To better understand how the National
College Match application cycle works, click on the section you
are interested in below:
Students complete and submit the QuestBridge online application and send in transcripts, test score reports, two teacher recommendations, and one counselor recommendation (Secondary School Report) by September 30.
Students select up to 8 of QuestBridge's partner colleges for which they would like to be considered for admission and the College Match scholarship. Rankings must be submitted through the 'My Locker' page by October 12. Students rank those colleges in their order of preference.
It is important to note that the College Match is a binding admissions program, so students should only rank those colleges that they are certain they would want to attend if awarded admission and a full scholarship. "Binding" means that if you are admitted to a college through the College Match, you are required to attend that school. You must withdraw any applications you have submitted to other colleges. (Exceptions to binding policy: Five colleges have non-binding match policies for the College Match. The five non-binding colleges are MIT, Notre Dame, Princeton, Stanford, and Yale.)
Applicants participating in the College Match must submit a Match Agreement Form by October 12 stating that they understand all of the terms of the College Match process. The Match Agreement Form will be available on the 'My Locker' page after rankings have been submitted and must be signed by the student, the student's high school counselor, and the student's parent/guardian.
Students who choose not to rank any colleges and participate only in the Regular Decision process should indicate this choice in the College Rankings section of the 'My Locker' page.
Applicants who would like to be considered for CSS PROFILE fee waivers submit a request between October 1 and October 12.
QuestBridge reviews applications and selects finalists, the students who will be considered by partner colleges for admission and the College Match scholarship.
QuestBridge notifies finalists via email of their status and forwards their applications to the appropriate colleges on October 23. Students selected to receive CSS PROFILE fee waivers will also be notified on October 23.
Finalists participating in the College Match process submit additional required documents to the colleges that they have ranked by November 2. See College Specific Requirements for details.
Partner colleges select the students they would like to admit with College Match scholarships.
QuestBridge matches each student with the highest-ranked college on their list that has also selected them.
When a match is made between a finalist and a college, the agreement is binding (with the exception of MIT, Notre Dame, Princeton, Stanford, and Yale, which are not binding). Matched students must withdraw any other applications that they have submitted.
QuestBridge notifies College Match award recipients of their status by e-mail on December 1. Because our partner colleges only offer a limited number of College Match awards, not all finalists will be matched. The remaining finalists are deferred to the Regular Decision process
Click here to see a graphical
flowchart of the process.
Finalists who are not matched or who decided not to rank colleges for the College Match are encouraged to apply to QuestBridge partner colleges through the Regular Decision process. Last year, over 800 QuestBridge applicants were admitted by our partner colleges through the Regular Decision process and received financial aid packages worth a total of over $70 million. The Regular Decision process works as follows:
Students decide which QuestBridge partner colleges they would like to apply to for the Regular Decision process.
Students go to their 'My Locker' page and select the colleges they want their applications forwarded to. Application forwarding requests must be submitted through the 'My Locker' page between December 1 and December 15 at 11:59 p.m. Pacific Time.
Our partner colleges will not charge an application fee for QuestBridge finalists who apply through Regular Decision, and many will accept the QuestBridge application in lieu of their own application.
QuestBridge finalists who do not receive College Match scholarships may be automatically considered in the Early Action or Regular Decision rounds at some of our partner colleges. Please see the Regular Decision Table for more information.
Students review the Regular Decision Table and submit any additional materials that are required. It is important to note that students will still need to review the respective colleges' admissions processes and requirements and adhere to their deadlines and policies.
Colleges contact students directly to inform them of their admission and financial aid decisions.
National College Match application
becomes available online.
National College Match application is due at 11:59 p.m. Pacific Time.
CSS PROFILE fee waiver request form becomes available online.
Final college rankings and Match Agreement Form are due at 11:59 p.m. Pacific Time.
Application for Quest for Excellence Awards, an optional supplemental section to the National College Match application, is due at 11:59 p.m. Pacific Time.
CSS PROFILE fee waiver request form is due at 11:59 p.m. Pacific Time.
Applicants are notified of finalist decisions via e-mail.
Finalists are given instructions about how to proceed. Applicants not chosen as finalists
should proceed with their Early Decision, Early Action and/or
Regular Decision applications.
Applicants selected to receive CSS PROFILE fee waivers are notified.
Finalists must submit required documents
to the colleges that they have ranked. See
College-Specific Requirements for deadlines and details.
Finalists are notified of College Match results.
Students who are not matched may apply to QuestBridge's partner colleges through the Regular Decision process. See the Regular Decision Process page.
Regular Decision application forwarding request form becomes available online.
Regular Decision application forwarding requests are due at 11:59 p.m. Pacific Time.
Free Application for
Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) forms become available online and in guidance
counselors' offices. This must be filled out according to particular
college requirements.
