Get MATCHED with QuestBridge: my advice about the process

More tips and advice not mentioned in the video:
Note* All opinions expressed are my own and not meant to supplement your individual research. I do not work in higher education or have a degree in counseling.
Resources:
What is Questbridge?
(website) www.questbridge.org/
(video) • The National College M...
(channel) / questbridge
CollegeInfoGeek
(podcast) collegeinfogeek.com/shanice-m...
(article) collegeinfogeek.com/how-to-ge...
College playlist with random snip-bits of info that I watched last year: • College Tips
1)The two weeks between when finalist results come out and the deadline to submit all the college supplemental essays are the TOUGHEST weeks throughout this whole process. Hopefully, if you plan ahead and follow most of these tips, you won't have to sacrifice things like sleep or studying time.
2) The Questbridge website has concise facts about each of the partner schools. I didn't know UVA existed before senior year, found them through QB, and got matched! If websites and reading isn't your thing I recommend looking up KZbinrs that go to your schools of interest and watching their videos about their college (vlogs, for example). Take everything they say with a grain of salt because it is only one opinion and one experience out of many.
3) Be weary of extreme positive or negative stories/experiences about a college on the internet! (Always do your own research and AVOID college confidential) Sometimes schools can exagerate the positive experience on their campus (ie. diversity on pamplets). Realize every school is going to have its flaws. This becomes more evident when you visit schools.
5) Use ACTIVE verbs in the description activities section! Only use passive/past tense verbs if you no longer do that activity.
6) If you are self-employed, include it under work-experience. (:
7) When watching videos in preparation to start my own application, I heard different strategies to get the attention of the reader, such as creating themes for your application. Themes can be powerful, but I personally felt that it limited me to only expressing certain traits of mine. Sometimes I think it can make it easy for the reader to stereotype the applicant, whereas talking about a variety of things (that don't correlate) can make it hard for them to put together what kind of person you are. Your application is a blank slate for you to figure out how you want to express/represent yourself.
8) In my personal experience, I felt a lot of emotions thinking and writing about traumatic events in my life, so I'd recommend to stick to the facts as much as possible in the additional info boxes and to only include a concise sentence of your own opinion if absolutely necessary for understanding.
9) Have all your deadlines laid out, so you can plan accordingly. It will come in handy! Keep in mind public and private schools have drastically varying deadlines.
10) Lastly, if you found anything useful please give this video a like and comment down below if you would like me to create more content on the subject of the college application process (essays, hs advice, etc) ! (: Best of luck to you!

[@tararyan9751]

Thank you for the affirmation at the end. I just submitted my application that I've been working so long on and I've been feeling like I have no shot.

[@emmathan366]

howd it go?

[@tararyan9751]

@@emmathan366 i did not get put in the match but was able to submit my Questbridge application to two of my top schools

[@Cesarhbb.]

All of us waiting for Tuesday to get here sooner

[@tac1ttales]

did you become a finalist???

[@elijahbennett3913]

I'm a finalist o-O

[@sugar9941]

thank u sm for this

[@lukkatami3652]

Your welcome! I wish you the best this fall and I believe in you! Put in all that you got and good things will come your way (: If you need any extra help, please feel free to ask!

[@johnliu977]

Just submitted my NCM application a few days back! Can't wait

[@lukkatami3652]

How exciting !! :D

[@hannahmiranda8594]

Thank you so much for this!

[@preetshah9356]

Hie! This video was great! I hope to see more soon :)

[@lukkatami3652]

Thank you! (: If you have any topics you want me to cover, lmk!

[@reheated-soup411]

i'm super nervous to submit mine tomorrow, so i appreciate this video :')

[@emmathan366]

howd it go??

[@ellisalecointe8497]

crazy how I see this 2 weeks after I submitted my application. I’m so scared for the results next week

[@kensfilmbits]

Holy sh*t I didn’t know you’re a QB scholar wtf I’m so lucky

[@lukkatami3652]

xD you're too kind

[@peachypers]

thank you for this video! during the process, did you start on your common app essay in case you didn't get matched? if so, was it similar to your QB essays? I don't mean completely reusing the essay, though. more like, recycling or bouncing off the same idea/topic as the qb one.

[@lukkatami3652]

If my common application was due before QB for a certain school, I submitted a copy of the essay, but for schools on my list that were due later on, I was planning to revise the same essay. Do what's best for you! It might be copying the essay or changing it slightly to fit the school or major or a complete different one (:

[@valencara7898]

Do you have any tips for QuestBridge essays to make them stand out? I loved you video by the way.❤️

[@lukkatami3652]

Thank you! I believe you're talking about the personal essay, right? I have a lot ideas, so let me know if you'd like an in-depth video, but for now I'll share a little bit. (: Everyone has a unique perspective on the world and how they view their own life. Because of this, there are many ways to show yourself in essays from analogies/connections, jokes, imagery, (insert all language devices). The key is to keep it interesting and informative by answering questions the reader would have about what you mean or feel about what subject/experience you are talking about. It's easy to mistake this for telling them directly, but great story telling shows, not tells. My description has a playlist containing some videos specifically about writing-I highly recommend College Essay Advisors.

[@valencara7898]

kat klove Yes, I would like a in-depth video about it.

[@irenerichter6726]

Hi! I just submitted my QB application a couple of days ago and I’m currently working on research for my rank list. I have no idea why I didn’t think of this before.. but I didn’t realize I had to write supplemental essays as well. Between school, research, and extracurriculars I’m really short on time. Do you have any tips for getting it all done before the deadline?

[@lukkatami3652]

Yes! I found myself in a similar situation last year! Focus on the schools you ~really~ want to go to and make more time to write those supplementals that way the quality is better. See if any supplemental essays overlap in content, so you can write once and use it twice. If you have Stanford on your list, make sure it doesn't take up all of your time! Always think about how or what you could be writing in those supplementals- keep the prompts nearby. Lastly, if you can help yourself- try to remain calm and not stress out too much! The supplementals are what the name suggests- to provide extra info about your personality or otherwise. You have gotten the bulk of your applications done, so finish strong! If you can bear so, maybe cut a little down on your energy/time to the other areas of your life (sleep, studying, research, or extracurriculars). Leave this as your last ditch effort!! I wish you the best (:

[@irenerichter6726]

@@lukkatami3652 thank you so much! It’s really helpful to hear someone who understands and has gone through the process :))

[@lukkatami3652]

@@irenerichter6726 (:

[@rh7728]

when should you start your questbridge process? i’m a sophomore right now :)

[@tararyan9751]

You can apply to Prep Scholars next year as a Junior! And then spend summer before Senior year on your QB Match app!

[@serranop60]

If you get the match scholarship, do you attend college earlier than the fall?

[@lukkatami3652]

No, you attend college the following fall semester as usual. (: