For QuestBridge applicants who are selected as Finalists and who are not interested in participating in the Match, QuestBridge also offers the option to apply to our college partners through QuestBridge Regular Decision. Our application is tailored to high-achieving students from low-income backgrounds and aids these students in presenting a full picture of their intellectual promise and personal qualities in light of the obstacles they have overcome.
Because our college partners are actively seeking to increase the number of outstanding low-income students on their campuses, being identified as a QuestBridge Finalist can be an advantage during the admissions process, as it signals to admissions officers that this may be a student they are very interested in. The QuestBridge application itself can also be an advantage, as it enables Finalists to ensure that their background and socioeconomic status is understood by admissions officers at QuestBridge college partners.
Many of our college partners accept the QuestBridge application in lieu of their own application for Regular Decision admission. Those that do not will use the QuestBridge application as a supplement. All of our college partners will waive their application fees for QuestBridge Finalists. Last year, approximately 2,000 QuestBridge Finalists gained admission and generous financial aid to our college partners through QuestBridge Regular Decision, which made attending that college affordable for these students.
In addition, QuestBridge Finalists who apply to QuestBridge without participating in the Match will still have the opportunity to join the national QuestBridge Scholars Network if they are admitted to a QuestBridge college partner through Regular Decision. When they graduate from college, they will become part of the QuestBridge Alumni Association as well.