<p>I applied for this Questbridge College Match Scholarship... and have been selected as a finalist.</p>
<p>However, I don't even really understand what this is. By being a finalist... does this mean that, if I am accepted to any of the partner colleges... then I receive full tuition?? Or do I misunderstand?</p>
<p>And I don't understand something else. I don't have to actually apply to these colleges... Questbridge applies for me?? And then I find out if I'm admitted?</p>
<p>Also, the finalist email I received says I have to "rank" my top colleges. However, I go to the website and everything in "my locker" is denied access. Could anyone familiar with Questbridge help me understand the process and what I should do next?</p>
<p>I'm a finalist too, and the email said that they would contact us in the next week about more details. Only three colleges- Princeton, Stanford, and Columbia- require you to complete their application in addition to Questbridge's. You don't need to complete another application for any of the other partner schools. You do, however, need to send in the financial aid forms, which is described in the email too. </p>
<p>If you are accepted to a school that you rank through the Match, you receive a full ride.</p>
<p>btw, Stanford and Princeton (and maybe others) don't necessarily give you a full ride. The financial aid package they give you is the same that you would get if you were just a regular applicant. Don't ask me why. Of course, with the new initiatives by both colleges, this doesn't matter if your income level is below a certain level (I think it's $45,000).</p>
<p>hey i am curious does anyone know the criterion for choosing a finalist in the order of their importance. like are any of you guys first generation college students? and how important was academic in comparison to income?</p>
<p>its mostly based on your writing ability: they make you write like 3 long essays and alot of short answer questions---it's very EXTENSIVE. But overall, imo the criterion is based upon your financial need (EFC), essays, and academics. your original question was whether academics was more heavily focused than on one's income, I think an answer to your question would be what someone else told me: they're like two blades on a pair of scissors, one blade is not more important than the other; they work together...(and I was also selected as finalist)</p>