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Frequently Asked Questions - Columbia FAQ Columbia University - QuestBridge Frequently Asked QuestionsColumbia is a member of the QuestBridge program and will participate as a Match Partner for the 2007-2008 academic year. The following provides specific information related to the Columbia University requirements associated with the QuestBridge Match Process. We encourage all students to read through the following questions and answers since the Match Process for Columbia is designed slightly differently from that at some other QuestBridge Partner Schools. Below are some Frequently Asked Questions about our QuestBridge Partnership. I. How does the Match Process work with Columbia? Columbia is a match partner with QuestBridge. In addition to the QuestBridge application, the admissions and financial aid offices require students to submit additional information directly to Columbia University.
Students should file the Columbia application under Regular Decision if they wish to be considered for the Quest Match Program. If you are matched with Columbia through QuestBridge, your application status will automatically switch and be considered in the Early Decision process. Please note that if selected as a Match Scholar with Columbia, the contract is binding and students are expected to attend Columbia the following fall. During the evaluation process, the Columbia admissions committee will consider both your QuestBridge and Columbia applications. Financial Aid Requirements: All students that rank Columbia through the QuestBridge Match Process must submit the following financial aid information by November 2, 2007. II. Will Columbia accept the QuestBridge Application in place of the Columbia application? No. Columbia requires that an applicant complete the Columbia application after being identified as a QuestBridge Finalist. We do not accept the QuestBridge application in lieu of the Columbia application. If you are not identified as a finalist and are interested in applying to Columbia, you must also submit the Columbia application. As a QuestBridge applicant you are welcome to use any information from your QuestBridge application (essays, recommendations and lists of extracurricular activities); however, you must transfer the information onto the Columbia application. III. I really need the scholarship that the College Match program provides. What are Columbia's financial aid policies? Columbia University does not offer any academic or merit scholarships; all of our financial aid is need based. All financial aid packages that are provided for students, including those of QuestBridge Finalists participating in the Match process, are based on demonstrated need. Our financial aid packages for those in Regular Decision will be determined in the same way as for those students who were selected as Quest Match Scholars. For more information please refer to the Columbia/QuestBridge scholarship package description. IV. Is there a fee to apply to Columbia? Are fee waivers available? If you are QuestBridge Finalist, your application fee is waived for Columbia University. QuestBridge will verify names of all finalists directly with Columbia. Non-Finalist students who qualify for a fee waiver may submit that waiver in lieu of the application fee. Fee waivers must be signed by your high school counselor and should meet the guidelines established by the College Board or NACAC. We cannot accept personal requests for fee waivers. V. I have sent recommendation letters and secondary school support through the QuestBridge Application; do I need to re-submit these forms if I am applying to Columbia? Yes. Columbia requires that all applicants complete all parts of the Columbia application; you must use the Columbia application forms when submitting the above documents. If you received letters of recommendation from academic teachers for the QuestBridge application, you may use those letters for the Columbia application. Simply ask your teachers to resend those letters with the Columbia forms. Copies of official high school transcripts must also be sent directly to Columbia. VI. What is the last test date Columbia will accept? For the Match Process, the last date students may take the SAT is early November; the ACT date is late October. Regular Decision applicants must take the SAT no later than January and the ACT no later than February. Never utilize the ''rush'' service in sending your test scores to Columbia. Doing so does not speed up the processing of your test scores. We secure all testing via a secure website to which we are provided access by the appropriate testing agency. Scores which are sent via the ''rush'' service are sent to us in paper form, which we are no longer able to process. VII. May I apply to Columbia Early Decision? If you are a QuestBridge Finalist and you are participating in the Match Process you are not permitted to apply Early Decision to Columbia. QuestBridge applicants that go through the Match Process must apply under the Regular Decision process. However, if you withdraw from the Match Process, you may apply directly to Columbia under the Early Decision plan and must submit an Early Decision application by November 1. If you are not selected as a QB Finalist, you may also submit a Columbia application for either Early Decision or Regular Decision. VIII. Columbia is my first choice and the only school I would like to consider during the Match Process. What should I do? The Match Process is designed for students who are seriously interested in several QuestBridge partner schools and/or who feel that they will benefit from the additional information contained in the QuestBridge application. If you are a QuestBridge Finalist and Columbia is the only school you are enthusiastic about, you essentially have two options. Your first option would be to withdraw from the Match Process and apply to Columbia directly under the Early Decision plan. The second option would be to participate in the Match Process and rank only one school, knowing that your chances of being matched are much higher if you rank several Quest partner schools. If you do choose to participate in the Match, Columbia will review your QuestBridge application alongside the Columbia application. Please remember that Columbia’s financial aid packages are need-based and are not affected by which application plan you pursue - Early Decision, Regular Decision, or QuestBridge College Match. IMPORTANT DATES TO REMEMBER FOR 2007-2008 QuestBridge/Columbia Match Process
IX. If I am not identified as a Finalist, is it possible for Columbia to consider my QuestBridge application for admission? No. Students who are not selected as finalists must submit the Columbia application. Columbia does not accept the QuestBridge application in lieu of the Columbia application. X. If I become a QuestBridge Finalist and I am not matched, will Columbia consider my QuestBridge application for admission to Columbia during the regular decision process? No. Any student that is a finalist and ranks Columbia during the match process must submit the Columbia application by November 2, 2007 under regular decision. If you are not matched, Columbia will reevaluate your Columbia application only during the regular decision process beginning in January; however, we will consider that you were a QuestBridge Finalist. XI. May I use the same essay I submitted to QuestBridge for the Columbia application? Yes. As long as all of the work is your own, you may submit the essay you composed for the QuestBridge application for your Columbia application. XII. I am a foreign student. Can I apply for the QuestBridge Match program with Columbia? Unfortunately, at this time Columbia is only able to offer the Match Program to citizens and permanent residents of the United States. However, foreign and international students are an integral part of the university and Columbia is deeply committed to enrolling a student body that includes students from around the world. We do not have a separate application or process for international students. Please refer to our website for more information. http://www.studentaffairs.columbia.edu/admissions/ | |||||||||