<p>Hi,
I am getting looked at to play division III basketball at some Questbridge partner schools. If I become a finalist, will being a recruited athlete help me get matched with a college? Thanks. </p>
<p>Well if you are a recruited athlete, then you have an admission, by definition. I don’t think there are any reports of QB and actual recruitment. I wouldn’t think you would need QB if you are recruitable. No one needs QB, really, if they are low income and high achievers, ideally they would get looked at in context already. So achieving from a low income disadvantaged background is what is really helping your stand out. Not that you are applying through QB, though to be named a finalist is one award/honor to list on your apps. QB just helps those kids who wouldn’t know to apply to those colleges, brings the students to the school’s attention, being just one way low income students apply, and gets them a more in depth application to talk about themselves, then just the Common Application. If you are already ‘noticed’ because you are recruitable then I don’t know if it helps you–you already came to their attention. It certainly doesn’t hurt.</p>
<p>ToastyRoast, I think being a recruited athlete and Questbridge Finalist can be a great combination. My daughter was a Questbridge College Prep scholar and through that program, she then narrowed down a list of schools that she felt she could play her sport at as a recruited athlete. She contacted those coaches who then saw her play. When she had her overnight visits, I don’t think any of the coaches even knew what Questbridge was, but they said they would do whatever they could to help her if she were named a finalist. Then by the time she was named a finalist, she had found three solid schools that were both Questbridge partners and where she felt like she would feel comfortable playing her sport and had athletic and academic programs that she loved. So she let those coaches know she was listing those schools as matches and each coach said they would write letters for her admissions file (all the while keeping the coaches informed of the other schools to which she was applying, as well). In the end, she was matched with one of those schools (her first choice). To this day, I firmly believe that her combination of athletics and questbridge status helped her match.</p>
<p>Thank you for the comments, they really help! That is great to hear, proudparentoftwo, that your daughter was matched with her top choice! And to BrownParent, no, I am not guaranteed admission because the schools I’m being recruited at are Division 3, not division 1. Also, I am using QuestBridge as a way to hopefully be matched with a school and receive a full ride scholarship, which would definitely ease the financial burden on my family. </p>