Counselor Resources

Students regularly share that they learned about QuestBridge through their school counselor or advisor. We hope to equip you with resources to prepare your students for our applications. For materials regarding recommendations, please refer to Recommender Resources.

Use our Student Outreach Toolkit to spread the word about QuestBridge! The toolkit includes social media posts, materials, and an email template that you can share with your students.

Supporting Your Students

Counselors play an important role in helping students think about their futures and prepare their college applications. Our Student Resource Center offers many resources specifically aimed at helping high-achieving, low-income students reach their potential, including:

• Researching Colleges: Help your students build their college list and research institutions that might be a good fit for them. 
• Writing: Find out what QuestBridge and our college partners look for in application essays and download resources for navigating the writing process.
• Paying for College: Find out how attending one of QuestBridge’s college partners can be the most affordable option for low-income students and access tools for understanding financial aid. 

Application Overview

National College Match for High School Seniors

The National College Match application opens in late summer each year, and it closes in late September. This is a college admission and scholarship process through which high-achieving, low-income students can be "matched" — admitted early with full four-year scholarships to QuestBridge college partners. The Match Scholarship is offered as part of a generous financial aid package provided by the college, and it is worth over $200,000. Finalists who do not match can apply for free to any of our college partners through QuestBridge Regular Decision. Learn more about the process and timeline for high school seniors. 

Our National College Match Application Instructions provide an overview of the required components. This is a full college application, and we encourage students to start early so they can submit their best work.

College Prep Scholars Program for High School Juniors

The College Prep Scholars Program application opens in early February each year, and it closes in late March. College Prep Scholars are awarded various opportunities throughout the summer that are designed to strengthen their college applications. When students apply as juniors, their application will automatically carry over to the National College Match when they are seniors, giving them a head start.

Our College Prep Scholars Program Application Instructions provide an overview of the required components.

Application Walkthrough

Watch our QuestTips video for a walkthrough of the National College Match and College Prep Scholars Program applications, including tips and best practices when supporting students. 

Counselor and Advisor FAQs

Check out answers to common questions from counselors below, and visit our online help portal, AskQB, as other questions arise.

• Do I need to submit my student’s transcripts and test scores?
• What is the relationship between the College Prep Scholars Program and the National College Match?
• How is applying to the National College Match different from applying Early Decision to a QuestBridge college partner?