QuestBridge College Prep Scholars: Advice & Essay's From A Stanford National Match Finalist

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National Match Program:
www.questbridge.org/high-scho...
Prep Scholars Program:
www.questbridge.org/high-scho...
QuestBridge Informational Video:
www.questbridge.org/high-scho...
My Stats:
• GPA, ACT, AP's and Oth...
My Reaction Video to Getting into STANFORD:
• Video
How To Get Into STANFORD Video:
• How To Get a FULL RIDE...
Music Credits:
soundcloud.app.goo.gl/gv1bCLN...
• Where we used to roam ...
The song used in this video is called the Places We Used to Roam created by my brother!

[@AlexAlvaradoB]

Hey Everyone! If you have any questions about the process/essays please feel free to leave them down below. I will be answering all questions!

[@lovenoirrr]

decisions came out on 4/20 and i honestly have no idea how i got accepted. i think people totally overlook the recommendations (I know I did at first before getting accepted) because that was probably the strongest part of my application. i used my chemistry teacher for the academic and my guidance counselor for the character. i honestly think that's the only reason why i got picked so don't underestimate the power of good reccs!! make a good impression on your teachers and people in your community!

[@AlexAlvaradoB]

Honestly, that flew right over my head. Thanks for reminding me because I totally agree. I will be sure to mention a couple pieces of advice related to letters of rec that helped me, in my National Match video (I'll release it close to when the application opens). Also Congrats!!! 🥳

[@lovenoirrr]

@@AlexAlvaradoB thank you so much!

[@cpsdepartmentofjrotc9325]

Alex, your tips are AMAZING!

[@samgorczyca9746]

I can already see you being big! I just subscribed keep it up

[@AlexAlvaradoB]

Thanks for subbing! I appreciate the kind words.

[@cavelleesimpson]

thank you so much for your advice!! i just submitted my app a couple minutes ago, good luck to everyone else :)

[@AlexAlvaradoB]

Good luck!

[@guadalupeespinoza6733]

Hello! I just wanted to say thank you very much for all of these well-explained application tips; I received notification of my status on April 20th and was accepted. Thank you again for your advice, which was extremely helpful in my application. Subscribed to your channel as well :)

[@AlexAlvaradoB]

First of all Congrats 🥳! All of these acceptances have been making my week. I am glad the tips were helpful. I hope you will find my national match video helpful as well later in the year. Thanks for subbing!

[@guadalupeespinoza6733]

@@AlexAlvaradoB Thank you! I'll definitely be on the lookout for the national match video lol.

[@jeremyahn3192]

thank you for making this video !!! your advice was great, you spoke well, and your video was, overall, very interesting

[@AlexAlvaradoB]

Glad it was helpful. And, the feedback is appreciated!

[@diego7589]

yo i just got accepted as a CPS and i just wanted to thank you for everything your vids gave me so much guidance and clarity. thank you man

[@indyakenney3910]

Good stuff 👍

[@AlexAlvaradoB]

Thanks 👍

[@mixedmegamings]

I have yet to write 2 short essays and the bio essay and it's due tomorrow. Pray for me!

[@AlexAlvaradoB]

I will. You got this!

[@stormiestarz]

same

[@game7_play223]

Hey Alex, great video! Thanks for all of the advice! I had a question: Should I mention the struggles as an immigrant when I first came to the U.S. (middle school) or should I mention efforts that occurred in high school.

[@JD-dh2cu]

Hi Alex, thanks so much for your channel! For the biographical essay prompt, was it the same for both the college prep scholar and the national college match program? If they were the same, did you create a new essay for the college match? Thanks!

[@AlexAlvaradoB]

The prompts were basically the same. The biggest change was that the word count increased, so I built onto my earlier essay!

[@guadalupeespinoza6733]

Hello there! This video is incredible and extremely detailed. You did an excellent job! So, for the Biographical essay, would you recommend that I only focus on one specific event from my high school career? Or could I incorporate my life before high school?

[@AlexAlvaradoB]

Either works. Recently I've been reading several biological essays from other students, and the best ones are those that take an experience (regardless of age) and talk about how it created challenges, and how they overcame them (by joining/starting organizations and such). Children of immigrants typically choose to talk about their struggles (like language barrier) and how it has affected them long term.

[@guadalupeespinoza6733]

@@AlexAlvaradoB Sounds good! Thanks!

[@oscar-ko8qg]

I have two days, my entire app is done. I just need to write my bio essay, but I have no clue what to write about. I'm so stressed. AGHHHHHHH, i really want this 🥺

[@AlexAlvaradoB]

I get it. Just think about the things that are unique to you! Your upbringing, nationality, and passions are great things to consider.

[@oscar-ko8qg]

@@AlexAlvaradoB I DID IT! I GOT qb cps '21!

[@AlexAlvaradoB]

@@oscar-ko8qg 🥳 That’s so awesome! You better treat yourself!

[@adamasagir1686]

Hey congrats!!! I am applying for next year, 2022. Please what are your advice and tips? I can also message you on Instagram if that's better. Thanks

[@burnt.norton]

@@oscar-ko8qg omg- do you have any advice for students applying this year? also what were your stats if you don’t mind me asking :)

[@bilegtni5202]

youre genius

[@ericahong7978]

pray for me I only have 3 days left and I haven't started the bio-essay :DD

[@AlexAlvaradoB]

I will pray, but don't count yourself out. Sometimes the best work is produced while in a crunch.

[@Liz-kh8de]

GIRL ME TOO! Good luck !!

[@martinezperez2520]

MEEEEEE

[@martinezperez2520]

I haven’t started on none of my writing 🥺

[@ericahong7978]

@@martinezperez2520 so we all just went on KZbin to watch tip videos instead of writing 😩😩😌

[@nelsatiemtore6356]

I just submitted my application and I'm so scared!!

[@AlexAlvaradoB]

I’m glad it’s submitted don’t worry you’ll be just fine. Remember that regardless if you get in to the college prep scholars program you can still apply to the National Match :)

[@dannachacon2987]

I just found your video as I'm writing my essay for the app. I wanted to ask how did you approach the short answers? Do they have a certain format to answer?

[@AlexAlvaradoB]

Honestly, I just came up with a couple of ideas and wrote a couple of sentences for each. After, writing a couple of sentences I was able to narrow down the one topic I liked the most. The one I picked was usually the most unique one and the one I could write a lot more on. For example, one question I had to answer was about a topic, or theory I explored because it sparked my intellectual curiosity. I ended up talking about confidence and Hitler (I know very weird...but It certainly was unique!).

[@dannachacon2987]

@@AlexAlvaradoB thanks for replying! for that one I decided to talk about skin science and how my mom once wanted to be an esthetician, so she had several books and tools I flipped back and forth and then I got this awful acne so I became intrigued by the science behind it? idk if I can use this

[@AlexAlvaradoB]

@@dannachacon2987 That sounds like a great topic! It's unique, personal, and it answers the question.

[@user-tu1jx7ny6b]

@@AlexAlvaradoB Omg I used Hitler on this topic too!!!

[@user-tu1jx7ny6b]

Only, I used it as an example to explain human dignity.

[@kdramadiary9765]

Quick question is the prompt the same every year for applicants?

[@AlexAlvaradoB]

The biographical essay prompt should be basically the same. As for the other essay's I am not sure. I recommend doing a little bit of research to see if they don't change.

[@louisgripper1876]

Do you think if my essay isn’t great but everything else is strong that it could balance it out and I still have a shot?

[@AlexAlvaradoB]

It is very hard to say. If the vast majority of the application is strong then you should have a good shot. Just remember that getting into this program is not the end all be all. There is still the National Match in the summer!

[@anaheeheee2175]

Hi i got a really bad score on my psat(1120), and have only taken APUSH so far, I have an unweighted GPA of 4 and I am in a private school with a full ride scholarship. I am currently applying for questbridge, should I submit my test scores and do I have a chance?

[@AB-ii4pb]

How was it ?

[@dantedadawg]

After two years, how’s it going? 🤔

[@martinezperez2520]

ANY ADVICE FOR A STUDENT WHO HAS NOT STARTED IN ANY OF HER WRITTING? 😭😭

[@martinezperez2520]

You’re video inspired me to GET ON ITTT

[@AlexAlvaradoB]

Pick a topic you know the most about and just go at it. At this point your priority is to get an idea on paper that answers every question. Remember this application is not the end all be all. There is still the National Match later this year. I wish you the best of luck!

[@Bianca_735]

Hey alex I have a question, what happens if you have a spelling error in your application? I was looking over my application and realized I spelled the word financial wrong in the additional information part:(

[@AlexAlvaradoB]

I wouldn't stress it - assuming your grammar was good in general. That being said I highly recommend using a tool like Grammarly when writing essays in the future that way you avoid those little mistakes :) They have a free version of the tool that catches spelling mistakes.

[@Bianca_735]

@@AlexAlvaradoB I will make sure to use Grammarly!!

[@thebusinesscapital8110]

Hi! Would you edit my essay?

[@naivet6414]

did you qualify for 65000 income ?

[@AlexAlvaradoB]

Yes, I did. I'm pretty sure it's a hard requirement. They may have changed the 65k amount since I applied so I would check QuestBridge's website for the most up-to-date numbers.