rainingdaisies

So, I am a junior in high school and am considering applying for the Questbridge scholarship program. Currently, my ideal choice for university is Northwestern. It is certainly a reach school for my underwhelming stats (96.8 average, SAT 2090/1400 CR+M), and it will remain a reach school even after I bring that SAT score up a hundred points. Obviously, I want to maximize my chances of acceptance and am having a tough time deciphering which would be more beneficial, applying Questbridge or applying to Northwestern early decision.

With family earnings of <60,000 and an EFC of 0, I expect that my tuition would be payed in full regardless of whether the acceptance came through Questbridge or not. However, I am not sure of this fact. I am also not sure if applying through Questbridge would give me some sort of edge during admissions, my stats seeming more impressive when accompanied by a sob story.

Would I be better off applying through questbridge instead of early decision, which had a 40% acceptance rate this year?

DDKnight

Mathematically speaking, I'd prefer going ED. Why? Because the 40% acceptance at NW is higher than the acceptance % of Questbridge.

iabass

I do not recommend applying to schools through Questbridge. However, I do suggest you apply to Questbridge itself. If you're deemed a finalist, that could be used as a hook, and there's no agreement that you must participate in the National College Match. Afterwards, you can apply to Northwestern ED and send in the Questbridge application as a supplement, giving you the best of both worlds.

rainingdaisies

Thank you, iabass. I don't know why I overlooked that option earlier, but it really is the best route.

collegepoint

I think its easier to get in with the regular decision pool rather than QuestBridge because with the QuestBridge pool, there is much competition.

aurelie426

So just to clarify: if you are deemed a finalist in QuestBridge, you could apply ED without QuestBridge but still have it on your brag sheet?

ErinKim01

I am an anxious senior-to-be. It is said that the general finalists are in the top 10% of the class. I also read in another forum that it's difficult for one to gain a scholarship if one is not in the top 5%-10% of the class. I do not think I am in the top 10% yet, my income is lower than $50,000.00. Do I still stand a chance with Questbridge?

sharker

If other aspects of your application like your essays and recs are good, then yes.

Anything is possible.

confused95

Hi, so I have a similar question except for Stanford. Statistically, do I have a higher chance of getting accepted through Questbridge or Early Decision? Stanford is also a reach for me statistically. Also, is it possible to apply to Questbridge and not list Stanford as one of my option, so I can apply as an ED applicant?
Thanks

attribute

You can if the QB schools you're ranking are not binding since ED is binding.

rainingdaisies

confused95, when you apply to questbridge you can choose not to rank schools. That way, if you are a finalist you don't have to take part in the binding college match and apply to Stanford ED.

rainingdaisies

*I meant you can apply to Stanford Restrictive Early Action

pentupenguin

Can't you contact northwestern and see if they would be willing to move your application to ED if you don't get matched?

rainingdaisies

I highly doubt it.

I realize now there's no reason to apply to the College Match if you're set on a specific school. The chances of being accepted ED are much higher than through QB and the financial package will likely be similar so there's no need to risk it.

rainingdaisies

Turns out, some schools will allow you to apply ED (Northwestern included) if you are not matched during the College Match process. But it's school specific, so you'd have to check.

Anyone know if you can forward the QB application as a supplement to the Common App if you're a finalist that's applying ED?