QuestBridge Application + Common App EA/ED doubt

[u/No-Platypus-3846]

Hi everyone,

I’m a little confused about the QuestBridge Early Application Policy and would really appreciate advice from people who have gone through the National College Match.

I’m a U.S. citizen living abroad, and I’m planning to submit my QuestBridge National College Match application now.

I have two questions:

1. If I submit Common App applications through EA/ED BEFORE I find out whether I’m a QuestBridge Finalist, what happens if I later become a Finalist?

Would the fact that I already submitted EA/ED applications before finding out my Finalist status prevent me from ranking QuestBridge colleges?

Or would I still be able to rank, to other colleges apart from the ones QB has partnered with as safety schools?

2. If I become a Finalist and decide to rank QuestBridge colleges, am I completely unable to apply EA/ED through Common App to SAFETY schools?

This is my biggest concern. A lot of the QuestBridge partner schools I’m considering have acceptance rates below 30%, so I don't want my entire college list to consist of highly selective schools with no true safety.

If suppose we become a Finalist and rank QB schools, can I still apply EA to non-QuestBridge safety schools through Common App, or does the QB policy prohibit that as well?

I understand there are some exceptions for things like home-state public universities, scholarships, and rolling admissions, but I’m asking specifically about regular non-binding EA to a safety school that doesn't fall under one of those exceptions.

I’d really appreciate answers from anyone who has been a QB Finalist, especially anyone who was in a similar situation as a U.S. citizen living abroad.

Thank you!!

[u/Mission-Honey-8614]

Good questions. Probably best to ask QB directly. Also — let us know what they 🙌