<p>IDK but I’m pretty sure being indignant will not help you in the long run. The longer you whine, the less time you have to work on your essays. Tons of questbridge applicants make it through regular decision. You could be one of them, though I’m pretty sure if you continue to bite the hand that may feed you, it won’t be likely.</p>
<p>First thing’s first: thank you for titling each and every one of your posts with a new roman numeral. Lets me keep track of how invested you are with this topic at hand.</p>
<p>Secondly: I honestly don’t know whether or not I should take you seriously anymore, 'cause now you’re just going 'round in circles, my dear beahonest.</p>
<p>I can’t help but feel that you’re misreading everything somehow, and I partially blame the length of my posts. I wish I knew how to format in these posts to stress the more important stuff, but shortening my sentences and speaking more straightforwardly will have to do. Here, I think DxtXXII said it best; go reread that and let it sink in. Then go and read hanaviolet’s post. Then come back to read this:</p>
<hr>
<p>I think it’s /very/ personal for you. I think you’re making this /about/ you. You keep going on about how QuestBridge isn’t fair to white people, and yet you’re being completely ignorant to the fact that white people /get into QuestBridge./</p>
<p>No, 77% of Questrbidge 2010 (not 2011) finalists are NOT minority group members. You misread that; that’s the statistic for finalists who were among the first generation in their family to attend college … which you very apparently are not, since you continue to skirt the issue. 71% of the finalists were minority students, and though that may not seem like much of a difference, it is less than what you were trying to fabricate.</p>
<p>You keep prompting US to ask QuestBridge for whatever reason. I suggest that /you/ go and ask QuestBridge, if you want the information so badly. And formally. Not like this. Have someone else write it for you or something. I’m not sure if you want anyone with a position of power over you reading this style of writing (i.e. arrogant, selfish, petulant, infantile, idiotic, “sophomoric” as you so kindly put it-- did you learn that your sophomore year, find it in a thesaurus as a synonym for the words I used aimed towards you, or was it a word you learned in an expensive SAT prep academy?).</p>
<p>Honestly though, I can see why you’re making threats on a harmless internet college advice forum. There’s nothing to lose for you here. You can make all this pointless noise about lawsuits and injustice but once you really stop to review the facts, there’s so much more against you than there is against QuestBridge.</p>
<p>From the constant repetition of your questions, I can’t help but wonder whether you’re being ignorant of possible answers on purpose, or whether you’re simply unable to read and comprehend whole blocks of text at a time. This is a dig at you, personally. This is a personal matter. I will make this clear until you understand it, or until you give me no reason to, or until you stop making this a topic of discussion.</p>
<p>It was wrong of me to stress your essays and recommendations-- I didn’t mean the writing style of those two pieces. I meant the content. I can’t help but think that you’re used to acceptance and comfort if you can’t help but think that you deserve the scholarship on the simple basis of your grades, which you still won’t reveal. “Higher than the majority, if not all, minorities” is incredibly vague and … ignorant. And probably racist on your part.</p>
<p>It would have taken you hours to apply through CommonApp, too. Just saying. They saved you hours of your life by having you go through the process. If you felt like the QuestBridge application was a waste of time, you’ve missed the point.</p>
<p>I’m assuming your life will continue to be successful because you aren’t going to become a law student and prosecute QuestBridge, agreed? And oh god, you completely missed the point.</p>
<p>“Prepare to be disappointed. Prepare to discover that life isn’t fair. Prepare to be ****ed off by some ignorant bureaucrats who can’t see that low income is no different whether you are white, black or Asian.”</p>
<p>I felt this minor sensation of fluttering elation upon reading the first two sentences, then it just snowballed downhill. See, no, it’s that type of one-track-mindedness and-- brargh, I’m just left incoherent by the sheer— really, at this point, I’d like another word for ignorance, but I’m not even aiming to impress you, so there’s no point.</p>
<hr>
<p>Third time stress: this is very personal to you. Don’t try to deflect by saying it isn’t. I’m frustrated by how you’re trying to make this a broad issue when it really isn’t. I’m confused as to why you’re projecting your negativity onto a nonprofit scholarship association. I am, towards you. Personally. I understand that you feel hurt and betrayed, though the charges are baseless. You are, towards QuestBridge. Personally.</p>
<p>Fourth time: this is a personal issue that you are raising, and it is about you.</p>
<p>Anyway, going back to the basis as to why you probably weren’t accepted. It could be as ACollegeDad put it— the process could be randomized due to certain circumstances. This is probably true. It is true for every application process. Human beings are subject to human error. People hold differing opinions. Moving on.</p>
<p>What I mean by the content of your essays, however, is more of how jacobo2880 put it, though. (Thank you by the way, you’re really sweet.) Go ahead and ask yourself those questions; you don’t need to answer them here, I understand that they’re very personal. My essays were very revealing, because they were about me. I actually never let anyone read my college essays— no peer editing, whoops— because they were so revealing of my character and background. I had no trouble letting a bunch of strangers know in confidentiality (meaning admissions offices) though, and although collegeconfidential does have ‘confidential’ in the name, I don’t suggest you spill your guts out onto a public internet forum. So answer those questions in your head. Or on paper.</p>
<p>After you’ve done that, ask yourself if your life story has any basis. If, upon reading your life struggles, you still feel entitled to … I don’t even know what you’re trying to feel entitled to, sorry. I was going to say “a shot at a scholarship,” and then I realized that isn’t even what QuestBridge is about, not really. So I was going to say “fee waivers for a variety of schools,” then I realized you could get all that without QuestBridge. </p>
<p>It is so easy to get a bunch of people and name them as a statistic. To look at human beings, with minds and hearts, and label them as a number. There are circumstances— situations, beahonest— that make every single person different. Isn’t that why there’s an application process at all? To get to know the applicant? Personally (fifth time’s the charm)?</p>
<p>What I meant by the whole first half of my previous post wasn’t that I am somehow better than you. I apologize if that’s what you got out of it. I’m not, I’m really not. I simply lacked another basis of comparison.</p>
<p>I’m running a bit short on time, so I’m not going to go back and re-outline all the points I’ve already hit half a week ago… (Wow, it’s already been a week? I’m in awe.) I hope you understand what I meant upon the third time reading it through, though. I’m not stressing the fact that minorities are ethnic minorities. I’m not stressing race, as you seem to be. I’m stressing situations. Circumstances. Personalities, experiences, obstacles, overcoming those obstacles, et cetera, et cetera, et cetera. Sometimes, it’s just easier to face those barriers if you’re a minority.</p>
<p>For example, language barriers. That in itself is broad and vague, as I can’t speak for everybody, but it’s a personal issue. I, for example, have always had trouble communicating with my parents because I primarily speak English and they primarily speak Korean, though we try our best. Legal documents and school forms to sign almost always have to be screened and translated by me or one of my sisters first. My mother still doesn’t understand QuestBridge in its most basic forms, despite my attempts, because the vocabulary’s too complex for her to comprehend. I’m sure you’ve never had this problem.</p>
<p>Another example: job stability. You know how, even now, lots of people rage about feminism and unequal pay? You can call employers sexist … or you could look at the facts. On average, women are paid less than men. This is a fact. The circumstances leading to that, however, is not only because there may be a glass ceiling in place, but also because so many women leave their jobs to have and raise babies. This isn’t a bad thing, it’s simply the truth. Some women leave their jobs, or take a maternity leave, or lower their job performance (I hope they do, I hope they don’t leave their child to a nanny), and their career could possibly suffer for it. I’m not going into specifics with that, I’m assuming you took and/or are taking econ in school and understand exactly what I’m talking about, unless your teacher adamantly believes there is solely gender-based discrimination in the work field, in which case I cannot help you. What I mean to say with this, though, is that having parents who immigrated to America for you is similar to having two parents quit their jobs to rear you. Horrible analogy, but it’s good enough… Basically, the job stability’s gone. My mother, for example, was offered one of the highest positions in her local hospital, but went to America, was unemployed for a bit, and settled for a more humble nursing job instead. Again, not a bad thing-- she’s happy where she is, and she grew through the experience-- but another thing to take into consideration as to where people came from, their background, etc.</p>
<p>These are just superficial things off the top of my head that I don’t mind sharing with you or whoever else cares to read this behemoth of a post. There is so much more out there that could possibly derive from “being a minority.” I’m not saying that it’s the only reason, just that it could be one of them. There are so many other possible circumstances that sound boring when put into one word, but are so much more revealing with … well, essays. (I could say things like military, suicide attempts, crippling depression, culture, socioeconomic struggles, handicaps, disabilities, mental trauma, single parent, foster care, adoption, and childhood disease with ease, but most people would simply breeze over such issues without thinking much of them without more elaboration.)</p>
<p>So here, quoting hanaviolet, so you can read it again (fourth time?):</p>
<p>“I imagine QB looks at the candidates “wholistically,” just like many colleges do, to some degree or another. So applications readers may be well-disposed to a certain attitude or type of struggle or whatever - it is partially an <em>arbitrary</em> proccess and does not solely use qualitative criteria.”</p>
<p>There’s the end note. I’m done. I have invested/spent/wasted so much time typing this up, dear lord. TL;DR:</p>
<p>1) This is personal to you, stop deflecting.
2) QuestBridge isn’t racially discriminatory; there are other factors involved.
3) May you find love and acceptance somewhere on this earth; I think you’d appreciate it.</p>
<p>Thank you for your time. Thank you for your words. Thank you for allowing me to think this through. Thank you for leaving us all on that cryptic note.</p>
<p>Cool.</p>
<hr>
<p>littlewing424 - … I was going to say that no, nonfinalists cannot go through regular decision, but holy crap, you’re right. It’s technically not through QuestBridge, but it’s still an application process.</p>
<p>beahonest, here: <a href=“http://www.questbridge.org/for-students/ncm-regular-decision-requirements[/url]”>http://www.questbridge.org/for-students/ncm-regular-decision-requirements</a></p>
<p>Just, go through that, seriously, please. All these schools give substantial amounts of financial aid. Even going through QuestBridge at all, even without being named a finalist, shows perseverance and dedication and all those other positive qualities that I’m sure shine through you with the radiance of a thousand white-hot suns. Even though I’m a finalist, I am probably not going to be awarded a choice scholarship. I don’t have the credentials. I’m grateful for the title, but it really isn’t everything. I’m probably going to go through Regular Decision. You really, really, really aren’t losing anything by not being named a finalist, ohmygod.</p>
<p>I’m really done here now, I really am. I have, like, six calculus assignments to finish and a whole chapter to cram in less than an hour, ohmygod. Valley girl time, yeah, alright, leaving.</p>
<p>EDIT: Oh, cool, I got the sentence you cussed in before a mod edited it out of your own post. Small sense of achievement.</p>
<p>Wait no, one more thing. I’m sure I’ve overstayed my welcome, but I enjoy my procrastination and meddling with other peoples’ affairs.</p>
<p>Anyhow, beahonest, I have a single request. Stop being so vaguely cryptic. Reply to each of us as individuals instead of replying to us all as a whole and being all vague and ambiguous and stufflikethat. I feel like we’re trying to talk to you, and you’re monologuing down at us from a stage. 'Kay, thanks.</p>
<p>@beahonest:</p>
<ol>
<li><p>I would love to defend QB in such a case. Since QB is a private not-for-profit organization, it is, under federal law, allowed to practice whatever discrimination it may supposedly have (I still don’t think it practices any, frankly).</p></li>
<li><p>I agree with everything itsonmars has said concerning QB and your feeling towards it (maybe not some of the arguments (s)he used but the overall conclusion)</p></li>
</ol>
<p>Wow
that was a lot to get through.
Even if I didnt become a finalist I am still glad I applied. It is because of QB I started on the Common App much earlier than most people. It is also because of all the time I spent on the QB application, the
Common App was a lot easier.
P.S. Hey beahonest did you applied to the Coca Cola Scholarship? The first round is scored by a computer(I think); Im sure the computer wont be racist.</p>
<p>mmmm. i didn’t read the entire thread but what was said about not letting the fact that i didn’t become a QB finalist get to me is very true.</p>
<p>I’ll have to be honest, i was pretty bummed when i didn’t become a finalist. I’m first generation american, college student, hispanic, was the best student at my hs (including all the white people), and had awesome leadership experience (not just “extracurriculars”) in stuff that i was genuinely passionate about, 30k single mother income household, and a 3.9 and 2100 to boot. I was like *** i have all the “hooks.”</p>
<p>But i decided to not let that get to me and simply applied early to MIT (using a revised QB essay…) and got in. I ended up only applying to one school. The financial aid that i have right now is THE SAME AS WHAT I WOULD HAVE GOTTEN THROUGH QB.</p>
<p>I also became a Gates Millennium scholar four months later (not that i need it for undergrad though, MIT’s financial aid covers everything).</p>
<p>Moral: get over the fact that you didn’t become a QB finalist and keep working hard. If you truly do love learning and giving back to the world, sooner or later people will recognize you and want to help you out.</p>
<p>Carlosd3co, you sound like such a winner that I bet QB figured you didn’t need them to succeed! They thought they’d give it to someone who needed a little more hand-holding, so to speak - best wishes & congratulations to you!</p>
<p>Someone is mad because they didn’t put enough effort and they blame everyone else except the one person they should, them-self?</p>
<p>You’re doing such a poor job at NOT coming off as racist that I’d respect you more if you were just full-blown racist. </p>
<p>P.S. White, low as hell SAT scores, high GPA, finalist. What’s up bruh?</p>
<p>Beahonest you just made my day :)</p>
<p>You have no right to be labeling any other contribution to this thread as “sophomoric”. All the information you need is clearly spelled out on the site. The staffers will not blatantly ignore others, just stupid questions posed by ignorant, demanding people like you. I don’t understand why you have the notion that Questbridge is all about the scores, given your opening post. You make no mention of the quality of your essays while Questbridge puts a huge emphasis on them. </p>
<p>I was not named a finalist, but I’m thankful I participated in the Finalist process. I didn’t have to scramble to put my Common Application essays together, I was able to do a quite a bit of soul-searching through the writing of my Biographical essay, and I had the pleasure of befriending some of the most wonderful people I’ve ever met through the Facebook group. I am Asian. I had an SAT, ACT, and GPA above the mean for most applicants. I’m very proud of my essays. When I received my rejection, yes, I was crest-fallen for a few moments, but I afterwards felt incredibly happy for the people around me who were able to advance to the next stage.</p>
<p>If you come out of Questbridge with the tenacity to write such a bitter and condescending post, then you were never the kid the officers were looking for in the first place. Questbridge wants a kid who despite rejection, hardships, and struggles, can push on with sincerity, motivation, and a large amount of empathy. Someone who needed the scholarship and deserved it more got it over you. </p>
<p>Deal with it.</p>
<p>Beahonest, You know those pictures you see when you scroll through the QB Home Page? I’m one of those people… Specifically, I’m one of those <em>white</em> people. I’m so offended by your bashing of the program because of your own bitterness (and the whole threatening to sue thing…seriously?). From reading your posts I can tell that you’re one of those people that probably didn’t really pay attention to what QB actually seeks and now you’re being completely butthurt because you didn’t get your way. Boo hoo. First off, GPA and SATs are such a minor factor when it comes to admissions (mostly because all of our SATs are relatively the same). This is why you spend so much time writing essays for QB because the essays are actually the window into who you are. </p>
<br>
<br>
<p>I’ll tell you mine… Neither of my parents went to college. For my entire life, our family of four lived in a run down trailer from the late 60’s off an income of around $20,000 a year. When I was younger, I was badly bullied for being poor and my mom was emotionally abusive. Both of my parents are alcoholics. Since I was in preschool, I knew that education would be my answer to a better life, so I worked my butt off. I graduated from my high school as valedictorian with almost two years of college already finished. I wrote my high school’s constitution. I worked on yearbook every single year and as a junior, was made a minor editor and as a senior, was made Editor-in-Chief. As a freshman and sophomore in high school, I did community service and as a junior, I created a successful Key Club at my high school (which I was then elected to as President when we became official my senior year). I was elected Freshman Class President, Sophomore Class President, ASB Vice-President and finally ASB President my senior year. As a senior, I completed a 50 hour internship with a school psychologist and was elected as a Senator to the college I attended part-time. My SAT and ACT scores were fairly good (highest was a 35 in reading). And guess what…? I did even more than that (I’m sick of writing about myself so I’m going to stop…). I managed to convey this all on my app and they picked me… a white person!</p>
<p>Why’d they pick me? They picked me because I struggled and I overcame my challenges in life… This is the same exact reason they pick ANYONE, regardless of ethnic identity. </p>
<p>It’s probably hard to accept, but you’re probably just not impressive enough… or you don’t have much of a story… or you suck at conveying that story…</p>
<p>In other words, QuestBridge doesn’t suck, you just do. (:</p>
<p>Lol, he mad.</p>
<p>@starryari, your story is so inspring :’)</p>
<p>Thank you. (:</p>
<p>beahonest I am one of those minorities who probably (assuming that your stats are as sky high as you imply) had lower stats than you who became a finalist. Is this because I am black? Is it because my parents didn’t go to college? Or is it because I am a second-generation immigrant? Maybe. Or maybe it’s because of my essays detailing my experiences recovering my a TBI (traumatic brain injury), moving multiple times, and handling being the oldest of 7 in my family. I believe, and I think most people would agree, I got in because of a combination of all I listed. You start this thread outraged over not getting in, particularly with all the minorities who did proving Questbridge discriminates as you have better stats than “virtually all” minorities (racist). This is offensive to me and probably all other finalist, specifically minority finalists, because your basically saying some minority stole your spot and Questbridge is a scam because YOU didn’t get in. I’m not going to bore you with advice you don’t want and I’m in no position to give so I’ll give it to you point-blank, you’re wrong. “Virtually all” finalists are deserving and you’re wrong in being this needlessly bitter about it. Life’s not fair bro. It’s not fair that you worked hard for four years and didn’t win this thing. It’s not fair I had to go through so much to get to where I am today. The faster you realize this fact, the quicker better days come (okay I lied about not giving advice, but I had to close this out somehow). ;)</p>
<p>You know, as I’ve said, this is not about personalities. This is not about race. This is about honestly and fairness. If Questbridge wants to use a race-based admissions procedure, I’m totally OK with that. But don’t waste my precious time and my limited resources INVITING me to apply for a scholarship program that is rigged against me.</p>
<p>Many of you seem to be completely incapable of looking at an issue without inserting yourself into it. It’s not all about YOU and your entitlement and your needs. It’s about a program that for some reason wants to inflate its numbers - perhaps for funding reasons.</p>
<p>Questbridge advertises that it is for low income ($60k???) students. Almost three quarters of its finalists - at least - were minority applicants in 2011. We’re still waiting for them to disclose the number of minority applicants they got in 2011.</p>
<p>beahonest O.K. let’s take out the “personalities.” Your base argument is Questbridge lies by saying it’s open to all applicants, regardless of race. You ignore the fact Questbridge never stated that it wouldn’t use race in the selection process and that Questbridge is an open private institution. This means that you were not without resources to help make a decision on whether or not to apply. On the students tab you can find a page called “finalist profile.” You obviously know this since you keep repeating the percentages of minority finalists. You decided apply despite the fact that “almost three quarters of its finalists - at least - were minority applicants in 2011” (actually 2010). You could have came to the conclusion then, that race is a factor in finalist selection (which it is in virtually every college outside California) and not apply. You didn’t, perhaps noticing that whites make up the 2nd highest percentage of finalists. If you feel this choice was a mistake, then you’re solely at fault. You had the resources to make an educated decision. Just because you don’t like the outcome doesn’t make it unfair.</p>
<p>I agree with 12momar. You had the stats before-hand of past finalists and you still applied so when the results come out, you have nothing to complain about. They might not advertise on the front page of there website that they use race (I still don’t think they use race directly is they use it at all) but the charts are there for you to extrapolate the notion from if you wanted. Fact is, a large percentage of the applicants are minorities (you would know that if you paid attention to the facebook group whose postings you evidently looked at) and fact is the things minorities (especially immigrants) go through are frequently (note I said frequently) worse than what caucasians go through. Also note that while the general guideline is 60k, the majority of finalists have income levels around 30k. Frankly, I think you are just “butt-hurt”, as one of my friends would say.</p>
<p>Beahonest… I’m just going to wait for everyone else to tear into your stupid statements. Why did you even bother to apply for QB? You can’t make a decent point or stick to one argument… </p>
<p>You made this personal with your whiny “I’m white and QB is Racist and I’m better than everyone else. <em>waaaahhhhhh</em>” statements.</p>
<p>Guess what? My last name is as Irish as the day is long (it’s not actually Donaghy), I have a 3.8 GPA and a 2070 SAT. My biggest extracurricular accomplishment is being Vice President of a club. And I’m a finalist. </p>
<p>Why? You know, sometimes I’m too sure. I’m not THAT poor. My dad has an office job. I live in one of the wealthiest counties in the country. I have a laptop and I go to a good school with a lot of APs and caring teachers. My parents are both alive and healthy. I’ve had no serious medical problems. I can afford to not do a homework or study all night because I get a more than decent education just by showing up at school. My parents want me to go to college. </p>
<p>Maybe I was picked because my essays showed that I have a sense of humor. Maybe it’s because I’m the vice president of a club that, as a sophomore, I didn’t think I was smart enough to even join. Maybe it’s because I wrote short answers about listening to Christmas music and going to Yankee Candle. I made myself look human, and I did a damn good job, if you’ll forgive my immodesty. </p>
<p>Or, maybe it’s because I understand that racial minorities generally make less money than white people, and therefore a scholarship for low-income students will have more minority applicants! </p>
<p>There is no point trying not to insert personalities into this discussion. Their method is to look for poor high school students with personalities, and I’ve met all sorts of them in the Facebook groups. I’m white and I got picked with lower scores than you. You didn’t do as good of a job on your application. Sorry. You’ll probably have a good life anyway… if you stop being an arrogant, entitled jackass. </p>
<p>(For emphasis, IT IS NOT RIGGED AGAINST YOU, POOR PEOPLE ARE OFTEN MINORITIES, SO THEY APPLY MORE, AND THEREFORE THERE ARE MORE MINORITY FINALISTS why is this difficult for people to understand, someone please help me with this. I thought this was something you learned from, like, leaving your house.)</p>