I just posted on another topic to the senior class of 2011 thread, and it got me thinking I should toss this out there in case anyone knows someone who might qualify for this program. Questbridge is a program that serves kids who might not normally think they could get into or afford top tier schools because of a variety of factors. It is not based on just one thing. Many people assume it is for under represented groups, but there is a wide variety of people. Some people assume it is only for poor people. They do ask for income info, but kids whose families make $60,000+ have been accepted. You do not have to be the tippy top of your class, but you should be smart. I was not going to have dd apply because I think we make too much (now---a few years ago she surely would have qualified, as we were skating on very thin ice for a long time), but I figured what the heck. We got a few emails from them and some snail mail, I'm assuming based on her ACT scores. I just would hate for anyione who qualifies to miss out, or to think from their mailings it is too good to be true, or a scam. ('Cause it does sound too good to be true!) For those that qualify, it is a wonderful thing.
I think last year about 2000 applied and 1000 were accepted as finalists (These are very rough numbers off the top of my head.) Of those, I think around 286 got what is called a match. Basically, if you are named a finalist, you can rank up to 8 schools from a list of Questbridge participating schools, and if you are "matched" you get free tuition, room, and board, and I think even money for books and incidentals. You don't HAVE to participate in this step; QB also gives you a leg up in the rd round. Most of the schools are binding, although a couple are not. So, if your 7th favorite school accepts you as a match, you have to go. Of course, less than a third of the finalists were matched last year, but it seems that QB finalists are often given preferential treatment in the regular decision round, both for admission and aid. At worst, if you wanted to apply to these schools, most of them waive the application fee for QB finalists in the regular round.
I've done a little research, and it's shocking that even some guidance counselors are unaware of this program. If you know someone who might qualify, they have to hurry. The deadline is Sept. 30.
http://www.questbridge.org/
ETA: Yikes! My numbers were wrong. Last year 5830 applied; 2506 named finalists; 268 matched. However, approx. 1000 later got into these schools in regular decision round.
I think last year about 2000 applied and 1000 were accepted as finalists (These are very rough numbers off the top of my head.) Of those, I think around 286 got what is called a match. Basically, if you are named a finalist, you can rank up to 8 schools from a list of Questbridge participating schools, and if you are "matched" you get free tuition, room, and board, and I think even money for books and incidentals. You don't HAVE to participate in this step; QB also gives you a leg up in the rd round. Most of the schools are binding, although a couple are not. So, if your 7th favorite school accepts you as a match, you have to go. Of course, less than a third of the finalists were matched last year, but it seems that QB finalists are often given preferential treatment in the regular decision round, both for admission and aid. At worst, if you wanted to apply to these schools, most of them waive the application fee for QB finalists in the regular round.
I've done a little research, and it's shocking that even some guidance counselors are unaware of this program. If you know someone who might qualify, they have to hurry. The deadline is Sept. 30.
http://www.questbridge.org/
ETA: Yikes! My numbers were wrong. Last year 5830 applied; 2506 named finalists; 268 matched. However, approx. 1000 later got into these schools in regular decision round.
