<p>Is there an advantage (other than an application fee waiver) applying to schools through QuestBridge versus the school's standard regular decision process?</p>
<p>equally lost - hope someone responds…</p>
<p>I am wondering the same thing. Is there a greater advantage applying through QB? Would a student still qualify for merit scholarships through the school? Also, does anyone know if it is appropriate for students who are low income, but high assets? Any info would be greatly appreciated.</p>
<p>@curiousCC
This is the information page for QB schools; each has a financial aid tab that describes how aid is awarded. Many give only need-based aid: [Partner</a> Colleges](<a href=“QuestBridge”>QuestBridge)</p>
<p>Whether QB would be an advantage is a judgment call and only you know your circumstances well enough to make that call.</p>
<p>As a QB finalist, my son knew he had a strong application and competitive stats. He applied to 6 QB schools and got into 4, including 3 Ivies; he also was accepted to all 4 non-QB schools he tried for, including one Ivy. Was QB a critical difference? I guess we’ll never know for sure…he has great stats, but so do most of the applicants. Anything that sets your app apart from any other can be a deciding factor at a school that rejects 90%+ of its applicants. The QB process helped him put together a better application and saved us hundreds of dollars in app fees; that much I am sure of.</p>
<p>Right now, he’s packing for his move-in at Yale, a school he would not have applied to if he hadn’t found QuestBridge. Grateful doesn’t begin to cover how our family feels about QB. YMMV</p>
<p>^</p>
<p>agree 100% with scoutmom. The savings in app fees plus being put into a “special” pile are valuable. I don’t know how well my daughter would have fared in RD as she was matched with her #1 school (thank you QB.) Even if she had not, the savings in app fees, and even more the benefit was that she had apps filled out (including the common app) and all her essays written so early in the process took a lot of stress off her.Whe was matched Nov 30th of her senior year and breezed through the rest of it with zero stress.</p>
<p>Congrats to both Moms! My S is not looking at Ivies. He is interested in two of the Partner Schools, his #1 choice and another further down his list. I undestand you must rank schools. He would not want to rank the two schools as #1 and #2. Is it possible to apply to only one school through QB? Not sure if this is the way to go for him. And although we are low income, we are not low assets.</p>
<p>For one, you save in application fees. For another, you get to apply to more than one school early. If you aren’t matched, you can ask to have your application forwarded to schools in the RD round, and for most, the application gives you two advantages: it flags you as a high-achieving, low-income student (the sort of student these schools are looking for), and it gives you ample space to explore your background and explain any adversities you’ve faced (most applications don’t afford you the space that QB does).</p>
<p>For those who are contemplating applying REA to Stanford instead, QuestBridge offers another advantage: if you don’t get matched, your application is guaranteed to be considered again in the RD round. Applying REA carries the high risk that you won’t be considered again - about 10% get in, another 10% are deferred to the RD round, and the rest are rejected. With QB, though, if you aren’t among those who get matched, you are automatically deferred and reconsidered in the RD round, which is when most of the QB finalists get in (~100 get into Stanford RD, as opposed to the handful that gets matched).</p>
<p>The difference is minimal: Stanford’s financial aid is so generous that getting in RD (assuming that you are a low-income student) means you get the same financial aid package as match recipients through QuestBridge.</p>
<p>
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<p>Yes - many do.</p>
<p>Alright So Let me get this straight, I can apply as QB finalist and not get matched, then apply at Stanford through REA, and if I’m not admitted, automatically become deferred to put me in the RD pool and possibly become accepted there? In that instance could you give me a vague timeline of that and would I still be getting a FA package by one of the two? If so, whose package in what situation, Thanks.</p>
<p>@Smud96</p>
<p>From [url=<a href=“QuestBridge”>QuestBridge]FAQ[/url</a>]</p>
<p>“Q: Can I apply to Stanford Restrictive (Single-Choice) Early Action?
A: If you are a QuestBridge Finalist and would like to participate in the Match Process you cannot apply Restrictive Early Action. However, if you decide not to participate in the Match Process and formally withdraw your match application through QuestBridge, you can submit a Restrictive Early Action application by November 1.
If you are not a Finalist, you can submit an application in either Restrictive Early Action or Regular Decision.”</p>
<p>Also, QB does not provide scholarships, the partner colleges do. Stanford specifically states:</p>
<p>“A: Actually our financial aid packages for those in Regular Decision will be the same as if those students had been matched in the College Match process. Quite simply we have excellent financial aid for all students with demonstrated need at Stanford. We have a need-based financial aid policy, and we fulfill 100 percent of demonstrated need. For additional information about how Stanford determines financial need, please refer to Stanford’s Financial Aid Office website.” (same QB page as above)</p>