I’m really excited about applying to this awesome program, but I have a few questions. These Forums have been so helpful and I really hope someone can help me with these questions.
- I know the difference between their College Prep Program and the College Match, but what's the difference in their applications? Are they the same/similar questions or totally different. Are they the same every year?
- Does anyone have tips for the biography essay? I know they aren't looking for a 'sob story' necessarily but (honestly) do successful applications tend to highlight their financial burdens? That's ok with me but I just want to know. After all, they are looking for a certain type of applicant.
- For the College Match, I've heard that the application you submit to Questbridge is the application they send to schools you ranked. Do you not get to edit it at all?
- Since the main goal of Questbridge is to get low-income students into these top colleges, do the partner colleges prioritize admitting the lowest income students from the match? Will colleges (even need-blind ones) know that during the match? I think I'm eligible for Questbridge but I'd be on the higher-income end if I got it. But trust me I still need A LOT of financial aid).
- My son didn't do the College Prep program, so unable to answer this one.
- The whole point of Questbridge is that the partner schools are LOOKING for high achieving, low income students. Everyone who is low income has had to make sacrifices, whether you are aware of it or not. Having those experiences, and showing how you have overcome them, is not a "sob story" Only truth.
The questbridge website also has really helpful info on writing your essay.
My advice would be that in your essay you make sure it reflects you and not write what you think colleges want to see.
- This is essentially true. The long, main application cannot be changed. (Unless something is inaccurate, in which you can email questbridge) However, each school you rank usually has supplements you must complete, which differs for each school. Some only request short answers, some lengthy essays.
One thing to keep in mind though, if you apply to a college outside of questbridge, (say, CommonApp) once you send it, thats it. You cant edit it either.
- Some schools are really strict about the income thresholds, whatever they may be for the particular school. All of the schools dont have the same threshold. If you are asking if only FAFSA EFC of 0 get matched, then no. Also having a FAFSA of 0 does not guarantee match status, many dont get matched.
There are many schools that calculate there own EFC, which is different from FAFSA(Duke and Yale come to mind) so you could have a higher FAFSA EFC(say 2000) but for those schools have an EFC of 0.
Because of the match scholarship, need-blind schools will know you need aid, which in any other context could be a negative. But for Questbridge its a selling point because these schools are specifically looking for that.
Also, the majority of Questbridge scholars get accepted into the schools via rollover into Ed/RD.
The first step is becoming a finalist though. Good Luck to you!