QuestBridge advice

I’m volunteering with scholar match and working with a great QB candidate. 3.95, good rigor, in US legally as refugee, great essays and life story. Family income approx $50k for family of five so she qualifies.

Question…I’m trying to find a source to help us with her possible school ranking. She can list fifteen and doesn’t really have a top choice. More important to her is getting selected and getting the full ride. Anyone know which schools she should be ranking highest? I see Notre dame and Rice take a lot of QB kids, and she likes both of those. Anyone have insight?

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Thank you for volunteering for Scholarmatch.

All QB schools take plenty of QB students.

Your student should prioritize QB schools that fit what they are looking for…major, location, size, setting, etc. Are they interested in LACs?

Does your student have at least one affordable safety school identified?

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We are focused on the QB app for now and then will move to common app and likely/safeties.

She likes smaller, friendly, liberal arts schools where she won’t be only first gen. Will be pre law. Geographically open. Suburban or rural.

Right now her QB list includes Grinnell, Denison, Davidson, Co college, Holy cross, Pomona, Notre dame.

I’m assuming more kids rank the ivies at top of list so maybe there may be a better chance of a match at this tier? Not sure.

Did she look at W&L?

It’s extremely supportive of first gen and QB students, hosting events and activities for the cohort. At a recent young alumni weekend I noticed there was a photo of first gen alums so they continue to recognize and provide resources post-graduation (resume assistance, headshots, LinkedIn updates, etc.) (per Instagram)

With her interest in law school she may be interested in the law school classes they open to undergrads (space allowing).

Thank you so much for volunteering your time in this manner!

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Missed that one! Will have her look thank you

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Pre law students can be any major – perhaps the student can consider the range of academic interests in relation to the range of academic offerings at each college.

Also, consider general education requirements, since a heavy set of general education requirements in areas not of interest to the student may be burdensome.

I don’t think there’s any strategy or gaming of the QB choices, they are all reaches and difficult to gain admission.

It sounds like LACs would appeal. Many schools don’t publicize how many QB students they admit. But some do. We know in toto that QB admits are increasing, likely because of last years SFFA ruling. Colleges Accept Record Number Of Low-Income Students Via QuestBridge

She might add Amherst (admitted 62 via QB last year Class of 2028 Profile at Amherst College), Bowdoin, Carleton, Colby, Macalester…but any of the LACs would work. Has she done virtual admissions sessions at these schools? If not, maybe start there to help prioritize.

Lastly, most QB finalists have SAI of zero to -1500. What is her estimated SAI? Federal Student Aid

ETA: note that she has until Oct 10 to finalize her QB ranking. https://questbridge.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/218777977-Can-I-rank-fewer-than-15-schools-for-the-Match

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I get it, but it can be very difficult for low income students to find affordable safeties. Don’t underestimate how much time this will take. Good luck.

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Yes I understand that. She will apply as poli sci or Econ or sociology. It may depend of the school.

EFC is $0

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I forgot to mention, I recently read an article about the support W&L provides low income students for social activities, such as school dances, outing club trips, etc. They provide clothing, cover ticket fees, etc. in an effort to allow all students to have a similar experience. They don’t want financial constraints to prevent students from participating in the activities they want to. It also mentioned a recent alumni donation setting up a fund to support FGLI student’s extracurriculars.

They also have an Opportunities Fund to support summer internships, study abroad and other summer experiences that would otherwise be cost prohibitive. This is open to all students.

This may be a question to ask of any schools she is considering. I know other SLACs have similar supports in place.

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DS had several QB friends at Colby. One of the benefits of the rural schools like that is that kids aren’t going to expensive restaurants and clubs for entertainment, so it’s pretty easy to participate in everything.

Whether it’s through QB or otherwise, kids are accepted both for fit and what they bring to the community, so prioritize that over “odds”. It’s an amazing program and it’s quite an honor to be selected, so kudos to the student you’re helping.

If she likes Pomona, have her consider ranking Scripps as well. There many Scripps students who didn’t think they wanted a women’s college until they took a closer look. It’s very well integrated into the consortium, so the dorms are single-gender, but the educational and extracurricular experience is very much coed, and students cross-register freely and can do majors based on other campuses. (My daughter, for example, did a dual major with the primary major based at Pomona and the secondary one at Scripps, and she took classes on all five campuses. She had at least one Scripps friend who was a QB scholar.) She can always rank Pomona higher, but ranking Scripps too would make sense given her desire to maximize chances of matching, and the fact that Pomona and Scripps students have access to so many of the same resources and experiences.

Macalester might be too urban for her, but it’s not, like, NYC-urban. Might be worth checking out - very diverse and a great LAC, and another somewhat-better-odds QB Partner.

Denison’s PPE major is great for pre-law. Also check out Wesleyan and its College of Social Studies. And Claremont McKenna, another Claremont Consortium school, is top-notch for Econ and PPE.

Skidmore and Hamilton could be worth checking out also.

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Haverford typically takes 20+ QB applicants which is a good number for a school of around 1400 students. It’s easier to get to than many rural SLACs given its location in suburban Philadelphia. If SLACs are on the table, it’s worth serious consideration.

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This survey-based site may support some of your current ideas and offer you suggestions for colleges to research further: Friendliest Students | The Princeton Review.

Great feedback, esp on scripps thanks

My kid is also applying to Questbridge for the college match, and I can also add that Washington and Lee has been truly very impressive in how active they’ve been in reaching out to her to answer questions. She raised the question of the Confederate history of W&L and Lexington, Va during an online info session, and she got a couple really thoughtful and really comprehensive emailed replies back from the admissions officer who focuses on QB kids. Way above and beyond. As well as just impressive in honesty and thoughtfulness. So despite not having had W&L on her original list, she is probably going to rank them, as well.

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If this student would like to pursue these areas of interest through a single major, she may benefit from including choices with an available major in public policy.

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