That’s because they don’t know who is going to give them enough aid, even if they are accepted. (Also, top schools have the best aid too.) Many of the top schools are receiving as many as 47,000+ applications, only to admit 2,200 students. And I bet the same collection of low income students are applying to 15 or 20 of those same schools. QB cuts through all of that for the colleges. That’s one theory. But nevertheless, if QB is really not awarding “full scholarships” and is deceiving its applicants, they are vulnerable to a class action lawsuit for fraud. It is a huge no-no to lie to people.
Secondly, if they are monopolizing, using fraudulent tactics to gain market power, to entice people to participate in their system, it is only a matter of time before the feds step in on an Anti-Trust basis. (Individuals can file civil law suits for anti-trust violations too.) For example, if the top schools only admit 10-15% low income students, and QB controls 50% of those admits (as has been reported), that means a non-finalist only has access to half of that percentage, or only 5% to 7.5% of those spots. So a QB finalist would have access to ALL 10% to 15%, but a non-QB finalist would only have access to half that, (even if their credentials and accomplishments, test scores, etc, are superior) their odds of admission are cut to half that of a QB finalist. In that scenario, they have been damaged by QB’s monopolization, power they appear to be gaining, by what I believe are deceptive, illusory promises, offering “scholarships” that even you state are really just needs-based in many (if not the majority) of cases.
So QB’s best applicants may be excluded (in the above scenario) if their household incomes are above $35,000 and one or both of their parents have a four year college degree, (in my opinion).
Can you be accepted to more than one summer program?
So I got accepted into CPS this year and my friend did too. I have way better grades than my friend does and a a MUCH lower income than my friend does, but they got $250 to go to the Conference, and I only got the virtual invite. They also got $750 to buy a laptop from an Award they got, and my letter said results came out in late June. My friend’s family is actually very wealthy. Can anyone explain this?
Also, does anyone know the chances of getting into a summer program? I really want to go, but I can’t apply separately because I can’t afford it, and I feel like chances are low… help anyone?
@sugarhoneyicetea I was not accepted but I 've got scholarships for two summer programs . You should apply and if your income is low, they will give you scholarships.They will see that you are CPS and that may be an advantage. Good luck.
If you feel that you have been unfairly treated by QuestBridge or that Questbridge has been untruthful or dishonest in their representations, I urge you to file a consumer complaint with the FTC (Federal Trade Commission). (Google: File Complaint, Federal Trade Commission) Also, if you feel that Questbridge has unfairly excluded you from access to admission with their 40 “Partner” colleges and you feel Questbridge has gained a monopoly over low income admissions to those top colleges, and put you at a disadvantage, I urge you to file a complaint with the Anti-Trust division of the U.S. Department of Justice. If these two organizations receive enough complaints, it will prompt an investigation. Antitrust laws prohibit organizations from “colluding” or grouping together to conspire to unlawfully allow only certain people participate, or have benefits or deals, while excluding others. If you feel that Questbridge has unfairly excluded you despite your credentials, test scores and income, (Google: Report violations ATR Department of Justice) You may report violations there.
Organizations are required to compete, not conspire or collude together and allow only one voice to be heard. If you don’t think Questbridge should be one of the top decision makers in your ability to gain admission to 40 of our nation’s top colleges in regard to their low income applicants, and have a substantial influence or impact over your ability to gain admission to one of those top colleges, and you think you have been disadvantaged by Questbridge’s power, or you think they have been dishonest in their representations, then you should file a complaint to one or both of the above organizations.