QuestBridge Applicants

What is QuestBridge?

Founded more than 30 years ago, QuestBridge grew from a core belief that all students deserve to reach their full potential, regardless of their financial means. The organization 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. 

QuestBridge mission and vision
QuestBridge history

What the QuestBridge Scholarship Covers

Successful matches receive a generous financial aid package that covers full tuition, room, and board. The package does not include student loans.

QuestBridge Application Process and Requirements

Students apply to Oberlin’s College of Arts & Sciences through the QuestBridge Match Process in September of their senior year. Through this process, students rank up to 15 colleges and are eligible to be "matched" – admitted early with a full scholarship – to the college that appears highest on their list and is able to match with them. QuestBridge selects top applicants as Finalists, who then submit Match Requirements to the college partners on their rankings list. In December, Finalists learn if they have matched with one of the colleges they ranked.

Non-finalists and finalists who do not match or who choose not to rank colleges can use their QuestBridge application in lieu of the CommonApp to apply to Oberlin as an Early Decision 2 or Regular Decision applicant.

Please note that students may not apply to Oberlin’s Conservatory of Music through QuestBridge.

For a full list of application requirements, please visit Oberlin’s application page on the QuestBridge website. 

QuestBridge Application Timeline

Your application must be submitted to Questbridge by early October. Here is a step-by-step timeline for the Questbridge National College Match process. 

Please note: if you learn in October that you are not a Questbridge Finalist, you will receive further information from Questbridge on how to convert your application to Early Decision 2 or Regular Decision. If you would like to apply Early Decision 1 or Early Action, please apply via the Common App. Applying to Oberlin College via the Common App is free.

QuestBridge Applications Beyond the Match

All students who apply for the QuestBridge scholarship will fall into one of the following four categories following QuestBridge’s finalist selection process:

• Match finalists: Selected by QuestBridge in September of the student’s senior year to continue in the Match Process
• Non-Match finalists: Finalists who pursued the match but did not match with a college
• Non-participating finalists: Finalists who elected to not participate in the match process
• Non-finalists: Applicants who were not chosen as finalists

Any of these students can still apply to Oberlin using the QuestBridge application, the Common App, or the Coalition application. As with all Oberlin applicants, these students will have 100% of their demonstrated financial need met if admitted, but if admitted outside of the QuestBridge Match process, your financial aid package may include loans.

Questions?

You can find a list of frequently asked questions on this QuestBridge web page.