How’ve you been making out, @KelseyM?
Not all diversity fly ins are only for certain ethnicities. The one my D went to years ago had white, AA and Asian students, although all of them being low income.
That’s exactly what I said. Income diversity is also diversity.
@milgymfam, sorry I missed that.
Hello all,
Sorry I haven’t replied in a while, I’ve been inundated with schoolwork and finalizing my application. Good news - I’m a finalist!
I have most of my supplements done (save for two) but I need my essays reviewed. I have one person helping me with that, but she’s also busy and I wonder if everything will be reviewed in time.
I am also working on a supplemental art portfolio that will visually demonstrate a lot of the content in my essays. I think it will assist in my chances.
Here is my list of ranked colleges, in order:
- UChicago
- Princeton
- Rice
- Haverford
- Hamilton
- Grinnell
- Davidson
- Emory
- Vanderbilt
- WashU
I dropped Tufts because I was really unsure about the political climate. I ran out of time to research any additional partners, but from the advice you guys gave me and from other threads, these choices aren’t half bad.
QuestBridge also gives me the option to rearrange this list if needed. If we only consider the amount and quality of undergraduate research at this school, are there any recommendations as to how you think the list should look? Do you think I’m being risky with any choices in regards to my preferences (moderately urban environment, non-hostile political climate)? My main concern is getting research experience and having an admissions advantage at graduate school, so those interests fall below that. I am unsure how well Davidson, Emory, Vanderbilt, and WashU fit into that research category. What do you think?
Thank you guys for your help. I don’t know if I would have made it without your help. I’ve been recommending this website to all of my college counselors and mentioning it in every “How have you heard about us?” question I get from colleges.
Before we post more specifically . . . Congratulations!!
Congratulations!!! ?
Very happy for you.
Congratulations on getting this far! Solid list with great schools. Each school is going to offer top quality undergrad experiences and as has been mentioned before, you’re more likely to have easier access to undergrad research opportunities at smaller schools.
Pretty sure this has all been mentioned before, but… Hamilton is not remotely urban. Grinnell is in a small town. Both good choices, but if you must have urban, they are not that. Tufts in no way has a hostile political environment. It’s really pretty mainstream, even if it’s socially liberal. Most of the colleges on your list will be very tolerant of LGBTQ issues, gay marriage, etc…
You can send me a couple of essays. Two. If I can look at more, I’ll let you know.
- A nice thing about QuestBridge colleges is that, academically, they're among the strongest schools in the country. For this reason, you could change a school around here or there, and still land on a top-notch list. I'll discuss a few of your choices futher along.
- College political and social perspectives can be a puzzling thing. In some ways, they shouldn't exist in the form they do because they haven't been informed by the political theory and other foundational ideas that are, or should be, a part of the college curriculum to which many students have yet to be fully exposed. Nonetheless, if you make your college your own -- academically, intellectually, socially -- you could thrive at any of your choices.
- UChicago makes a nice top pick based on your criteria, and it sets the tone for the rest of your choices.
- Schools such as Davidson, Emory and Vanderbilt could all be excellent for research. I might give the edge to the LAC though.
- Grinnell, too, would be excellent for research, particularly in the context of its superb science facilities. Its curriculum may be a bit narrow in comparison to some of your other choices though. As Linda said, it resides in a small town.
- Haverford would be another top academic pick. Its Main Line location comes close to defining affluent suburbia. The historic cities within its range may define urban.
- Hamilton's proximity to the Adirondacks and sometimes gelid conditions should appeal to those with an inner Buck (London). However, its Jitney can connect you to suburban amenities pretty much as often as you'd like. Academically, you'd find great opportunities.
Appreciate all the responses. (Been working on my portfolio and financial aid stuff, working on a portfolio piece now.)
Overall, I prioritize my education intensity more than anything else, which is why Hamilton and Grinnell are on the list - I felt the sacrifice necessary for the education I seek - research intensive, PhD preparing. Are there any recommendations on rearranging the list? Should I place any one of these higher or lower, regarding that type of education, or am I good where I’m at? I’m fairly flexible with rearranging choices below Hamilton if need be.
I shouldn’t be too concerned I didn’t maximize the list, right? Columbia, Carleton, and Washington&Lee briefly crossed my mind for the empty slots, but I wanted to be confident in my rankings. The first two sent me a lot of mail. No use in thinking about that now, though.
I’ll take you up on that offer, Linda, but I first have to figure which to send. I have someone reviewing my top essays now, but I don’t know if she’ll review them in time. Should I send the next priority?
Oh, and I almost forgot: does anyone have any recommendations as to the size of my art portfolio, especially considering I’m not going to major in it? I was thinking around 5-7 pieces (I have 3 done now). Any tips on what I should draw/should not draw for it? I’m just showcasing a lot of the stuff I described in my essays. My birds, wild birds, my fictional creature diagrams…My dad will likely nose his way into one piece, as I talked about him a lot in my biography. Is there any way those can be “reviewed”/“judged”? Any suggestions?
Just send the two supplements you consider most important.
Re portfolio, I suggest asking your school art teacher for feedback.
I don’t think you should be concerned at all. As you indicated, you chose to your line of confidence, but no further.
Overall, nice list . . .
I’ll preface this by saying that art portfolios aren’t what I know a ton about, BUT most kids I know were submitting samples from an existing body of work, not creating it for the application. I would not get too involved in creating art at this point. Your art teacher may know (if your high school actually sends kids to art schools, which it sounds like it may not.) My guess is that someone at QB could give you guidance on this - they are committed to seeing you have success.
Chicago, Princeton and others may not even accept or consider any artwork that isn’t juried. IOW, they won’t look at it if it hasn’t been submitted for competition. Agree that there is little point in creating a bunch of art for this purpose.
Yes, I believe Princeton had some guidelines on their SlideRoom about supplements regarding it being judged. However, it did state that they “would like to consider all talent an applicant may have” and something about submitting some artwork through another medium than SlideRoom if it didn’t meet the qualifications.
I will see if I can contact someone at QB about it and see what they say.
All colleges stated that my kind of portfolio is acceptable, even Princeton. That’s all well, but the process of creating pieces for my portfolio is killing me. I only have 3 completed, 1 almost done, and another under way. I don’t know how many pieces I should do. 5? 10? Colored pieces take longer than monochromatic, should I do those to save time? Should my pieces be experimental rather than “professionally” colored? How much will a portfolio enhance my admission chances anyway? Is it worth all this stress and getting behind in my French class?
Can I submit a research project I have to undergo for AS Environmental Science as a research supplement even though I haven’t completed it?(You don’t have to answer these)
I’m also having a lot of trouble keeping up with financial guidelines. I’ve submitted duplicates accidentally on the IDOC, I don’t know if UChicago and Princeton have received all of the information they need since they don’t have a checklist (not to mention I submitted a document under the wrong name), I submitted a new version of my 1040 signed since I just realized that was needed and apparently have to email every college about that update, Rice hasn’t received my CSS Profile and they told me to wait and see if it would update, Emory apparently hasn’t received anything according to their portal even though they’re requesting nothing on the IDOC, Davidson has no financial aid portal and they also told me to wait and see, I don’t know if Haverford is actually asking me to make paper copies of my taxes and send them through the mail using their cover sheet (even though that makes little sense to me since they’re on the IDOC), etc., etc… You get the gist.
I wont be able to have all my essays reviewed in time either. I’ve got 2 essays to do, but they’re the “why us?” essays, so I can probably complete both in one day. I’ve got 3 other colleges done, and 5 others don’t have any supplements for me to do. Hamilton has an OPTIONAL short supplement, should I do that? Should I re use my fly in essay for it or will someone that’s already read it see it?
I apologize for all this, I just wanted to articulate my thoughts onto a platform and see if I could make sense of all of this. I’ll send essays today, Linda. I’ll send my UChicago essays because my counselor is apparently really busy. I need my Princeton essays looked at too, but they’re far less in need than the UChicago ones. The rest are pretty much “Why us” essays, which I feel acceptable about. I’ve actually joined a social platform where a bunch of QB finalists reside. Most of them picked MIT, Stanford, Princeton, Yale, and Caltech. I thought about Caltech and MIT, but I’m glad I didn’t rank them since they require tests I didn’t take. Some of their profiles offer some pretty hefty competition though, making me reconsider my chances.
Very stressed!
Kelsey – You are good enough. You are good enough. Say this every day!
It’s so easy to compare and worry, but please remember you are talented, motivated and highly capable. You will land somewhere great – whether it’s through QB or the RD process.
This is YOUR journey – no one else’s. Don’t fall prey to imposter syndrome b/c, I’ll say it again, you are good enough!
@KelseyM my daughter joined the QB Facebook group last year and eventually backed away. There is a lot of support there but a lot of stressed kids comparing and competing too, and a fair amount of pettiness and anger and hurt that comes out at decision times. A paper list of accomplishments doesn’t make a person, so don’t get sucked into comparing papers. Also, I agree with what has been said before- I wouldn’t create new art for a portfolio. Surely you have pieces you’ve completed throughout high school?
Honestly, do not stress over the portfolio. You are not applying to art school or anything like it.
When my D applied to college, I thought she should submit a portfolio of her art. Her art teacher suggested the strongest pieces. This idea stressed my daughter out. She wasn’t applying as an art major, and in fact, her art is more a hobby than anything else. In retrospect, her art is fine, but it’s nothing special. I regret trying to get her to do that.
Applications are due soon. You definitely should NOT be sacrificing a French grade for something that doesn’t count for much.
You should do ALL optional essays. They show interest, and they show more info about you. Not doing them is not good.
Get the financial stuff sorted out, and forget the portfolio. Priorities.