QuestBridge kids taking half the spots at top schools, and it’s unfair

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Since the Supreme Court ruling on admissions, now universities are looking at low to moderate income high achievers from QuestBridge to fill diversity slots. But what about minority kids who are high income? And everyone else? Are we all getting the shaft? My daughter is getting rejection after rejection even though she has high SAT scores and GPA. And I’m sure they chose a low income minority to fill that slot over us. The whole admissions game completely sucks. I’m tired of all these overkill programs leaning toward lower or moderate income. It needs to be a fair shot for all.

There is so much wrong with this post, as many PPs have addressed above.

It also seems fishy. OP - Your daughter has high stats but already has received “rejection after rejection” by mid-December? That sounds inconsistent to me given the schools that offer EA.

I get that she was likely rejected from her ED school. But which other schools have rejected her already? And what exactly are her stats?

good. Now they can join the angst of all the other UMC families who kids are held to a higher standard than FGLI because of their socioeconomic privilege. The URM UMC no longer gets a thumb on the scale for their skin color. And why should they?

[Anonymous]

I find it interesting that so many Questbridge Scholars have dual citizenship. It is actually a pretty high number. I think it is much, much easier to hide assets when you have international ties.

I suppose it is illegal but it seems like priority should go to students whose families who have experienced multi-generational poverty in the United States whatever your race/ethnicity.

So no Asians whose parents graduated college in Asia.

No Nigerians or Jamaicans whose parents graduated college abroad.

Many recent immigrants also have business where it is easier to hide assets.

I would love to know how many Questbridge student who match (only around 1/4 to 1/5 of students who are in Questbridge actually match and get into a top school), are actually from families who have lived in multi-generational poverty.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:QB students are a fraction of recruited athlete admits.

QB, QB type programs, first gen, and Pell are over 1/3 of Swarthmore admits. So about equal. Non-SLACs have a lower proportion of athletes, so this category far exceeds the athlete proportion.

I think the complaint is about applicants hiding finances or falsely claiming first-gen (not necessarily through Questbridge, but in their applications generally). This is easier to do for immigrant families, though it is a problem generally. Are 10% of students getting into very selective schools as a result of first gen lying? Probably. That’s a huge problem…

How can you hide that your parent has a college degree, even if the degree was granted overseas somewhere? They count degrees received in outside the US as well, right?

You don’t reveal it — and there is no way to know. Duh.

Agreed. So easy to hide if you don't need to apply for a job here (eg, you own a business).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Since the Supreme Court ruling on admissions, now universities are looking at low to moderate income high achievers from QuestBridge to fill diversity slots. But what about minority kids who are high income? And everyone else? Are we all getting the shaft? My daughter is getting rejection after rejection even though she has high SAT scores and GPA. And I’m sure they chose a low income minority to fill that slot over us. The whole admissions game completely sucks. I’m tired of all these overkill programs leaning toward lower or moderate income. It needs to be a fair shot for all.

There is so much wrong with this post, as many PPs have addressed above.

It also seems fishy. OP - Your daughter has high stats but already has received “rejection after rejection” by mid-December? That sounds inconsistent to me given the schools that offer EA.

I get that she was likely rejected from her ED school. But which other schools have rejected her already? And what exactly are her stats?

good. Now they can join the angst of all the other UMC families who kids are held to a higher standard than FGLI because of their socioeconomic privilege. The URM UMC no longer gets a thumb on the scale for their skin color. And why should they?

They should not. However, the opposite is happening for UMC URM students. They now have a harder time than their peers with the same stats.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Since the Supreme Court ruling on admissions, now universities are looking at low to moderate income high achievers from QuestBridge to fill diversity slots. But what about minority kids who are high income? And everyone else? Are we all getting the shaft? My daughter is getting rejection after rejection even though she has high SAT scores and GPA. And I’m sure they chose a low income minority to fill that slot over us. The whole admissions game completely sucks. I’m tired of all these overkill programs leaning toward lower or moderate income. It needs to be a fair shot for all.

There is so much wrong with this post, as many PPs have addressed above.

It also seems fishy. OP - Your daughter has high stats but already has received “rejection after rejection” by mid-December? That sounds inconsistent to me given the schools that offer EA.

I get that she was likely rejected from her ED school. But which other schools have rejected her already? And what exactly are her stats?

good. Now they can join the angst of all the other UMC families who kids are held to a higher standard than FGLI because of their socioeconomic privilege. The URM UMC no longer gets a thumb on the scale for their skin color. And why should they?

They should not. However, the opposite is happening for UMC URM students. They now have a harder time than their peers with the same stats.

According to who? Are they worse applicants?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Since the Supreme Court ruling on admissions, now universities are looking at low to moderate income high achievers from QuestBridge to fill diversity slots. But what about minority kids who are high income? And everyone else? Are we all getting the shaft? My daughter is getting rejection after rejection even though she has high SAT scores and GPA. And I’m sure they chose a low income minority to fill that slot over us. The whole admissions game completely sucks. I’m tired of all these overkill programs leaning toward lower or moderate income. It needs to be a fair shot for all.

There is so much wrong with this post, as many PPs have addressed above.

It also seems fishy. OP - Your daughter has high stats but already has received “rejection after rejection” by mid-December? That sounds inconsistent to me given the schools that offer EA.

I get that she was likely rejected from her ED school. But which other schools have rejected her already? And what exactly are her stats?

good. Now they can join the angst of all the other UMC families who kids are held to a higher standard than FGLI because of their socioeconomic privilege. The URM UMC no longer gets a thumb on the scale for their skin color. And why should they?

They should not. However, the opposite is happening for UMC URM students. They now have a harder time than their peers with the same stats.

According to who? Are they worse applicants?

No. The same lawyer who brought the first SC cases is chomping at the bit to go back and accuse schools of violating the order. If they stick primarily to low income, first gen and athletes they’re safe. With full pay URM students, they have to be prepared to defend. So even with high stats not all students are admitted, if any race, but defending admissions of black students will cost big money and lots of time. UMC black students are being held to a higher standard.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Since the Supreme Court ruling on admissions, now universities are looking at low to moderate income high achievers from QuestBridge to fill diversity slots. But what about minority kids who are high income? And everyone else? Are we all getting the shaft? My daughter is getting rejection after rejection even though she has high SAT scores and GPA. And I’m sure they chose a low income minority to fill that slot over us. The whole admissions game completely sucks. I’m tired of all these overkill programs leaning toward lower or moderate income. It needs to be a fair shot for all.

There is so much wrong with this post, as many PPs have addressed above.

It also seems fishy. OP - Your daughter has high stats but already has received “rejection after rejection” by mid-December? That sounds inconsistent to me given the schools that offer EA.

I get that she was likely rejected from her ED school. But which other schools have rejected her already? And what exactly are her stats?

good. Now they can join the angst of all the other UMC families who kids are held to a higher standard than FGLI because of their socioeconomic privilege. The URM UMC no longer gets a thumb on the scale for their skin color. And why should they?

They should not. However, the opposite is happening for UMC URM students. They now have a harder time than their peers with the same stats.

According to who? Are they worse applicants?

No. The same lawyer who brought the first SC cases is chomping at the bit to go back and accuse schools of violating the order. If they stick primarily to low income, first gen and athletes they’re safe. With full pay URM students, they have to be prepared to defend. So even with high stats not all students are admitted, if any race, but defending admissions of black students will cost big money and lots of time. UMC black students are being held to a higher standard.

so you are saying URM UMC students are being held to a higher standard than white and Asian UMC students? That is interesting. I doubt there is enough data yet post Supreme Court decision to make that statement. Of course they are being held to a higher standard than the poor URM students—and they should be due to their socioeconomic privilege.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I find it interesting that so many Questbridge Scholars have dual citizenship. It is actually a pretty high number. I think it is much, much easier to hide assets when you have international ties.

I suppose it is illegal but it seems like priority should go to students whose families who have experienced multi-generational poverty in the United States whatever your race/ethnicity.

So no Asians whose parents graduated college in Asia.

No Nigerians or Jamaicans whose parents graduated college abroad.

Many recent immigrants also have business where it is easier to hide assets.

I would love to know how many Questbridge student who match (only around 1/4 to 1/5 of students who are in Questbridge actually match and get into a top school), are actually from families who have lived in multi-generational poverty.

Where are you funding this information that they have dual citizenship?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Since the Supreme Court ruling on admissions, now universities are looking at low to moderate income high achievers from QuestBridge to fill diversity slots. But what about minority kids who are high income? And everyone else? Are we all getting the shaft? My daughter is getting rejection after rejection even though she has high SAT scores and GPA. And I’m sure they chose a low income minority to fill that slot over us. The whole admissions game completely sucks. I’m tired of all these overkill programs leaning toward lower or moderate income. It needs to be a fair shot for all.

I think you said the quiet part out loud OP. Down with the poor minorities, up with the privileged whites.

OP said down with the poor minorities, up with the privileged (financially) minorities

And suddenly, the preference is unfair.

It's a hilariously hypocritical about-face compared to where these exact same parents were a few years ago. What do you think they thought of Whites and Asians who complained about URM "stealing" spots? Probably not with a lot of empathy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I find it interesting that so many Questbridge Scholars have dual citizenship. It is actually a pretty high number. I think it is much, much easier to hide assets when you have international ties.

I suppose it is illegal but it seems like priority should go to students whose families who have experienced multi-generational poverty in the United States whatever your race/ethnicity.

So no Asians whose parents graduated college in Asia.

No Nigerians or Jamaicans whose parents graduated college abroad.

Many recent immigrants also have business where it is easier to hide assets.

I would love to know how many Questbridge student who match (only around 1/4 to 1/5 of students who are in Questbridge actually match and get into a top school), are actually from families who have lived in multi-generational poverty.

Where are you funding this information that they have dual citizenship?

Yeah, that's a load of crap. There are some who would be eligible to apply because parents are immigrants, but that is not the same as dual citizenship. There is definitely a political troll here trying to demonize immigrants with this lame propaganda. It's a classic Trump-move. Blame/attack someone more vulnerable, so you don't notice the grift.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There is so much disinformation here, it's nauseating. Thanks to the few who have accurate info, who have clarified the competitiveness and difficulty of becoming a QB finalist.

I work with a CBO. Here are a few clarifying details.

Many students can be financially eligible for QB (up to 70k), but many QB schools look for students with an EFC of 0. Those are students with real need.

It is a rigorous application. Students need stats, recs, ECs and effective writing to make finalist. They write an 800 word essay + another 500 word essay just for the app..Plus short answer. They also do supplements for the schools on their list.

Only about 30% of finalists match. Odds for some schools are equivalent to RD.

QB scholarship does not eliminate the student contribution. Schools vet the finances after they submit to QB and make finalist. Schools use same process for vetting as any other applicant. This can be very hard for disadvantaged students who essentially have to adult here. Bit they do it,in addition to all the other app stuff.

Many QB scholarship are valedictorian or equivalent at non ranking schools.

Schools only take 20-100 students via QB

This is such an arduous process for students already disadvantaged. They are truly phenomenal.

Stop denigrating QB students. I can only think those people are either horribly misinformed or are just vicious trolls. If you are too self-interested, miserly or mean to celebrate their hard earned succeses, just leave these kids alone.

In case people missed the facts because of all the anti-immigrant propaganda swirling on this thread.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Since the Supreme Court ruling on admissions, now universities are looking at low to moderate income high achievers from QuestBridge to fill diversity slots. But what about minority kids who are high income? And everyone else? Are we all getting the shaft? My daughter is getting rejection after rejection even though she has high SAT scores and GPA. And I’m sure they chose a low income minority to fill that slot over us. The whole admissions game completely sucks. I’m tired of all these overkill programs leaning toward lower or moderate income. It needs to be a fair shot for all.

There is so much wrong with this post, as many PPs have addressed above.

It also seems fishy. OP - Your daughter has high stats but already has received “rejection after rejection” by mid-December? That sounds inconsistent to me given the schools that offer EA.

I get that she was likely rejected from her ED school. But which other schools have rejected her already? And what exactly are her stats?

good. Now they can join the angst of all the other UMC families who kids are held to a higher standard than FGLI because of their socioeconomic privilege. The URM UMC no longer gets a thumb on the scale for their skin color. And why should they?

They should not. However, the opposite is happening for UMC URM students. They now have a harder time than their peers with the same stats.

According to who? Are they worse applicants?

No. The same lawyer who brought the first SC cases is chomping at the bit to go back and accuse schools of violating the order. If they stick primarily to low income, first gen and athletes they’re safe. With full pay URM students, they have to be prepared to defend. So even with high stats not all students are admitted, if any race, but defending admissions of black students will cost big money and lots of time. UMC black students are being held to a higher standard.

so you are saying URM UMC students are being held to a higher standard than white and Asian UMC students? That is interesting. I doubt there is enough data yet post Supreme Court decision to make that statement. Of course they are being held to a higher standard than the poor URM students—and they should be due to their socioeconomic privilege.

Yes, I believe they (black students in particular) are being held to a higher standard than other UMC students. I believe that many of the top schools with lots of eyes on them are afraid to admit many black students who don’t check the other boxes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Since the Supreme Court ruling on admissions, now universities are looking at low to moderate income high achievers from QuestBridge to fill diversity slots. But what about minority kids who are high income? And everyone else? Are we all getting the shaft? My daughter is getting rejection after rejection even though she has high SAT scores and GPA. And I’m sure they chose a low income minority to fill that slot over us. The whole admissions game completely sucks. I’m tired of all these overkill programs leaning toward lower or moderate income. It needs to be a fair shot for all.

There is so much wrong with this post, as many PPs have addressed above.

It also seems fishy. OP - Your daughter has high stats but already has received “rejection after rejection” by mid-December? That sounds inconsistent to me given the schools that offer EA.

I get that she was likely rejected from her ED school. But which other schools have rejected her already? And what exactly are her stats?

good. Now they can join the angst of all the other UMC families who kids are held to a higher standard than FGLI because of their socioeconomic privilege. The URM UMC no longer gets a thumb on the scale for their skin color. And why should they?

They should not. However, the opposite is happening for UMC URM students. They now have a harder time than their peers with the same stats.

According to who? Are they worse applicants?

No. The same lawyer who brought the first SC cases is chomping at the bit to go back and accuse schools of violating the order. If they stick primarily to low income, first gen and athletes they’re safe. With full pay URM students, they have to be prepared to defend. So even with high stats not all students are admitted, if any race, but defending admissions of black students will cost big money and lots of time. UMC black students are being held to a higher standard.

so you are saying URM UMC students are being held to a higher standard than white and Asian UMC students? That is interesting. I doubt there is enough data yet post Supreme Court decision to make that statement. Of course they are being held to a higher standard than the poor URM students—and they should be due to their socioeconomic privilege.

Yes, I believe they (black students in particular) are being held to a higher standard than other UMC students. I believe that many of the top schools with lots of eyes on them are afraid to admit many black students who don’t check the other boxes.

Most are struggling to get black students so this makes no sense. Amherst had a 3% black population in its 2028 class, do you really think they care that much when their percentage dropped so quickly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I find it interesting that so many Questbridge Scholars have dual citizenship. It is actually a pretty high number. I think it is much, much easier to hide assets when you have international ties.

I suppose it is illegal but it seems like priority should go to students whose families who have experienced multi-generational poverty in the United States whatever your race/ethnicity.

So no Asians whose parents graduated college in Asia.

No Nigerians or Jamaicans whose parents graduated college abroad.

Many recent immigrants also have business where it is easier to hide assets.

I would love to know how many Questbridge student who match (only around 1/4 to 1/5 of students who are in Questbridge actually match and get into a top school), are actually from families who have lived in multi-generational poverty.

Where are you funding this information that they have dual citizenship?

Questbridge 2024 stats
U.S. Citizen: 72%
U.S. Citizen with Dual Citizenship: 16%
U.S. Permanent Resident: 5%
Non-Citizen: 5%
U.S. Asylee/Refugee: 1%

I will add I am not anti-immigrant at all. My parents are immigrants and I would have been eligible for Questbridge. But experience my husband's extended family where he was the first to go to college was an eye opener. They have lived in the US for multiple generations and to realize it seems like an endless cycle where the grandparents have dropped out of high school, their kids drop out or only graduate high school. No one owns a house, not all of them even have bank accounts. I would hope kid growing up in this environment would have some type of priority. If you can excel in that environment you deserve a spot in a top school. In contrast, so many immigrants are go getters to leave their country and start a new life.

It just seems like an awfully high number of US citizens with dual citizenship. I wonder how are international students whose parents were traveling, studying, working in the US when they were born then went back to their home countries. It just seems like such a strange statistic to report. I would think there would be more US Permanent residents, asylum/refugee/non-citizens than dual citizens.

[Anonymous]

^ I should have looked more closely. You are eligible if you are a U.S. Citizens and Permanent Residents living abroad. This seems strange that top college spots are going to these kids through Questbridge. You can't accurately vet the finances of so many international students.