By Billie Nagy

Though you may have never heard of it, a non-profit organization known as “QuestBridge” might just be your financial key into college. As their website states, the purpose of QuestBridge is to “Connect the world’s brightest low-income students to America’s best universities and opportunities,” by giving applicants the ability to apply to their 35 different partner colleges, including numerous ivy league universities, where QuestBridge will “match” you with one of their partnering colleges that you choose.

While this doesn’t guarantee you a spot in a top school, it certainly is beneficial when the college application process comes.

In case you’re wondering what makes QuestBridge different from other college non-profits, QuestBridge is special for two particular reasons. The first reason is that the QuestBridge National College Match scholarship guarantees full four-year tuition for all finalists. What this means is that if you apply and happen to become a QuestBridge finalist, the organization will cover four years of college tuition fees, which means you won’t need to apply for financial aid and you will leave college debt-free.

The second way in which QuestBridge differs is that you have the ability to apply Early Decision to a maximum of eight colleges or universities. This is particularly incredible, seeing that the majority of students are only able to apply early (around November) to one college or university.

After talking with Mrs. Moffitt, I actually found out that in the Class of 2013, Tempe Prep had two QuestBridge Scholars: Jessica Ast, who is currently attending Colorado College, and Caroline Kinsley, who is at Amherst College. Last year, too, we had one student apply and become a finalist, and this year a student applied for the scholarship.

To find out more information about other QuestBridge scholarships available, including one for high school juniors, as well as the program application process and requirements, go online to their website at www.questbridge.org. You never know what kind of opportunities you might discover!