College Match Program: Stanford FAQ

Stanford - QuestBridge Frequently Asked Questions

Stanford is a QuestBridge Match Partner for the 2008-2009 academic year. The Match Process for Stanford is designed slightly differently from some other Match Partners. The most significant fact is that the Match Offer from Stanford is non-binding for students.

Below are some Frequently Asked Questions about our QuestBridge Partnership.

How does the Match Process work with Stanford?
Stanford is a match partner with QuestBridge. For QuestBridge Finalists who wish to be considered for a Match with Stanford, students must submit the Common Application along with the Stanford Supplement, which can be found at http://www.commonapp.org.

Students will be considered Regular Decision applicants in our process, although the Match offer will be made in December and is a non-binding offer. Students who match with Stanford are allowed to submit Regular Decision applications to other institutions.

Will Stanford accept the QuestBridge Application in place of the Stanford application?
No. Stanford requires that all applicants complete the Common Application and the Stanford supplement after being identified as a QuestBridge Finalist. If you are not identified as a finalist, please also use the Common Application with Stanford Supplement when applying to Stanford.

As a QuestBridge applicant you are welcome to use any information, essays, etc., that you submit for the QuestBridge application, but you must cut and paste them on to our forms and submit them online using the Common Application and Stanford Supplement, found at http://www.commonapp.org.

I really needed the scholarship that the College Match program provided. How good is Stanford's Restrictive Early Action or Regular Decision financial aid?
Actually our financial aid packages for those in Regular Decision will be the same as if those students had been matched in the College Match process. Quite simply we have excellent financial aid for all students with demonstrated need at Stanford. We have a need-based financial aid policy, and we fulfill 100 percent of demonstrated need. For additional information about how Stanford determines financial need, please refer to Stanford's Financial Aid Office website at http://financialaid.stanford.edu.

All financial aid recipients must reapply for aid every year. Rest assured, once you are enrolled, the University will continue to meet your demonstrated need in your subsequent years.

Is there a fee to apply to Stanford and are Fee Waivers available?
If you begin your Stanford application prior to receiving your finalist status and you believe you qualify for a fee waiver, please follow the guidelines for ''NACAC or College Board Fee Waivers'' listed on the Common Application.

If a student is named a QuestBridge Finalist, applicants should select ''Other Fee Waiver'' on the Common Application payment page. QuestBridge will verify names of all finalists directly with Stanford.

Non Finalist students who qualify for a fee waiver may submit a fee waiver in lieu of the application fee. Fee waivers must be signed by your high school counselor and should meet the guidelines by the College Board or NACAC. We cannot accept personal requests for fee waivers.

If I have sent recommendation letters and a secondary school report through the QuestBridge Application, do I need to re-submit these forms if I am applying to Stanford?
Yes. Stanford requires that all applicants complete all parts of the Common Application, the Stanford Supplement, and all the required School Forms found on the Common Application website at http://www.commonapp.org.

What is the last test date Stanford will accept?
QuestBridge Applicants should make sure they plan to take the required standardized tests in time for the score reports to be received by Stanford before we begin reviewing applications. Restrictive Early Action applicants must take the tests no later than October, and Regular Decision applicants must take the tests no later than early-December. If you follow these guidelines, you should not need to request a rush test report.

QuestBridge finalists being considered for the match should take the required standardized tests no later than October to ensure scores will be considered. All non-finalists and non-matched finalists can submit scores taken through early-December which will be considered with their Regular Decision application.

APPLICATION DEADLINE AND NOTIFICATION/REPLY DATES FOR FALL 2008

	Restrictive Early Action	Regular Decision
Application Deadline	November 1 (postmark)	January 1 (postmark)
Last Acceptable SAT Test Date	October 4	December 6
Last Acceptable ACT Test Date	October 25	December 13
Notification of Missing Documents	Mid-November	Mid-February
Notification Date	Mid-December	Early April
Student Reply Date	May 1 (postmark)	May 1 (postmark)

Can I apply to Stanford Restrictive (Single-Choice) Early Action?
If you are a QuestBridge Finalist and would like to participate in the Match Process you cannot apply Restrictive Early Action. However, if you decide not to participate in the Match Process and formally withdraw your match application through QuestBridge, you can submit a Restrictive Early Action application by November 1.

If you are not a Finalist, you can submit an application in either Restrictive Early Action or Regular Decision.

If I am not identified as a Finalist, how do I get Stanford to consider my QuestBridge application for admission?
You can submit the Common Application and the Stanford Supplement by our Restrictive Early Action or Regular Decision deadlines.

If I become a QuestBridge Finalist, but I am not matched, how do I get Stanford to consider my QuestBridge application for admission?
All students will submit the Common Application with the Stanford Supplement directly to us. Every application will be reviewed for admission irrespective of Finalist or Match status. If you are not matched, your admission notification date will follow the Regular Decision schedule—early April notification. Your QuestBridge application will serve as supplementary materials sent directly from QuestBridge.

Will I receive confirmation that Stanford has received my QuestBridge application?
Questbridge will provide receipt of your QuestBridge application. If a student designates an interest in Stanford we will automatically receive your application. Unfortunately, we will not be able to reply to individual requests for QuestBridge application confirmation.

Can I use the same essay I submitted to QuestBridge for the Stanford application?
Yes. As long as all of the work is your own, you may copy and paste the same essay submitted through the QuestBridge application on to your Common Application with Stanford Supplement for submission online.

QuestBridge says that, if accepted, attendance at the accepted school is binding because the program is essentially an early decision application. If accepted as a QuestBridge Match, am I obligated to attend Stanford?
No. The Match Offer from Stanford is a non-binding offer. Students who match with Stanford are allowed to submit Regular Decision applications to any institution.

Does Stanford offer any visitation programs or visit days in the fall?
No. Stanford does not offer any fall visitation programs for prospective applicants. We do offer our admitted students the opportunity to visit Stanford in April during our Admit Weekend. All students may visit campus for a tour and information session, available Monday-Friday most weeks of the year by prior registration.

I am an international student. Can I apply for the QuestBridge Match program with Stanford?
Unfortunately, at this time we are only able to offer the Match Program to U.S. Citizens and U.S. Permanent Resident holding an alien registration card and number.

However, international students are an integral part of the university, and Stanford is deeply committed to enrolling a student body that includes students from around the world. We do not have a separate application or application process for international students.

Stanford has a limited amount of financial aid for international students (students who are neither U.S. Citizens nor registered U.S. Permanent Residents), and the need for aid will be a major factor in your admission decision. You must indicate on the Stanford Supplement to the Common Application whether or not you intend to apply for financial aid and also must indicate how much money you have available per year for your educational and living expenses.

For more information or additional questions about Stanford Admission,
please visit our website or email us:

http://admission.stanford.edu questbridgeinfo@stanford.edu