The QuestBridge National College Match is designed for high school seniors who have shown outstanding academic ability despite facing economic challenges. QuestBridge does not have fixed criteria for GPA, standardized test scores, or income. When selecting finalists, we try to answer the following questions:
"Does this student have the motivation and ability to thrive at one of our partner colleges?" "What obstacles has this student overcome, socioeconomic and otherwise?"
QuestBridge selects finalists for our partner colleges to review but does not make the final selection of College Match scholarship recipients. Partner colleges ultimately choose scholarship recipients from among the finalists.
The following factors are taken into account when considering an application:
For previous award recipients' statistics, please view the information on
the Awardee Overview page.
QuestBridge seeks students who have demonstrated a level of academic
achievement that meets or exceeds the admissions standards of our partner colleges.
Some of the factors we use to assess academic ability include:
Grade Point Average (GPA): Both unweighted and weighted GPAs are considered. Class rank: Over 75% of finalists are in the top 5% of their class. Rigor of high school curriculum: Finalists typically take the most challenging courses available at their high school. Standardized test scores: Finalists score an average of 1940 on the SAT (or 30 on the ACT). Additionally, many partner colleges require SAT Subject Tests. The above, as well as AP test results, are all considered. Essays: Most finalists' essays show evidence of
intellectual spark, determination, and altruism. Recommendations: The Teacher Recommendations and
Secondary School Report tell us how students interact in the classroom and compare to other students in their school.
For previous award recipients' statistics, please view the information on
the Awardee Overview page.
The National College Match is designed for students who come from families experiencing economic challenges.
Some of the factors we use to assess financial need include:
Annual household income: Most National College Match scholarship recipients have come from households earning less than $60,000 annually. If you come from a household earning more than this amount but still feel that you have faced economic hardship, there is room on the application to explain your situation.
Additional information about household circumstances such as:
Number of people in the household. The cost of living in your area. Other financial commitments, such as medical bills or support payments to family members outside the United States.
For previous award recipients' income statistics, please view the information on
the Awardee Overview page.
Parents' level of education:
Many past award recipients have been among the
first generation in their family to attend a four-year college. Extenuating circumstances:
For example, working to help parents pay the bills, time spent
caring for siblings while parents are absent or at work. Other achievements:
Accomplishments and leadership positions in extracurricular and community activities.
You must take the
required standardized tests (on or before October 4 for the SAT I or II, and September 13 for the ACT) and send your scores to QuestBridge as well as the colleges you are interested in to qualify for the College Match process. Any testing done after these dates will only be considered in the Regular Admissions process. You must graduate from high school during or before the spring/summer of 2009 and plan to enroll as a freshman in college in the fall of 2009. With the exception of Princeton and Yale, only US Citizens and Lawful Permanent Residents are eligible to apply for the National College Match scholarship for all colleges. Students who are not US Citizens or Permanent Residents can still use the QuestBridge application, be chosen as a QuestBridge Finalist, and participate in the Regular Admissions Process.
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