My QuestBridge Experience
- Drew Carcellar
- Nov 9, 2020
- 4 min read
If you know me, you'll probably remember the countless times I've ranted about my college applications. If you don't, let me tell you all about it.
During the summer before my senior year, I had a lot of people who told me about a program called QuestBridge. I met people (online) who told me about the opportunity to receive a full four-year scholarship to one of their forty-two (42) college partners. They encouraged me to apply for the 2020-2021 cycle of the National College Match. There were many doubts at first because I felt that I wasn't a competitive student than others outside of my school. In the end, I'm proud to say that I didn't let fear define me as I began to work on the first round of applications.
The first application focused on my personal background, finances, academic history, extracurriculars, and story. It looked a bit daunting at first since I started a month before the deadline. There were many requirements to take note of, including two letters of recommendation, a school report, and your transcript. You also had to write essays that demonstrate your growth, strengths, story, and identity. There is a lot to do, so I don't advise leaving everything to the last minute. You have to make sure that every single detail is accurate because it can play a part in your status for the next round. A tip I would have is to dedicate an hour a day to work on your QuestBridge application. It may seem like a long time, but trust me, it lessens your work for future applications, and it prevents you from cramming everything during the last minute.
Once you submit this application, the work doesn't end; it only gets more challenging. You'll have the option to rank up to twelve college partners that you consider attending. Honestly, I think that this part involved a lot of thinking. I had to consider if I was willing to study in another state or stay in California. I kept thinking of my chances of admission because there are also Ivy League schools listed there. In the end, I ended up ranking nine colleges such as USC, Claremont-McKenna, Yale, Brown, and UPenn. I've provided a list below, so you know what private colleges are there.
After submitting the QuestBridge application and your college ranking form, your first wait begins! It would take about two to three weeks until you get notified if you made it as a National College Match Finalist. It wasn't until the morning of October 21st when I found out that I became a finalist for QuestBridge, along with HSM's Rebekah Song. That day was really memorable because I found out that I was one of 7,000 high school seniors who were making it past the first round of the program. From here on, the experience only becomes more challenging and nerve-wracking.
In addition to the essays I've written for QuestBridge, most of the universities I applied to required an additional application through their portals. Everything I'm about to say was completed in a span of two weeks. We had to select what we want to major in, answer several questions, and write more essays for some universities. Aside from FAFSA, we also had to complete the CSS Profile on College Board and submit additional financial documents through the IDOC System. Because of the rigorous requirements and my academic workload, I had to drop the University of Chicago and changed my rankings. I'm proud to say that I met most of the deadlines by submitting the required materials on time. My transcript, financial documents, and other materials were a bit late, but you'll be fine as long as you communicate with the college. The admissions officers are lenient and would consider your situation. In this process, I would advise having a list of all the deadlines you have, along with a rough outline for most of your essays (some are really similar!).
Now, the least I can do is wait. I've received offers for interviews with several colleges like MIT and Claremont-McKenna. Some schools will offer you to interview with them, so I suggest that you take that opportunity because it's an additional "letter of recommendation" or "evaluation report" from the school itself. For now, I'm waiting for December 1, which is when I find out if I get matched to each college. I know I've given my best throughout the entire process, which is why I try to maintain a positive outlook as Match Day draws closer.
Reader, if you get this far, thank you! I hope you consider applying for the National College Match with QuestBridge. It's a tiring experience, but it would help you grow as a person, understand your academic interests, and reflect on how you've grown during your four years of high school. Yes, Match Rates can be low, but remember this: not everyone can say that they've been part of the ever-growing QuestBridge finalist family. There's nothing to lose, aside from a few hours of sleep, but still, try!
P.S. Shoutout to every finalist who sees this! We've come this far, and we'll continue to explore, discover, and pave our own ways. A special mention to the Los Angeles Finalist Group Chat and my fellow ADISP Participants who have achieved this milestone with me!
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