Robin Scherman – Levitt

Scholarship Coordinator
 Agenda:
● Overview of the QuestBridge programs
● Eligibility guidelines
● The College Prep Scholars Program (due March 24, 2021)
● The College Match Program (opens August 2021)
● Application Support
● Q&A
What is the QuestBridge Program?
QuestBridge is a national nonprofit program that identifies high-achieving, low-income students
nationwide, helps them connect with the nation's top colleges and universities, and supports
them to achieve success in their careers and communities.
 QuestBridge Programs
QuestBridge College QuestBridge QuestBridge
Prep Scholars College Match Scholars Network
March 24, 2021 August 2021 2022-2026
Offers special awards and A college admissions and Network of college
resources to prepare high scholarship pathway that students composed of
school juniors for
helps low-income, high students who enroll at a
admissions during senior
year (ex: help with
achieving seniors stand college partner
applications; access to out and potentially earn
college fairs; tuition to pre- full four-year scholarships
college program; laptop) at partner schools
QuestBridge Partner Colleges
 Eligibility
● Citizenship Eligibility: Students may be of any citizenship status (including
permanent resident). QuestBridge is open to undocumented students.

● Academic Achievement: Earned primarily A’s in the most challenging courses offered
at Tech; top 5-10% of graduating class; demonstrate strong writing skills and
intellectual curiosity
● Financial: From households earning under $65,000 annually for a typical family of
four with minimal assets (evaluated in the context of family size and circumstances
impacting family finances)
 Personal Circumstances

Parents' level of education Many past College Prep Scholars are among the first
generation in their family to attend a U.S. four-year
college.

Extenuating circumstances Students who have an unusual level of responsibility,

such as part-time jobs to help their parents pay the bills,
or caring for siblings if their parents are absent or at
work, no health insurance, large medical bills

Extracurricular achievements Accomplishments and leadership roles in extracurricular

and community activities.

Personal traits Strength in character and motivation to succeed

Admissions Stats:
Following is the 2019 average College Prep Scholars profile. The program
has a 30% acceptance rate.
Admissions Stats:
Following is the 2020 average College Prep Scholars profile. The program

82% Free or reduced price school meals

93% Household income <$65,000
90% Top 10%
What are the College Prep Scholar Application Components?
● Household and Financial Info
Explanation of your family’s financial circumstances; who supports you, info about custodial and non-custodial parents/guardians
● Academic
Transcripts, high school profile (to be sent by school counselor)
● Testing and Honors
Scores of any standardized tests and any additional awards you have received throughout high school (PSAT, SAT, AP scores)
● Teacher Recommendation (2)
Preferred from a recent teacher in a core academic subject; character recommendation (outside of the classroom) Ask now!
● Biographical Essay and 3 Short Answers
This is a window into your personality and an opportunity to evidence strong writing skills and intellectual spark
● Activities and Work Experience Outside of the Classroom
Extracurricular activities, volunteer and/or paid work experience, taking care of household babysitting or family responsibilities
College Prep Scholar Awards
(Deadline to apply 3/24/21; Notifications of acceptance late April)
ALL accepted College Prep Scholars (30% of applicants) receive:
→ Exclusive access to the 40 partner colleges at the QuestBridge National College Admissions
Conference
→ The distinction of being a College Prep Scholar (a majority are later chosen as finalists in the
College Match program)

Many College Prep Scholars receive additional awards including:

→ Full all-expenses-paid scholarships to pre-college summer programs at one of the partner
colleges
→ Quest For Excellence Awards that provide money for technology such as a laptop
→ Campus visits to QB college partners
→ One on one admissions telementoring from QuestBridge college students
→ Personalized feedback on college essays
 QuestBridge
College Match Program
(deadline September 2021)
 QuestBridge
College Match Program
National College Match Program (deadline September 2021)
● A (Super) Early Decision pathway to QuestBridge partner colleges (you are applying to
college in September)
● Finalists rank preferred colleges and, if matched, receive full four-year scholarships to
ONE of their ranked schools with 0 parental contributions and 0 student loans
 Advantages and Disadvantages of Applying to College Match
Potential Advantages Potential Disadvantages
● Finalists apply for free to QB partner colleges ● You must have a strong application ready far earlier than
through College Match or QB Regular Decision most students (September)
● Finalists can be considered for ED admission at (You do not want any portion of your application to seem
multiple college partners at once (though rushed/subpar)
potentially matched with only 1 school) ● If you participate in College Match, you will not be able to
● Application is designed to highlight your unique apply ED to any schools outside of QB (though you may do
story (more written supplements = more holistic) so if you choose not to rank)
● Opportunity to join a supportive network of
scholars/professionals
Important Considerations:
1) QuestBridge is not the only path to receiving full financial aid to selective schools.
2) Diversifying your ranked schools will increase your chances of being matched .
Choose your match schools College/University National Acceptance BTHS Acceptance
Rate Rate
wisely. Some are hyper
competitive from BTHS Duke University 8% 5%

while others are

Princeton University 7% 1%
underrepresented.
University of 10% 2%
It could make sense to Pennsylvania

diversify your list if Colby College 22% 22%

scholarship money is your
top priority. Grinnell College 24% 55%

Oberlin College 28% 50%

 College Match Admissions Statistics
● Approximately 18,500 applications applicants nation-wide
● 40% of applicants become Finalists (6,885 students) who then can participate in College Match program/apply
QB Regular Decision)
● 13% of Finalists are offered a College Match Scholarship
● 50% of Finalists are admitted via either QB College Match OR QB Regular Decision
In 2019-20, 11 (8 pictured) Tech students won College Match
Scholarships:
Lily Ye (Colby College)
Neil Cao (Emory University)
Kelly Fang (Yale University)
Taliyah Evans (Haverford College)
Valentina Guo (Yale University)
Nafiza Meher (Rice University)
Jared Reimbeau (Vassar College)
Joaquin Soto (Yale University)
Sunehra Subah (Yale University)
Jenny Wong (Yale University)
Irina Zoccolini (Yale University)
 This year 2019-2020
● 62 Finalists
● 10 Matched!
Colby College, NW, Rice, Stanford, Columbia, Boston
College , Wesleyan...and many more will be admitted
through QB RD
 QuestBridge Early Decision Policy
Applying early to colleges
College Match applicants who rank colleges cannot apply to other colleges through Early Decision or Early Action. QB
Finalists who choose not to rank colleges are free to apply ED or EA to another college/s.

Exceptions to the QuestBridge Early Application Policy

● Students may apply Early Action (non-binding) to their home-state public college or university as long as applying
to QuestBridge does not violate that college's policies.
● Students may apply to any college or university that requires an early application for eligibility to special
scholarships or programs, as long as the admissions decision is non-binding.

*There are four non-binding partner colleges: MIT, Princeton, Stanford, and Yale. For these schools, matched students are not
obligated to attend the school, and may apply to other schools through Regular Decision and wait until the spring to decide where to
enroll.
 Summer September October Late October November 1st November December 1st Dec/Jan Spring
2021 2021 2021 2021 2021 2021 2021 2021/2 2022

Submit Rank up to 12 QuestBridge Finalists Colleges College Remaining QB Regular

College Prep
Application partner selects submit College review Match finalists submit Decision
Scholars
- Deadline is colleges Finalists Match applications recipients QB Regular acceptances
engage in
end of requirements for are notified decision and financial
summer
September Begin (supplements, admission applications and aid packages
programs
(date will be working on financial docs, submit are sent by
announced supplemental etc.) to Applicants application reqs partner
Match
when the application ranked prepare for directly to colleges
application
application requirements colleges QB Regular colleges
opens
opens in for ranked (ED Deadline) Admission
Aug) colleges

2021-22 QuestBridge Match Timeline

How to Apply:
1) Start the application here: https://www.questbridge.org/high-school-
students/college-prep-scholars/how-to-apply
2) Notify your guidance counselor and request a recommendation from a teacher ASAP
3) Email Ms. Scherman - Levitt for help/support
Application Support Resources
● QuestBridge Active Facebook page:
- Help with college apps, fly-in programs and scholarship
applications

● QuestBridge Youtube Channel:

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLjMa1kvfkoLhR_NiWITeC
QB6YdXV1nJIO
- Several webinars incl. “Crafting a College Essay” and
“Securing a Great Recommendation”, “How to Get a Head
Start in College Admissions” among others
QuestBridge Contact Info:
Online: www.questbridge.com
Questions: www.questbridge.org/AskQB
Facebook: /QuestBridge
Twitter: @questbridge
Phone: 1.888.275.2054 (toll-free)
 Thanks for coming!
Mrs. Scherman - Levitt, Scholarship Coordinator
[email protected]