Some kids think their chances are better if they get the finalist credential and then not rank, but ED to their favorite school. They compare the ED acceptance rate and the QB match rate. Since QB does not release the # of applicants per school it’s not a fair comparison and I’m sure depends on the school if it’s advantageous.
That may be what the OP did.
Some QB schools also allow unmatched finalists to submit an ED app, even tho it’s after the normal ED deadline. UChicago allows this for sure. Also, many QB schools have ED2, so unmatched finalists can do that too, if they don’t get in ED1.
Digging further into the QB website, I see that Columbia and MIT do allow QB non matches to roll into their ED/EA round. I wonder what the success rate is for these rollovers?
I learned something new today.
Hang in there. It sounds like you did not get good counseling or application help from your GC or teachers. @MYOS1634 will help you. There are some great people on this board. This might be a good year to take a gap year with campuses still not back to “normal” after COVID. Entering in fall 2022 might be better for a number of reasons. You could work this year, save money, polish your resume and application, and put in better applications to a wider range of schools next year–safety, match and a reasonable reach or two. If you are female and open to attending a women’s college that opens up a range of possibilities as well. Lots of students decided to take gap years last year and this year. The mental health toll of COVID on our society is tremendous.
And you don’t need to “major” in social work to become a social worker. You need a Master’s degree, and I have lots of friends who work in social work whose BA’s were in the kind of humanities subjects which are taught everywhere- sociology, anthropology, psychology.
Hugs. You can find a path forward which does NOT involve zillions of loans for a sub-par academic experience.
Some additional schools to consider from the NACAC list (some new to the list today): Lawrence (WI), Ursinus (Pennsylvania), Rose-Hulman (IN), Goucher (MD), Ohio Wesleyan (OH), Roanoke (VA).
Adding Agnes Scott to the list of potential places to enroll in the fall, if a women’s college appeals.
@girlrejected
Just so you know
every year there are kids in your situation - very bright, fantastic achievements, lower income, often at a school that doesn’t send many students out of state or to highly selective colleges- who are seemingly stuck when they should be having their pick of colleges.
HOWEVER we generally find them a solution. So, take heart, get ready to work, and we’ll figure it out.
Send me your commonapp essay in a PM. (Check your PMs).
Also, for a Master in Social Work, consider majoring in Psychology as well as another Humanities/Social Science.
Now, the SUPER EARLY NACAC LIST
As of today, 204 colleges have financial aid AND housing for freshmen.
Reach out to the adcoms at the colleges already listed above.
Agnes Scott is a GREAT opportunity: urban, liberal, a women’s college with links to nearby Georgia Tech, beautiful campus, very well-respected for its academics and innovative curriculum.
Lawrence, Willamette, Ursinus would also likely be good choices. Chatham and Duquesne?
There’ll be more as time goes and we’ll update.
Hey, I’m in the same boat here. This is some stuff I’ve found helped me work things out.
Write a thank you letter to your AOs for whatever college you applied to. Yes, I know it seems like a very counterintuitive idea, but this year was not only hard for the students that applied, it was hard for the AOs who had to make a decision.
There are still going to be colleges with rolling applications, or other small research universities that are still going to be accepting applications if you call their admissions department and make a case for yourself. If you explain your situation, some AOs are willing to make concessions.
In May, there’s a list released by the NACAC that show colleges that have miscalculated yield for Fall 2021. Be quick when applying to these to get the most scholarships.
If you do want to take a gap year/semester, fill it up with something worthwhile, as everyone here has said. If you want to major in social work or non profit management, and your parents will support you for another year, find a local organization that you’re interested in and throw yourself in there. Make an impact on your community through that. The important thing to realize is that you have to do it cause you want to, not because you want to get into a good college. If you can make that show in your essays/rec letters, your chances can increase. If you don’t want to stay local, find a bigger organization, and network, network, network until you can find an opportunity that you like.
Grade drop is a problem, but if you have a supportive GC, there is a small chance you could figure something out. Maybe remedial courses/ school funded courses from a community college to get your grades up?
I realize this is not the best advice, but I hope it gets you somewhere.
How about Goucher for this student ? I noticed it’s on the list of schools still accepting students. While it’s not as highly rated as some that have been suggested, maybe this student’s stats and QB status would get top financial aid there. Seems to check a lot of boxes. Outer Baltimore area, known for liberal, diverse students, and a beautiful campus.
I would definitely have an application in for Lawrence (WI) Monday morning. Although they don’t guarantee 100% need, their average according to the CDS is very high.
you are right in your suspicion that my school doesn’t send students to private oos schools at the qb level.
i was the first qb finalist my school has ever had & most people at my school actually don’t know questbridge exists. it doesn’t matter who i ask: they’re going to usa, uab, uah, uwa, bsc, auburn, alabama, samford. there is one girl in my lit class that got accepted at vandy and will attend there this fall. can’t say anyone else even applied to an oos beyond mississippi state or lsu, much less anything ranked upwards of t150ish.
i don’t really know much of what the recommendation process for qb really consists of, but i asked my ap physics 1/2 teacher and my junior english teacher and i’m guessing they did their best? that was probably the first time they ever had to write one for qb.
There are a lot of excellent LACs and a couple of other larger universities on the NACAC list with (usually very good) financial aid and housing available. This situation is likely salvageable. You need to reach out on Monday morning to the ones that interest you. I counted 21 and I’m sure the list will grow.
Berea is still taking applications on a case by case basis for this year.
That’s great. Berea is a great college and OP likely matches their application requirements.
A gap year isn’t always a good idea for students from economically - disadvantaged homes. A lot of the cool things kids do assume some type of privilege. Kids from poorer families get drawn into the need to support the family - first a job, then a car and insurance that end up using most of the planned savings. Not just my opinion - here’s one report on this. The Gap Year Fantasy
I understand your concern about your state schools. I lived in Alabama for 10 years. They give great merit. They may still be taking applications since they have rolling admissions (?). It is a huge school with the MAJORITY of students being from out of state (less than 40 percent are in state). The number one state that sends people to Univ of Alabama is Illinois. I feel sure if you go there you will find your people. College campuses tend to be pockets of liberal ideas in the middle of conservative areas. Absolutely apply if they are still taking applications.
I will add to @Virginiabelle’s post… that many, if not most, of your professors (if you go to UA) will have come from, or been educated outside of the area. Large research universities recruit nationally for tenured professor positions, and the competition to get into academia is fierce.
Colleges with serious FA are what’s needed here - need-based aid covering full tuition and most of room&board. This late in the year, it’s going to be complicated.
U Alabama: Based on what I can see, an in-state student with a 1360 SAT or 30 ACT can apply for an automatic scholarship covering full tuition. However with an EFC around $2,000 not sure UA would be affordable. Still, the deadline for that (May1) is coming soon so op needs to apply RIGHT NOW.
Competitive merit is no longer open.
(UA may be good with merit, however Alabama really, really bad with need based aid; it recently implemented a scholarship system similar to but more restrictive than Excelsior in NYS, whereby full tuition is granted to residents admitted to UA and eligible for full Pell get a complement to cover tuition (but no allowance for R&B, whereas the university is unlikely to be commutable for all.) However the application was due months ago and since OP is not “full Pell” I don’t think she’d be eligible.)
@girlrejected please keep us updated on what schools you’ve applied to since you’ve made your Original post. (When you get the chance) 