What's the difference between QuestBridge regular decision and Common App?

I'm a QuestBridge finalist and I need to make a decision soon. How does applying through QuestBridge regular decision compare to using the Common App? Are there major advantages or disadvantages I should consider?

First, congratulations on becoming a QuestBridge finalist! That's a significant achievement. To answer your question, QuestBridge Regular Decision and the Common Application each have their own unique qualities. Here's a comparison to help you decide:

With QuestBridge (QB) Regular Decision, your application is free to all partner colleges, so you can apply to as many as you wish without having to worry about application fees. Another advantage is that QuestBridge helps to highlight your story in even greater detail with its extensive application, which lets you explain your socioeconomic background and personal journey. This could potentially provide more context to your application, which can be beneficial for admissions officers during review.

The Common Application may also be free depending on fee waivers and the policies of individual colleges. One of its biggest advantages is flexibility. As compared to the limited partner colleges of QuestBridge, the Common App partners with over 900 institutions, including universities overseas. This essentially means that you can apply to a broader range of colleges. Furthermore, if your school uses Naviance or a similar tool for counselor recommendations and transcripts, it can be easier for your school to send documents through Common App.

A detail you should consider is that your QuestBridge application gets sent to colleges when you apply for the National College Match. So if you don't want colleges to see your QB application, you might want to use the Common App. This is of course completely dependent on whether you think your QA application or your Common App is stronger.

Remember, before applying, you should check each school's individual policies on how they treat QuestBridge applications and the Common App. Some institutions have different deadlines and supplemental requirements depending on the application you use. It's always a good idea to verify this information directly from the colleges' websites or by contacting their admissions offices. You want to ensure you're meeting all the necessary criteria since policies can vary from college to college.

In the end, you should choose the platform that best highlights your strengths, caters to your needs, and aligns with your college preferences. Good luck!