To this day, I'm still surprised I matched through QuestBridge. The instant I saw the confetti when opening my decision, I felt a weight lift off my shoulders. All my hard work paid off—a full ride to the #1 Liberal Arts College in the United States.
The journey was tough and confusing. Less than 2 days before the application deadline, I rewrote my entire personal statement. In under a week, I wrote 30 pages worth of supplements. In this blog, I'll help you determine if you are eligible for this scholarship, and provide tips to help you navigate the QuestBridge application process.
What is QuestBridge & Who Should Apply?
QuestBridge is an organization that gives first-generation low-income (FGLI) students a shot at earning a full-ride scholarship to prestigious colleges/universities. The QuestBridge National College Match is a college application platform just like the Common Application or Coalition Application. I would highly recommend applying through QuestBridge if you are from an FGLI background, and are planning to apply to top colleges.
First-generation is typically defined by most colleges as being the first in your family to attend college, whether inside or outside of the United States.
Please note, QuestBridge is only for students in the United States or U.S. Citizens/Residents living abroad.
QuestBridge's general definition for low-income is a household income under $65,000 for a family of four. If you have more or less family members, you can use this equation: household income/number of family members. If the number is under $16,250, you are considered low-income by QuestBridge. If the number is slightly above $16,250, DO NOT WORRY. QuestBridge's definition of low-income is very loose, and they take extenuating circumstances into account as well.
📅 Condensed QuestBridge Timeline
✒️ Detailed Information
📋 Ranking Schools
QuestBridge allows you to rank up to 15 colleges of your choice. You can find a list of partner colleges here. In essence, you rank schools from 1-15. If you are accepted into all the schools, you would attend the school highest on your list. For example, if I ranked Harvard, Yale, and Williams in this order and got accepted to all of them, I would attend Harvard. If I got accepted into Yale and Williams, I would attend Yale. Please note: if you intend on participating in the match, you MAY NOT apply early decision to any schools. If you match to a college, you are committed to attending that college—you are binded. Ensure that you are 100% committed to attend the colleges you rank. Although you can rank up to 15 schools, it does not mean you HAVE to rank 15. In some cases, it may be better to rank fewer schools so that you can focus on perfecting your applications for them. It should be noted that some schools do not require any supplementals! If it does not take much effort to apply to certain schools, consider adding them to your list.
🔔 Finalist Notification
If you do not end up matching, do not under any circumstances give up yet! I know many friends who did not become a finalist, yet ended up getting into schools like Cornell and Williams. QuestBridge will automatically roll your application into RD unless you request otherwise. Students who apply to QuestBridge RD often get amazing aid packages from schools if they are accepted!
For those who became finalists, congratulations! But the battle isn't over yet. Do not slow down your pace! You have LESS THAN 2 WEEKS to submit ALL your supplemental materials.
📝 Writing Essays That Stand Out
The QuestBridge personal statement has a word limit of 800 words; 150 more than Common App's—take advantage of this. On top of this, the general application has many other essays as well. In each of these essays, your voice should shine through and showcase your unique personality. Think: what makes you stand out from everybody else? If you'd like to see an example of a successful essay, click here to check out my personal statement that got me accepted into Williams College!
✅ QuestBridge Checklist
Context Matters
Avoid comparing yourself to others! Do not let the 1600 SAT 4.0 GPA nonprofit founder academic supersoldiers put you down. Just remember, admissions officers take everything into context. Your admissions officer is familiar with your school and knows what resources you have at your disposal. This is why it is important to add more details regarding your background and circumstances.
Your personal story can outshine your stats! This is why the personal statement is such a big part of your application. YOU tell the story. Not numbers, not awards, YOU.
Imagine this: you have two applicants. Applicant A has a 4.0 GPA, 1600 SAT, but sounds like a condescending elitist. Applicant B has a 3.5 GPA, 1360 SAT, but created opportunities for students who are in similar situations and living conditions as them, and based on their writing, sounds like a compassionate and dedicated individual. Who would you want in your community?
My main point is that your background and circumstances matter.
Do not compare yourself to people you see online.
You Got This!
So many people miss out on opportunities because they compare themselves to others, or don't think they're competent enough. Do not let this be you. I believe in you! Do not let rejections bring you down.
Be honest, be vulnerable, be you.
Questions? Reach out. Let's turn you into a Questie! ✨