National College Match Program: FAQ

"Binding" means that if you are admitted to a college through the College Match process, you are required to attend the college (with the exception of MIT, Notre Dame, Princeton, Stanford, and Yale, which are not binding). You are required to withdraw your applications to other colleges. The college you match with is required to give you a full four-year scholarship (also with the exception of MIT, Princeton, Stanford, Yale, which are renewed yearly). The Regular Decision process via QuestBridge's application forwarding service is not binding and does not guarantee full scholarships, although students who are accepted receive excellent financial aid.

2. Is this an application for college admission or a scholarship application?

The National College Match is both a college admissions program and a scholarship program. The application you submit to QuestBridge is your college application. It will be read by college admissions officers. On the basis of this application, QuestBridge's partner colleges will decide whether to admit you and provide you with a full scholarship.

3. What if I have a problem submitting materials or I'm not sure if they have been received?

To determine if QuestBridge has received your submitted application or your faxed materials, log in to the "My Locker" section of our website. When you log in, you will find a list of the application materials you need to submit and status notifications to whether or not we have received them. Once you submit materials with the appropriate fax coversheet (also found in the 'My Locker' section), please allow two business days for them to be processed. If your materials are not labeled as received after two business days, please try submitting them again.

If you have problems submitting your materials, you can contact us.

4. What qualifies as "low-income?"

Please visit our website on selection criteria. You may also want to consult statistics on last year's College Match scholarship recipients.

5. What do you consider ''outstanding'' or "high-achieving?"

QuestBridge seeks motivated students who challenge themselves by taking and excelling in their high school's most rigorous courses. We, as well our partner colleges, look at many different factors when assessing a student's academics, including grades, class rank, high school courses taken, standardized test scores, teacher recommendations and other markers of talent and motivation.

Students interested in applying to our partner colleges through the College Match can also visit our partner colleges' websites for more specifics regarding their academic standards. Last year, two-thirds of the students who received College Match scholarships were in the top 5% of their high school classes. To learn more, see QuestBridge's eligibility and selection criteria.

6. Is QuestBridge only for minority students?

No. QuestBridge is for students of all races and ethnicities. We recognize that students of all backgrounds may face financial and circumstantial obstacles to higher education.

7. Can I apply to the National College Match if I did not apply for the College Prep Scholarship or win a College Prep Scholarship award?

Yes. You do not need to have applied for the College Prep Scholarship in order to apply for the National College Match. If you did apply to the College Prep Scholarship, the results will not influence your eligibility to receive a College Match Scholarship.

1. How do I refer a student to QuestBridge? If I am applying, can I also refer someone I know to apply as well?

While students do not need an invitation from QuestBridge to apply, referring a student is a good way to ensure that they will receive information about the College Match. Click here to refer a student. You will be able to tell us the name and contact information for the student you are referring so we can send them an email with an invitation to apply.

2. I am not from a low-income family but I received a mailing from QuestBridge inviting me to apply. Why did you choose to send a mailing to me and how did you receive my name?

We receive names and addresses of students who scored highly on the PSAT, SAT, or ACT through the College Board and ACT. Thus, many students who receive our mailing because they did exceptionally well on their standardized tests and checked a box on their test form indicating that they would like to receive information about scholarship opportunities. The College Board and ACT do not release information regarding students' family income. We estimate students' household income using data from publicly available sources such as the U.S. Census Bureau. However, these sources do not provide perfect information on the income of individual households. As a result, some of the students who receive our mailing do not qualify financially for the National College Match . We hope that these students will refer others who qualify for the program.

3. What are the benefits of applying to QuestBridge if I am not interested in participating in the College Match Process?

For outstanding high school seniors from low-income families who are not interested in participating in the College Match process, QuestBridge offers an application forwarding service through the Regular Decision process. Our application is tailored to high-achieving students from low-income backgrounds and aids these students in presenting a full picture of their intellectual promise and personal qualities in light of the obstacles they have overcome.

Most of our partner colleges accept the QuestBridge application in lieu of their own application for Regular Decision admission. Those that do not will use the QuestBridge application as a supplement. Please see the Regular Admissions Process page for details. Last year, more than 700 QuestBridge applicants gained admission and generous financial aid through our Regular Decision Process.

4. Can I apply to QuestBridge if I am not a high school senior?

Only high school seniors are eligible to apply to the National College Match. High school juniors are encouraged to apply to QuestBridge's College Prep Scholarship, which uses a different application available in the spring.

5. Can I apply to QuestBridge if I have been homeschooled or have had another type of unconventional secondary school education?

Homeschooled students, as well as students with other types of unconventional high school experiences, are welcome to apply to the National College Match. For information on who should submit recommendation letters for homeschooled students, click here.

6. Can I apply to QuestBridge if I am not a citizen or permanent resident of the United States?

Students who are not U.S. citizens or permanent residents (international students) may apply. However, only Pomona College, Princeton University and Yale University will consider international students for the National College Match. Most of our partner colleges use federal and state funds to finance a portion of the scholarships, and these funds are only available for U.S. citizens and permanent residents.

Although non-U.S. citizens are generally not eligible for the College Match scholarship packages, all of our partner colleges will accept students regardless of U.S. citizenship status through the Regular Decision Process. In 2007, more than a dozen QuestBridge applicants who were non-U.S. citizens gained acceptance and financial aid to our partner colleges.

1. How many full scholarships are being offered this year?

We hope to connect more than 250 students with full scholarships through the National College Match this year. Last year, 204 students received admission and full scholarships via the College Match. In addition, more than 700 QuestBridge applicants were offered admission to our partner colleges with generous financial aid through the Regular Decision process.

QuestBridge's partner colleges are not obligated to accept any specific number of QuestBridge applicants. One way to assess your chances of acceptance by one of our partner colleges through the National College Match program is by looking at the results from last year.

2. Why can't College Match scholarships be applied to any college? Why only to QuestBridge's partner colleges?

Scholarships to our partner colleges through the National College Match are non-transferable to other colleges because the partner colleges themselves pay for the scholarships using college, state, and federal funds.

3. How are College Match scholarship recipients selected?

When students submit National College Match applications, QuestBridge reviews the applications and selects finalists (see Selection Criteria for more information). We then forward finalists' applications to our partner colleges for consideration.

All applicants submit their final ranked list of the colleges they are ready to commit to attend by October 5. Similarly, our partner colleges review the finalists' applications, and submit lists to QuestBridge of the students to whom they wish to offer full scholarships. QuestBridge compares the lists, and students are matched with their highest ranked college that also selects them. Students who match only do so with one college. Through this matching process, it is ultimately students and our partner colleges that choose each other.

For more details about the College Match Process, please click here.

4. If I participate in the National College Match, am I guaranteed placement at a college?

There is no guarantee that you will gain admission to any of our partner colleges by applying to QuestBridge or by being selected as a finalist. Our partner colleges are not obligated to admit a specific or predetermined number of applicants. Therefore, we encourage all QuestBridge applicants to explore and pursue other college admissions options in addition to the National College Match.

For more information about your chances of gaining admission and financial aid through the National College Match, please visit our page summarizing last year's acceptance rates.

5. If I apply to the College Match, can I also apply to another school Early Decision or Early Action?

If you choose to participate in the College Match, you cannot also apply to other colleges Early Decision or Early Action. Since the College Match is a binding early admission program, applying to both QuestBridge and another program early would violate the agreement with the other program. If you fill out an application but do not become a QuestBridge finalist (notification of finalist status will occur on October 24, 2008), then you are released to apply to any college Early Decision or Early Action.

Students are encouraged to apply to other colleges through the Regular Decision process. However, if you are matched with one of our partner colleges, you will need to withdraw all of your regular applications.

If you decide not to participate in the College Match process, you are still welcome to apply and use our application forwarding service for the Regular Decision process. Please review the profiles of each of our partner colleges on our website for more information.

6. How is applying to the National College Match different from applying Early Decision to a QuestBridge partner college?

QuestBridge allows finalists to apply early to several different colleges simultaneously and for free. You complete one application, and if you are selected as a finalist your information will be forwarded to all of the QuestBridge partner colleges that you ranked. Your QuestBridge application will present your achievements in light of the obstacles you have overcome, as our application questions and essays are tailored to high-achieving low-income students.

If you gain admission through the College Match, you will be awarded a full scholarship for all four years of college.

7. Can I apply to other colleges through the regular admissions?

Students are encouraged to apply to other colleges for regular admission. However, if you are matched with admission and a full scholarship to one of our partner colleges through the College Match process, you will need to withdraw all of your regular admission applications.

8. Will QuestBridge and/or the partner colleges interview me before I am matched?

QuestBridge will not conduct interviews. However, some partner colleges may choose to interview you, either on campus or in your local area. This is decided by each individual college, and QuestBridge is not involved in the interview process.

9. What happens if I am not matched with any of the colleges that I ranked?

If you are not matched with any of the colleges that you ranked, then you are encouraged to continue on with the Regular Decision process, applying to any colleges that you choose. In addition, QuestBridge will forward your application in December to the partner colleges for which you requested application forwarding. The colleges will then consider you for regular admission and financial aid.

There are additional steps you must take in order to have your application considered for Regular Decision, please see our instructions for the Regular Decision process.

10. When will I be notified if I am selected as a finalist? When will I know if I am matched?

If you are selected as a finalist for the College Match, you will be notified by October 24, 2008. Finalists will be notified of College Match results on December 1, 2008.

11. If I am matched, can I defer admission to the college for a year?

If you are matched with one of QuestBridge's partner colleges, it will be up to the college to decide whether or not you can defer admission. Each college has its own policies on admission deferrals. Two College Match scholarship recipients in 2004 and one in 2006 received permission from their colleges to defer admission for one year.

1. Is there a fee to apply to QuestBridge? Are there any other costs associated with the National College Match Program?

Applying to the National College Match, like all of QuestBridge's student services, is completely free of charge.

If you are selected as a finalist for the College Match scholarship, you will need to file a financial aid form called the CSS PROFILE. This form is administered by the College Board and is required for students applying for scholarships and financial aid to private colleges, whether they apply through QuestBridge or through the normal admission process. This form costs $18 per college to submit to the College Board. Please be aware that this fee is not paid to QuestBridge, but to the College Board, and is a fee you will have to pay no matter how you apply to the same colleges.

2. When is the QuestBridge National College Match application due?

National College Match applications must be submitted online by Tuesday, September 30, 2008 at 11:59pm Pacific Time.

Match agreements are due the following week, by Friday, October 5 at 11:59 Pacific Time.

3. Can I fill out a paper application?

QuestBridge only accepts applications submitted online. For access to our online application, please visit our application page.

4. I previously applied to QuestBridge's College Prep Scholarship. Do I need to fill out another application?

For students who submitted an application for the the College Prep Scholarship, all of the information that you entered into your College Prep Scholarship application will automatically pre-fill into your National College Match application except essays. You can then update it and fill out the additional information added for the National College Match, including several essays. Once completed, you then need to re-submit it in order to be considered for the National College Match.

5. What standardized tests are required to apply to the National College Match?

To be considered for the National College Match, you need to submit the standardized test scores required by the colleges you are interested in attending. For information on the tests each partner college requires, please see our required standardized tests page.

The last testing dates for which QuestBridge can accept results are October 4 for the SAT I and II, and September 13 for the ACT. There is a question on the application that you can use to indicate if you took the September ACT or will be taking the October SAT.

When you receive your new score report from tests taken on these dates, please submit the scores to QuestBridge through your 'My Locker' page. You should ask your high school counseling office to fax your score reports to QuestBridge using the 'Transcript & Test Scores' fax cover sheet available on your 'My Locker' page. If you are planning to take the October 25 ACT, you may send the scores directly to the colleges, but be aware that they may not arrive in time to be considered in admissions decisions.

If you are selected as a National College Match finalist, you will need to send official score reports to the colleges that you rank. Refer to the National College Match requirements page for instructions regarding submission of test scores to colleges.

6. Who should write my recommendation letters and how many do I need to submit?

The QuestBridge application requires the submission of two Teacher Recommendations and one Secondary School Report (see below for more information on the Secondary School Report). Your Teacher Recommendations should be written by educators who have knowledge of both your academic ability and your personal strengths. They must have taught you in core academic subjects, such as English, history, math, foreign languages, or the sciences, during your sophomore, junior, or senior year (preferably junior year).
For tips on choosing a recommendation writer and getting the best recommendations possible, see our recommendation tips page.

7. What is a Secondary School Report and who should fill it out?

A Secondary School Report is a recommendation form that your high school counselor fills out for you. This form helps QuestBridge and our partner colleges evaluate you relative to other students in your school. The QuestBridge application requires the submission of a Secondary School Report. With this form, your counselor should include any additional information sheets on your high school. See below for information on submitting your Secondary School Report.

8. I am homeschooled. Who should write my recommendation letters?

Your two Teacher Recommendations should be submitted by persons outside your home. For example, if you have taken any classes at local high schools or community colleges, done any supervised volunteer work, or participated in any religious groups, you might ask someone who has supervised your work or led that organization to submit a recommendation on your behalf.

Your Secondary School report should be submitted by the parent or other adult who is currently supervising your academic studies.

9. How do I send my Teacher Recommendations, Secondary School Report, transcript, and standardized test score reports to QuestBridge, and when are they due?

Student recommendations need to be completed on our website and are due on September 30. The student requesting a recommendation will need to register their recommender�s information in their online application before the recommendation form can be completed. The student will then be able to print out instructions to give to their teacher or counselor on how to fill out the online recommendation. Your teachers and counselor should fill out the recommendation forms following the directions provided in the instructions form.

Official transcripts and standardized test score reports need to be faxed to QuestBridge by a counselor. A separate fax coversheet will be generated to go with these materials. Counselors must use the fax coversheet provided. The coversheet allows us to efficiently sort and process these forms. Look for a link to this fax coversheet on your 'My Locker' page. All forms are due September 30, 2008.

10. My high school does not have my standardized test scores on file. How can I arrange to have them faxed?

If your counseling office does not have your standardized test scores on file, please provide them to your counselor so he or she can fax them along with your transcript. Either an official test score report or a printout from the testing agency's website will suffice.

11. How do I calculate my unweighted GPA?

An unweighted grade point average (GPA) is reported on a 4.0 scale. If your school does not provide you with an unweighted GPA, you will need to calculate it using the following table:

To use this table, find the grade point value of your final grade in a class (for example, a B+ is a 3.3) and multiply it by the total number of units the class is worth (for a five unit class, multiply 5 x 3.3). Do this for each of your courses in grades 9-12, adding the grade points as you go. Then, divide by the total number of units you have taken. For example, if you have taken only three classes, each worth five units, and you have received an A, B+, and A-, calculate your GPA as follows:

(5 x 4.0) + (5 x 3.3) + (5 x 3.7) = 55, 55/15 =3.67, or a 3.7 GPA (you can round to the nearest tenth for this application).

12. How do I calculate my weighted GPA?

Your weighted grade point average (GPA) must be reported on a 5.0 scale. If your school does not do this for you, you will need to calculate your weighted GPA using the following table:

To use this table, find the grade point value of your final grade in a class (for example, a B+ in an honors class is a 4.3, and a B+ in a non-honors class is a 3.3) and multiply it by the total number of units the class is worth (for a five unit class, multiply 5 x 4.3 for an honors class, or 5 x 3.3 for a non-honors class). Do this for each of your courses in grades 9-12, adding the grade points as you go. Then, divide by the total number of units you have taken. For example, if you have taken three honors classes, each worth five units, and you have received an A, B+, and A-, calculate your GPA as follows:

(5 x 5.0) + (5 x 4.3) + (5 x 4.7) = 70, 70/15 =4.67, or a 4.7 GPA (you can round to the nearest tenth for this application).

13. What should I write for my class rank if my school doesn't report ranks?

If you school does not report class rankings, then you should leave the section blank. In the text box for "extenuating circumstances" regarding your academics, please explain your school's policy about not ranking students.

14. I am interested in submitting performance or art materials to the colleges. Do I send those to QuestBridge?

You should not send these materials to QuestBridge. Please contact the colleges that you are ranking directly to ask about the proper way to send your materials.

15. What figure from our family's tax forms should I enter for income in the application: total income, adjusted gross income, or taxable income?