I'm applying through QuestBridge, and I'm curious if it’s possible to secure a full ride with just a regular decision? Has anyone had experience with getting full financial aid this way?
Yes, it is possible to receive full financial aid through QuestBridge Regular Decision, though the process is a bit different from the Match. If you're a QuestBridge Finalist and you didn't match with any school during the Match round, you can move on to the Regular Decision (RD) round using your QuestBridge application.
In the RD round, once accepted to a school, you'd then work directly with the colleges' financial aid offices to fill out the CSS Profile and FAFSA, which determines your financial aid package. The aid amounts can vary as each school has its own financial aid policies, but many partner schools do meet 100% of demonstrated need for QuestBridge finalists. This means that if a college determines that you and your family can't afford to pay anything, you could potentially have your full cost of attendance covered.
Just remember that the financial aid package isn't automatically full-ride like the Match Scholarship, and it might not be completely made up of grants. Some schools may include federal work-study and/or loans in your package in addition to grants. In any case, applying through QuestBridge opens up opportunities for generous aid and the application process itself is well-regarded in the admissions offices of partner schools. Good luck!
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