QuestBridge College Prep Scholarship

The information on this page concerns the spring 2008 College Prep Scholarship application cycle. Information for the 2009 College Prep Scholarship will be posted in February. In the interim, please feel free to review this page for general background, as the outlines of the program will remain broadly consistent.

Students from low-income backgrounds with strong academic records actually have significant advantages in college admissions. Leading colleges are actively seeking to increase socio-economic diversity on their campuses. And admissions officers view academic success in the face of economic challenges as an indicator of a student’s potential to succeed in college.

QuestBridge’s College Prep Scholarship prepares high-achieving low-income students to make the most of their advantages in the admissions process.

Attending a selective college actually can be cheaper than going to a community or state college, because aid packages at many leading schools cover 100% of students’ financial need.

QuestBridge’s College Prep Scholarship helps students learn how to get the full benefit of top-ranked colleges’ generous financial aid policies.

Full scholarships to college summer school programs: 10 students will receive free counseling from QuestBridge to support their application to summer school programs at Harvard, Notre Dame, Stanford, or Yale. If accepted, they will receive a scholarship covering the full cost of travel, tuition, and room & board.
Individualized college admissions counseling: 40 students will be paired with a counselor from QuestBridge's staff who will provide personalized admissions and financial aid advice.
College admissions conference invitations: 800 students will be invited to QuestBridge conferences at Stanford and Yale. Participants will attend workshops on how low-income students can successfully apply to leading colleges. They will also meet college admissions officers and learn more about the opportunities that QuestBridge offers.
All-expense-paid campus visits: 30 students will have their travel expenses and room & board covered to visit a QuestBridge partner college.
Tele-mentoring with college students: 100 students will be paired with an Amherst College student who will advise them by phone and e-mail about the college admissions process.
In addition, qualifying Jewish students are eligible for the Edward Fein Foundation Scholarship Awards program at QuestBridge. Students selected as "Fein Fellows" will be rewarded for their high academic achievement with scholarships to prestigious university-based summer programs, laptop computers and scholarships for SAT preparation courses.

The all-expense-paid campus visits and tele-mentoring awards are reserved by our partner colleges exclusively for QuestBridge applicants, and are awarded by the colleges based on a separate application.

"The QuestBridge College Admissions Conference was a great experience. Even though I take all the AP classes at my school, no one told me how to approach the college application process until the conference."

Cindy Garcia
2006 College Prep Scholarship Recipient
Pomona College, Class of 2011

The College Prep Scholarship is a gateway to further QuestBridge educational opportunities. It is designed to prepare students to be successful applicants to the QuestBridge National College Match program, which pairs outstanding low-income high school seniors with admission and full four-year scholarships to our partner colleges.

Students who receive College Match scholarships will also join a national network of hundreds of QuestBridge Scholars who are as committed to helping others as they are to their own academic excellence and professional aspirations.

Click here for more information on QuestBridge opportunities

If you have an annual family income of less than $60,000 and a strong academic record, we encourage you to apply. Many past award recipients have also been part of the first generation in their family to attend college.

Click here for more information on eligibility