How does the National College Match process work?

I'm thinking about participating in the National College Match program. Can someone explain how the process works and what the important steps are? Is it really competitive?

Sure, glad to see you're interested in the National College Match process! The program is run by QuestBridge, a non-profit organization that connects high-achieving, low-income students to colleges across the U.S.

The process begins with an application to QuestBridge itself. This application is quite comprehensive and includes components such as academic and family information, essays, and teacher evaluations. It's designed to allow the admissions team to learn about each student's strengths and unique circumstances beyond just grades and standardized test scores.

If you become a QuestBridge finalist, you are eligible to rank up to 15 QuestBridge partner colleges for the National College Match. You need to send any required supplemental materials to these institutions, such as the CSS Profile for financial aid applicants.

If you match with a college - meaning you are admitted through the National College Match process - it comes with a full four-year scholarship, which includes tuition, room and board, and additional expenses. This is why it's called a "match": both you and the college have expressed mutual interest and have now committed to each other for the coming academic year.

If you are not matched to any of the colleges you ranked, you'll move to their regular decision pool, with your financial aid package determined by each college.

As for competitiveness, yes, the National College Match program is known to be competitive. The program specifically targets academically talented students from low-income backgrounds, and many of the partner colleges are highly selective. However, don't let that deter you from applying - it's a fantastic opportunity if you meet the income eligibility guidelines!

Lastly, the deadlines for the different stages of the National College Match process vary from year to year, but the application usually opens in the summer, with finalist decisions announced in early fall, and match results released in early December. I'd recommend checking the QuestBridge website frequently to stay on top of the most current dates.

Remember to take your time and put care into understanding and completing each step of the process, as it's quite detailed and requires thorough preparation. Best of luck to you!