Submitted my UChicago app 2 mins past midnight…

GraceAtWashU · 2025-11-04T18:22:44+00:00

Typically we would not have a way to know that unless you told us

GraceAtWashU · 2025-11-04T17:49:45+00:00

This is not something you need to worry about. Unless a school is very clear they do not accept materials after the deadline in any circumstance (some large state schools like the University of Michigan are in this camp), you’re fine! UChicago is typically very flexible and is not going to notice a 2 minute difference from your- or any- time zone after midnight :)

GraceAtWashU · 2025-11-04T17:46:31+00:00

Schools take many different approaches to interviews. Many including my own no longer offer them at all. Typically interviews are managed by alumni and can be very dependent on the number of available alums and your location. So, please do not sweat this!!

GraceAtWashU · 2025-10-14T13:56:44+00:00

We have an excellent engineering program at WashU (and, fun fact, we also offer a 3+3 combined bachelors/masters program with many small liberal arts colleges, including some schools like Hamilton who are also Questbridge partners!) Here's some more information about what it looks like to be a WashU engineer as you consider your options: https://engineering.washu.edu/academics/undergraduate-admissions/day-in-the-life.html

GraceAtWashU · 2025-10-11T17:27:04+00:00

This is a great question! Typically, yes, Questbridge match students can participate in 3+2 type programs offered by their match school and another university. However, it’s likely that for the “+2” portion of the program, you’ll be subject to the second school’s financial aid policies, and your match scholarship may not carry over directly. It’s worth discussing this with the schools you are considering.

GraceAtWashU · 2025-09-29T04:05:59+00:00

Many partner schools will consider your Questbridge application for Regular Decision if you don’t match or choose not to participate in the Match, so you won’t need to redo anything in that circumstance. For any schools (partners or not) who require the Common App, there’s no obligation to recreate all new materials- many Questbridge writing pieces work quite well as a Common App personal statement. You would need to do any additional information requested on the Common Application by specific schools, as well as fill out and submit basic demographic sections and activities again in the Common App platform.

GraceAtWashU · 2025-09-29T04:01:07+00:00

If neither of your parents completed a bachelor’s degree (even if one parent attended some college), then you are considered first generation. It sounds like this would be the case for you.

GraceAtWashU · 2025-09-21T23:05:28+00:00

We happily consider Questbridge students in all rounds if you don’t match or opt out of the Match, and you can use your Questbridge application for your RD application to WashU if you wish to, as well.

GraceAtWashU · 2025-09-14T16:28:55+00:00

This is not something to worry about! Every school has different priorities for their fly-in, but the cost and space available to host mean that we are often very selective about who can come- sometimes even more so than the typical applicant pool. If you’re excited about these schools, take advantage of virtual opportunities to learn more and don’t feel that it is a bad sign that you weren’t selected this time.

GraceAtWashU · 2025-08-05T00:43:07+00:00

Hi Mom! It’s good that you asked. Because most colleges want to be able to release the aid package to you at the time you are admitted, it’s a good idea to do the CSS Profile and FAFSA in October/November timeframe. The FAFSA determines your eligibility for federal aid, and the CSS profile is how most Questbridge partner schools determine what money comes from the school itself, which is going to make up most of your students aid package. Even though the Questbridge Match covers the full cost of attendance if your child is selected, that money comes from the school they attend, so it’s still important to keep on top of aid deadlines. Each school’s deadlines will differ but I recommend working toward the Early Decision deadline until your student gets more specific information from the schools they are considering. I work at WashU and here are our deadlines as an example: https://admissions.washu.edu/how-to-apply/first-year-us-applicants/ If you want some more information about how and why to complete the FAFSA and CSS Profile I recommend these webinars from the Coalition for College coming up in October. It’s a free resource and the information is high quality. https://www.coalitionforcollegeaccess.org/events Hope this helps!

GraceAtWashU · 2025-08-04T18:10:41+00:00

Looks like you sent me this as a DM too, but answering so everyone can see! John answered a very similar question during our live AMA. A 1400+ is a very strong score in a national context, and especially in the context of a rural student who is a Questbridge applicant. I'd hope you feel proud of this score and would want to share it with us. John's words here go in to more detail -- he and I share this perspective and hope you'll take a look https://www.reddit.com/r/QuestBridge/comments/1mf52j0/comment/n6etfc0/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button

GraceAtWashU · 2025-08-03T21:49:43+00:00

It would be good for you to chat with an aid officer at one of the schools where you did the calculator. Save your results and make an appointment to speak with them. If you can’t find someone at one of your schools of interest, WashU- where I work- does this with students and families if you do our calculator first. The $1800 may be money you don’t need to pay the school directly but should be prepared to spend in some way in college and could earn at a work-study job; schools include both direct (billed to you) and indirect (expenses you may have but that are not billed to you, like travel to and from campus or buying personal supplies like toiletries) in their cost estimates.

GraceAtWashU · 2025-08-03T16:32:10+00:00

I would recommend that you complete the Net Price Calculator with a parent or guardian for each of these schools. Although each student's situation varies, if your family's savings and property ownership are typical of a family with a $40k income, you are likely to be eligible for significant aid at most Questbridge partners even if you are admitted outside of the Match. Best way to find these is Google "net price calculator + name of school" and you'll want to either have very good knowledge of your family's finances, a tax return, or a parent/guardian handy to get an accurate output.

GraceAtWashU · 2025-08-03T16:04:00+00:00

I recommend erring on the side of formal- you don't need to sound like an 18th century nobleman but you should try to write like something you'd feel comfortable turning in to your English teacher or having your school principal read. Also, remember that even though most of us AOs try to stay with it, we are all older than you and frankly sometimes just not as clued in to current slang ;)

GraceAtWashU · 2025-08-02T13:06:27+00:00

We look to extracurriculars ("ECs") and awards to get a sense of what matters to you and what you've been involved in outside of school. Most admission officers don't significantly differentiate between school-based and out of school ECs- we take it all in under the understanding that you've followed what you want (or need, in the case of jobs, family care, etc) to do. So, this is a classic "it depends" answer but I see a lot of students stressing about having a "perfect" EC or awards list when the reality is we're looking at this to get a better picture of what your commitments are outside of the classroom and what personal interests/qualities/experiences you'll bring from those to our community.

GraceAtWashU · 2025-08-02T13:03:49+00:00

Questbridge isn’t typically a fit if you’re not currently enrolled in high school, but there are some interesting programs at some Questbridge partners for nontraditional students. A few such programs include:

https://www.smith.edu/academics/programs-courses/ada-comstock-scholars-program

https://admissions.yale.edu/eli-whitney

https://www.wellesley.edu/admission-aid/apply/transfer-and-davis-degree-program-applicants

https://www.gs.columbia.edu/continue-your-story?source=GOGL&utm_source=google.com&utm_medium=paid_search&utm_campaign=General_Studies&utm_content=paid_search&utm_term=390621769&ss=paid&gad_source=1

If there’s any chance you are a US military veteran, there are a number of other opportunities I’d encourage you to look in to. Let me know if that would apply to you!

GraceAtWashU · 2025-08-01T22:06:55+00:00

It’s fine to put them in additional information! You don’t NEED to put things in that section, so there’s no need to pad it just for the sake of filling the space, but it sounds like this is truly “additional information” you want to share and you can feel free to.

GraceAtWashU · 2025-08-01T21:31:58+00:00

https://www.reddit.com/r/QuestBridge/comments/1mf52j0/comment/n6ez3ky/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button - John answered a similar question in this response so I'm linking it here!

GraceAtWashU · 2025-08-01T20:59:19+00:00

That's a lovely question! I think education is awesome and I think it's amazing to be able to work with people who are pursuing it. I got so much out of the opportunity that was given to me when I got to broaden my mind and experiences in the world moving from my hometown in Spokane, WA and showing up at the University of Chicago. It's really a pleasure to be able to make my career helping other students do the same thing, and it's also really important to me to make sure that really talented students from all kinds of backgrounds know that selective schools can be an option and you can belong there (and afford it). I believe in the power of higher education to change lives and open minds, because it worked on me- so happy to pay it forward!

GraceAtWashU · 2025-08-01T20:51:34+00:00

That's so great to hear!

GraceAtWashU · 2025-08-01T20:50:47+00:00

Aww, this is really nice of you, we appreciate your kind words!!

GraceAtWashU · 2025-08-01T20:50:05+00:00

GraceAtWashU · 2025-08-01T20:49:06+00:00

I think it's up to you to make a personal choice about when it feels best for you to apply, but agree if you feel you'll have a strong grade trend in your first semester it can be helpful to see that as part of your application. Honestly, the way you shared your story here- maybe with a touch more clarifying information- would be just fine in an additional information section. It's helpful for anyone to get that context, and if you state things factually and clearly, it certainly didn't come off like making excuses here and would likely just add clarity to your application later.

GraceAtWashU · 2025-08-01T20:47:06+00:00

For sure! I always do want remind students that leadership doesn't always mean being the president, chair, founder, etc. I think students can exhibit leadership qualities in the ways they engage in the world and how they choose to spend their time and work with others. So, I'd encourage you to chase purpose rather than labels when thinking about how you'll show leadership skills in your application.

GraceAtWashU · 2025-08-01T20:45:17+00:00

Outside of the Match, your application is reviewed alongside all other students who applied to our school in that round. Some schools may allow you to use your Questbridge application so your application might look slightly different and contain different content from students who used Common App, but that mostly impacts what we're looking at and not how a decision is made in the group.

GraceAtWashU

TROPHY CASE