Tips

• Don’t wait until the last minute to complete the application 

• Check if you meet the requirements 

• Short writing responses are required for additional award consideration, so do some research 

• Ensure you answer the prompt 

• Don’t make your writing sound like it’s forced

Benefits 

• Stand out during the National College Match (seniors only)

  • In 2024, College Prep Scholars were 7 times more likely to receive full four-year scholarships 

• Full scholarship to a college program at UChicago, Yale, Stanford, etc. 

• Personalized guidance with college essays, standardized tests, or applying to college and filling out financial aid forms 

• Quest for Excellence Awards (valued at $1000)

In these few sections, I'll be going over some of the prompts and providing more details about the application process.

A few key terms we'll have to know.

• Early Decision (ED) - This is a binding contract with the school. If you are accepted through ED, you have to commit to that school that was chosen. Generally, you will be only able to ED one school so choose carefully. Some schools will have ED 1 and ED 2. These are different deadlines for those applications respectfully to the school.

• Early Application (EA) - Similar to ED, this is another early application, but it is non-binding. This means you don't have to commit to this school if you are accepted. Therefore, you can apply to some other safety schools while applying EA.

• Restricted Early Application (REA) - This is an EA process, but you can't apply to any other schools within the early cycle. The only difference between this and ED is that it is non-binding.

• Regular Decision (RD) - This is where most applications are done. It is non-binding and you can apply to as many schools as you'd like. Most decision results will come out in March.

• Deferral - This is when you didn't get accepted through the early round, but your application is considered strong enough to review again during RD.

• Waitlist - The application was strong enough for the to put you on a list. If you're lucky enough, they'll remove you off the waitlist and you can choose whether or not to accept their school. When you're removed off the waitlist, they'll review your application again and decide whether to accept you or keep you on the waitlist.

1. Questbridge National Match is the equivalent as Early Decision. After you become a finalist, you can choose up to 15 schools to match with. During the time frame from being a finalist to ED deadlines, you will have to finish all the supplements for those chosen schools. This includes all additional art supplements (art portfolios, research papers, etc.).

2. After submitting, according to the order of your list, you will be matched with the school that is priortized on your list. The colleges do not know what order they were placed on the list. They only say accept or defer and you are matched with the school closest to the top of your list. An acceptance guarantees a full ride and you'll have to rescind your application for other schools.

3. If you're rejected it's okay! There is Questbridge Regular Decision or you can apply through Common App. This gives you time to refine your application for the rest of the schools. I didn't match with the schools on my list, but I was still able to get into my listed school in RD. 

Click here for QuestBridge resources: Resources

Click here for more in-depth information QuestBridge programs: Qutreach Toolkit