QuestBridge College Match Program

Awarded By:

QuestBridge

Number of Awards & Eligibility: varies

Description: The QuestBridge College Match was created to fund complete scholarships to lower-income students so they can attend a variety of top schools. The students must show a high level of academic merit to be eligible.

Application requirements for the QuestBridge College Match Program are:

• Application form
• Official Transcript
• Recommendation letters (3)
• Test scores
• Application Materials

Additional Information: QuestBridge is a new initiative of the Quest Scholars Program created to establish a bridge to higher education for highly motivated, academically talented, low-income and/or underrepresented youth in America. Finalists are selected based on academic excellence, financial need, under-privileged status, and curiosity and dedication to education. After the applicant submits a College Match application, QuestBridge screens all applicants and selects finalists. QuestBridge does not have a specific number of finalists it is looking for; all qualified students have a chance to become a finalist. It is, however, looking for a group of students with diverse interests, personalities, and backgrounds. Finalists' applications are forwarded to QuestBridge's college partners for review. While the colleges are reviewing applications, all finalists must research the college partners. At the end of this review period, colleges rank the students that they are interested in having attend their school. Similarly, all finalists rank the schools they would be interested in attending. It is important to note that students only have to rank the colleges that they would definitely want to attend. This may be one school, four schools, or all of the schools. The more colleges he/she ranks, the better his/her chance is of matching. QuestBridge receives the rankings of both the students and the colleges and comes up with a match. Not all finalists will be matched, as QuestBridge's college partners offer a limited number of scholarship positions. When a match is made between a student and a college, that match is binding.

Award Amount: All QuestBridge College Partners cover the full cost of tuition and room and board for their QuestBridge Scholars for all four years of attendance. Depending on the college or university, some scholarships may cover the cost of medical insurance, the cost of books, and/or include a work-study package. All scholarships are awarded annually, beginning with the student's freshman year, and are automatically renewable for three additional years if he/she continues to meet the eligibility requirements. A typical QuestBridge College Match Scholarship package usually covers the full cost of tuition, which is usually $40,000 (depending on the college) and the full cost of room and board, which is usually $15,000 (depending on the college)  The total dollars awarded for this scholarship is $47,000.