Hi, I am a class of 2025 senior applying to college and I made a decision but now I’m having second thoughts. During my junior year, I was selected to be a Questbridge College Prep Scholar, and I have always intended to apply to become finalist in my senior year. But also during my junior year I got into a Yale/Princeton program (LEDA) where Leda scholars aren’t allowed to apply to questbridge/posse or any outside affiliating program. This program has pretty good results, Stanford took 23 Leda scholars last year, Yale took 21, Princeton took 14, etc. (Its 100 students per cohort). But I attend a “questbridge school” meaning most if not all of the top schools kids at my school have got into so far (Caltech, Stanford, Dartmouth, Northwestern, etc.) has been through questbridge. I’m applying to Columbia/Stanford/Yale through common app and everyone at my school is telling me I should’ve stuck with questbridge since I had a “higher chance”. I love LEDA but I feel this sense of turmoil since I’m not applying through questbridge? LEDA provides additional letter of recs, and I also got a few national awards trhough LEDA since I spoke at a conference at Yale. If I apply through questbridge I’m giving up my status as a leda scholar, the rec letter, and awards I won’t be able to include. Should I take that chance on questbridge or ignore everyone and continue with my common app process…
This seems to be your answer, no? Didn’t your LEDA acceptance letter state you could not apply thru QB match?
Seems that with LEDA you get to choose your school, as opposed to having to take your questbridge match, if you get one. As a low income student, you would get a full ride at most top schools which meet full fin need. Sounds as if you should stay with LEDA.
When I got into LEDA the question about QB was still up in the air. It wasn’t until after I got accepted and arrived at Princeton they went from we could apply to QB under “special circumstances” to no quest bridge at all since most Leda scholars were college prep scholars as well. But there’s a little more to it. LEDA provides a college guidance team where we finalize our college list/essays/submissions through our Leda counselor. There are a few more rules like when our list is finalized by Sept we cannot apply to any schools outside of that list and we can only apply to 13 schools max with 3 “high reaches” max and the rest being targets/safeties. I wanted to apply to Columbia/Yale/Stanford/Northwestern - But I can only choose to apply to three and I’m feeling a little limited with Leda’s restrictions rn. I guess I don’t mind not doing the match, I felt like with questbridge I’d be able to apply to 3-5 reaches freely without a cap… I wanted to shoot as many “darts” as I can since I understand these schools are a crapshoot for anyone.
Both programs to me has its restrictions. I wouldn’t have mind having to take my match if I got one! I’d of course rank schools I’m 100% sure about in all aspects. With LEDA, I get to choose my school but every school has to be approved by them and my list has to be 13 max which I don’t mind but with 3 high reaches. I asked if I could apply to 4 high reaches within the 13 (Columbia/Yale/Stanford/Northwestern) but there’s not much flexibility I’m only allowed to apply to three with the rest being targets/safeties. But you’re right I should stick with LEDA, thank you
I would double check your acceptance letter.
It sounds like your list has been finalized? IMO QB is off the table…you went forward with LEDA knowing the rules, plus it’s getting late to make the switch anyway as the QB app is due Sept 26 and it’s fairly onerous.
You would also have to apply to targets and safeties outside QB. Do you have at least one affordable safety that you would be happy to attend on the list you’ve put together with your LEDA counselor?
I can send the acceptance letter and student handbook to you if you’d like! I re-read them multiple times when I got accepted I was so happy lol. But yes you’re right I have come this far with LEDA, I’ve decided to stick with it. And yes my leda counselor and I have compiled a couple affordable safeties I already applied to and I’d be fine attending, Thank you!
Do not worry. You are a high stats applicant applying with the guidance of the program. You will probably wind up with more choices via LEDA. Make sure to include any adversity you may have overcome in your essay, keeping in mind the supreme court ruling.
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