tsprite

Remember though that the match process is not all about financials. The colleges are looking to admit students based on their entire application.

My family's income is $14,000 a year but I was not matched. However, I was accepted by two great schools in RD and offered full scholarship.

GA2012MOM

National College Match Program: 2008 College Match Recipient Profile

You can see the income distribution of this years match recipients on the graph at the bottom of this link. Demonsword55, what income level were you basing your statement on? You can see that there were even 5% of match receipients above $60,000. There are many more advantages for a student to apply through QB than to apply EA, IMO if you do fall within the QB guidelines.

tokenadult

Applicants this year may find it convenient to set up a Google News alert for the term "QuestBridge"

Google Alerts

to follow news stories about the program throughout the year.

aigiqinf

Hopefully they'll be some more colleges to join the questbridge movement.

And tsprite, I'm just hoping I have a bit more luck than you do, but it looks like we're in the same boat. My family's AGI is $15,000.

tsprite

aigiqinf: I only applied to two schools - Princeton and Yale for the match. I didn't get in those schools in RD either.

Just before applying RD I fell in love with Swarthmore. I was accepted early write there as well as to Amherst - both full scholarship. I'm sure that was pretty lucky!

With our family's low incomes even if we are not matched, it will make a difference in FA if accepted during RD.

Good luck!!!!!!

forgotten620

how many colleges did people applied to during early and RD respectively? i was thinking about applying 5 schools early, but the supplementary apps add up in addition to the common app.

also, i think you rank schools sometime in early october but find out whether or not they're finalists after that. if you dont get finalist, wouldnt all that work be wasted?

aigiqinf

I'm thinking about only applying to the non-binding schools. Does anyone know of any schools around the caliber of UNC that are good at accepting transfer/AP credit?

BrooklyninOh

My son was named a finalist last year, didn't get matched, but was accepted RD to a partner school and will be attending Rice this fall.

First, the deadline to rank schools comes after you find out if you are a finalist but very soon after! You should have the schools pretty set in your mind by the time the finalists are announced. My son only went with the non-binding schools. Looking back we both wished we knew more about QuestBridge and took some time to pick at least one or two binding schools during the match. I think lots of kids only choose non-binding schools so the competition is stiffer at those schools.

BrooklyninOh

I would recommend researching and ranking at least one binding school. You are already ahead of the game even thinking about QuestBridge. My son's experience with transfer credit is that most schools at this level do not accept any duel credit and very limited transfer credits. Almost all the schools will accept AP credit, some limit the amount though.

demonsword55

If nothing else, doing College Match will get you to write a lot of essays early on, many of which will be recyclable. I recommend it if you don't mind the binding aspect.

Bubbe

TokenAdult - Thanks for the Link to Google Alerts ---
It's nice to get an e-mail and see where Questbridge has helped..........

BananaSandwich15

"1. Would it be more advantageous to apply through National College Match or via just Early Decision/Early Action if your only concern is getting into your desired college? I'm feeling like many applicants would get into their desired schools through early decision but are rejected through the College Match Program because of the extremely low chance of being matched to your dream school.

2. Just how influential is Questbridge Finalist status or Questbridge sending in your app as opposed to regular? "

Even though your chances of getting matched are slim to none, if you're willing to wait until RD i think Questbridge helps a ton. The colleges know who is Questbridge and who isn't, and it instantly makes you're application unique. Colleges are dying for poor kids so they can say they're diverse, so the Questbridge logo on the app lets them know this from the starting gate.

"how many colleges did people applied to during early and RD respectively? i was thinking about applying 5 schools early, but the supplementary apps add up in addition to the common app.

also, i think you rank schools sometime in early october but find out whether or not they're finalists after that. if you dont get finalist, wouldnt all that work be wasted? "

I had no idea where i wanted to go and i didn't have a "dream school" so i applied to non-binding schools. I did 3 (Princeton, UPenn, Stanford) and it almost killed me. You have about a month from the time you find out if you're a finalist to the time the deadlines are (each of these schools required the common app as well so i had to do more essays and supplements) so as soon as you finish the Questbridge app you have to start on the others and act as if you're already a finalist. So yeah it sucks. If you are not a finalist then yes, the questbridge app was a waste of time, but you can still apply to those schools ED/EA and already have their apps filled out. If you're a finalist and not matched (like i was) it sucks even more, but you can forward the questbridge app to the colleges so it's not a total waste and the non-binding schools automatically consider your common app for RD so you don't have to do any extra work.

MattsMomFL

My son was interested in LACs so all 8 of his choices were binding. I think this increased his chance of being matched (he was accepted to his #2), as there are probably fewer applicants. As a parent, I'm thrilled because there are no more financial aid forms for the next 4 years - the LACs' QB match scholarships are for all 4 years.

His only regret, and it's a small one, is not knowing who else might have accepted him.

GA2012MOM

Mattsmom, I have to fill out FA forms for D, even though she was matched at an LAC. I had to do both Fafsa and profile. I'm not sure, but I'm assuming FAFSA is necessary for Pell Grant eligibility.

MattsMomFL

Oh wellllllllllll