While MSMS seniors are stressing over early action/early decision dates for colleges, a few MSMS seniors are anticipating the results to their QuestBridge application. Eight students were chosen as QuestBridge finalists for the National College Match.

QuestBridge is a program that allows academically motivated students from low-income families to receive 100% covered tuition to top universities such as Emory, the University of Chicago, and Davidson College. Though the QuestBridge application was very lengthy, senior Sara Conwell was motivated by “Two words: free college.” Generally, QuestBridge asks the following questions:

• “Does this student have the motivation and academic ability to thrive at one of our partner colleges?”
• “Has this student overcome socio-economic obstacles to achieve academic excellence?”

Conwell found the application process “easy because it was unlike any other academic-oriented application that I’ve complete so far. The application included questions intended to unveil who I am as a person, academic and otherwise, and the factors that have made me me.”

“It’s a lot of work,” said Srevatsan, “I’m kind of thrilled that I got finalist, but I’m still stressed out because I have a lot more assignments to do.”

McCullum said, “I’ve got apply to 12 colleges by Monday.”

After being designated as a finalist, students will rank their desired colleges and apply to the colleges’ early action/decision programs, and many are due Nov. 1. From there, a student may be matched to only one college, and will receive 100% covered four-year tuition to that college. However, just because these students were chosen as finalists does not mean they will receive free tuition to their chosen colleges. In 2014, 36% of applicants to the National College Match received finalists. Of those finalists, 12% were matched to colleges. If a student doesn’t get matched, he or she can still apply to QuestBridge colleges’ regular decisions.

“Honestly, if you get finalist, don’t be sad if you don’t get matched because the odds are very slim. It’s a slim chance but still a wonderful opportunity,” said Elle McKenzie, an MSMS senior. Conwell also recommends juniors to “Definitely go for it. The worse thing that can happen is that you don’t get accepted. If that happens, it doesn’t mean that you aren’t good enough. It just means that there is something better waiting for you in the future.”

From the MSMS class of 2015, Joseph Scott and Jacob Crossno were matched to and attended their matched colleges. Scott now attends Tufts University.

Crossno, a freshman at Emory majoring in math, shared that his experience with QuestBridge and Emory so far has been a blessing.

“Once you’ve crossed the final ‘bridge’ from high school to college, you become a part of the Quest Scholars network. I’ve been active in our chapter here at Emory and gotten to know so many friends from the chapter. In the incoming freshman class at Emory, nine students were matched to the school through QuestBridge and an additional 90 students who were QuestBridge finalists that still came to Emory with great financial aid but, for whatever reason, didn’t match or didn’t rank to Emory,” said Crossno.

“The community of scholars makes me feel very welcomed at Emory, and I have the opportunity to relate to people who have backgrounds or similar determination as me,” he added.

Crossno offers the following advice to senior finalists:

• Carefully choose your rankings.
• Research as much as you can into each school to be sure you will love your pick and you can fulfill all the application requirements by the deadline like standardized tests.
• Rank all eight schools and make a nice spread in your choice.
• Select a few in your rankings that have a higher acceptance rate and that perhaps have incoming students’ ACT/SAT medians that match closely to your own scores.
• Remember that all 36 schools are great and an opportunity to attend any single one of them with a full scholarship will be incredible.

For more detailed information on QuestBridge, check this link.