Questbridge and Posse
Oberlin College is a longstanding partner of both QuestBridge and the Posse Foundation, and is proud to enroll many students each year through these partnerships. While both programs are highly competitive, they employ distinct application processes and outcomes to support academically outstanding and diverse students. These programs are available for high school seniors who plan to attend a four-year institution.
QuestBridge
| Mission Statement | QuestBridge connects high-achieving students from low-income backgrounds with a thriving community and transformative educational, career, and life opportunities that help propel them to lives of fulfillment, meaning, and purpose. |
| Primary Selection Criteria | Financial need and academic excellence |
| Applicant Eligibility | National: U.S. citizens, permanent residents, or international students attending high school in the United States |
| Application Deadlines | Submit your application to QuestBridge by early October. Match Finalists are notified in December. |
| The Process | Students apply through the QuestBridge Application. If you are selected as a finalist, you can rank Oberlin for the College Match. |
| The Award | Successful matches receive a generous financial aid package that covers full tuition, room, and board. Your financial aid package would not include student loans. |
| Campus Support | Once on campus, QuestBridge Scholars benefit from dedicated networking and community-building events along with access to peer mentors, success coaching, and alumni mentors. |
Please visit the QuestBridge page on our website for additional details about this partnership.
The Posse Foundation
| Mission Statement | The Posse Foundation identifies, recruits, and trains individuals with extraordinary leadership potential. |
| Primary Selection Criteria | Demonstrated community and leadership skills |
| Applicant Eligibility | Oberlin sponsors two Posses: one from Chicago, IL, and one from Houston, TX. |
| Application Deadlines | Following Finalist Selection, submit Early Decision Common Application with Posse staff in November; Posses announced in December. |
| The Process | You must be nominated by a high school counselor, a community-based organization, or a Posse alum in June or July. If selected, you will engage in a series of group interviews called the “Dynamic Assessment Process.” |
| The Award | Posse Scholars receive a full-tuition scholarship. Additional financial aid (possibly including loans) for room and board may be provided by Oberlin based on the applicant’s level of financial need. |
| Campus Support | Scholars are placed in "Posses" (a group of 10 students from the same geographic area) and go through specialized pre-collegiate training during their senior year of high school. They continue to meet weekly as a cohort with a faculty or staff mentor during their time at Oberlin and attend an annual retreat. |
Please visit the Posse page on our website for additional details about this partnership.
Which program is right for me?
If you are considering applying to QuestBridge or Posse, here is some information to keep in mind:
- Selection Criteria: QuestBridge’s Finalist selection process focuses on financial need and academic preparation, while Posse prioritizes community and leadership skills over financial metrics. QuestBridge is national, whereas Oberlin's Posse is open only to students from the Chicago and Houston metropolitan areas.
- Community Model: Posse centers on the cohort experience, whereas QuestBridge students become part of the broader first-generation/low-income campus network.
- College Choice: Questbridge allows you to rank up to 15 partner colleges, whereas Posse applicants are matched with one specific institution, decided in partnership with Posse during the final interview rounds.
- Commitment: QuestBridge’s National College Match is binding; if you match with a college, you are obligated to attend. Posse is also binding, but not until the final interview stage; you may withdraw their application at any time prior to that. You may apply to both programs, but if you reach finalist status in both, you will need to choose one or the other before proceeding.