<p>So I know this is really early to be stressing about and even thinking about, but I am completely stressing about the college scholarship. I know it sounds really silly because of it's still February, but I can't help it. My teacher recommended me to QB and until I found out about QB I thought I will go to some CUNY school in NYC because its cheap and my family doesn't have the money for me to live in a dorm. At first I was really excited, but then when I was comparing myself to most people, I'm not as successful, I guess I can say. So I was wondering if you can tell me whether or not I might have a chance of being a Finalist for the College Scholarship.</p>
<p>GPA: My school doesn't sent GPAs and they sent colleges our transcript instead. I have majority As and B+ (but majority A-) and I do have 2 Bs and 1 B-. I also have one C- from sophmore year. If my school were to sent my GPA, it would be a 3.5 (but I'm working really hard to raise it to a 3.65, which I believe I can)</p>
<p>SATs: I am taking it in March and May, but my goal is 1850.</p>
<p>Extracurricular: 3 years of cross country, 3 years of outdoor track, 2 years of indoor track.</p>
<p>Volunteer: 275 hour of volunteering at a senior adult center. 75 hours of community service at an program that works with autistic children.</p>
<p>Work: I have a job at the place I used to volunteer and I work with children with autism and other special needs (1-2 times a week)</p>
<p>Income: 47K-49K per year for a family of 5.</p>
<p>Benefits:
-I was not born in the US. I can here at the age of 6 and English is my second language.
-First generation to go to college.</p>
<p>Other things:
-I am planning to take 2-3 college courses over the summer. </p>
<p>please let me know if I have a slight chance of being a finalist for the scholarship.</p>
<p>As a QuestBridge Finalist, I am confident that you will be named a finalist as long as you emphasize your adversities. You possess three qualities that QuestBridge wants in their applicants: low income (Yes, you might think that $47,000 a year is not low income, but for a family of 5, it is) and first-generation American and college prospective. </p>
<p>Secondly, your grades and predicted test scores are not necessarily great, but they are good. The majority of QB finalists in fact do not have top grades or scores. They usually have only good test scores and grades, but the adversities that they have faces, which are similar to yours, make their “good” test scores and grades look magnificent. If you look at the 2011 National Match Finalist statistics here at [2011</a> National College Match Finalist Profile](<a href=“http://www.questbridge.org/for-students/ncm-finalist-profile]2011”>http://www.questbridge.org/for-students/ncm-finalist-profile), you will see that 25% of the finalists actually do not score above a 1200 out of 1600 on their SAT and less than 50% actually score a 1300 out of 1600 on their SAT. That being said, however, you should keep your grades up as high as possible and score as well on the SAT as possible.</p>
<p>Your extracurriculars do show significant involvement, so no worries there. </p>
<p>Please apply. Keep up your grades. Also, try taking the ACT as well. It is possible to receive a fee waiver for the tests. Some kids do better on the ACT. If you are taking SAT subject tests(some QB schools require them), take them this spring when the subject matter is fresh in your head. Ask your GC about waivers for these as well. </p>
<p>My son applied and was ot selected as a finalist. Having said that, I am glad that he applied. You will never know unless you try. Also, make sureyou ask your teachers for letters of recommendation this spring. The QB app is due way before all the other college apps. Good luck!</p>
<p>Definitely you should apply. We learned so much from the QuestBridge site and QB finalists from other years that it made the application process easier, and much of that help came before the finalist decisions were out.</p>
<p>If nothing else, you will have your letters of rec and essays done early, so you can take time polishing and making decisions about other schools.</p>
<p>I think QB looks for superior essays and letters of recs over GPA and stuff of that sort. Put A LOT of effort into making great essays and you should be fine.</p>
<p>I had meh GPA (3.5) but had a high ACT score that probably made up for it.
Don’t stress too much</p>
<p>livedream, you will never know until you try! Your motivation is a key factor. No, it is NOT too early to be thinking about your app. Now is the time. You will need time in order to get all the different parts of your app together, and to find some expert support – if not from your parents, from a teacher, GC or friend. </p>
<p>You mention CUNY so it sounds like you live in New York. You should also try for HEOP. It is only for New York State. HEOP has an economic eligibility cutoff (it goes by size of family) and you can look it up online. The academic eligibility part requires that you be technically “inadmissible” by regular standards. From my D’s several HEOP app’s what we learned that this really does hold true. However, what we also find is that applicants who are hovering right around or just below the benchmarks are considered the best candidates. For example: one school’s SAT scores averaged 1650, she got a 1630, admissions told us that looked very good from their perspective for HEOP.</p>
<p>So QB and HEOP are very different programs, but both are for highly motivated kids who are 1) achievers in spite of demonstrated adversity 2) low income – this is measurable by objective standards based on family size and 3) willing to jump through extra admissions hoops.</p>
<p>If you go for HEOP, look for schools where your SAT scores are in or just below their lowest 25% percentile. (D was told at two schools that her scores and grades were too high for their HEOP). This means aiming slightly higher than your non HEOP peers would aim.</p>
<p>For QB I would say it is a different approach – don’t shoot for Yale if your stats would make you a more realistic candidate for a lower-ranked school. All of the QB schools are fantastic but keep in mind, some have acceptance rates of lower than 10%, and others almost 30%. A big difference.</p>
<p>Best of luck! And by the way, CC is an invaluable resource – keep using it! There are generations of wisdom shared on this website (not to mention much- needed moral support).</p>
<p>DEFINITELY apply. I don’t know toooo much about college prep, but I was a finalist and I assure you it’s worth it to apply! Keep your grades up and good luck!</p>