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Inside Admissions

To all my Questies

Dec 02
Sean Ashburn Inside Admissions

In the great on-screen words of George Little, “It’s today!” Tufts’ first offers of admission for the current application season have been sent to our recipients of the QuestBridge National College Match Scholarship. This impressive cohort of low-income students has been selected from a large group of QuestBridge Finalists who ranked Tufts in the National College Match process - they are super smart, super resilient, and great fits for the Tufts community. We wish these QB Scholars congratulations and look forward to welcoming them to campus next fall.

For a significant group of other students, as George found in “Stuart Little,” our much-anticipated days don’t always turn out how we imagine. Hang tight, my friends, because it will be okay! If you are a QuestBridge Finalists who was not selected during the Match round, the journey is not over. While I suspect this news comes with feelings of disappointment given your hard work, please remember that not being matched does not mean you were denied from the partner colleges you ranked. In fact, it means your application process is still very much active and many colleges (including QuestBridge partners) would be happy to have you join their communities.


Dozens of leaders in Tufts’ first-generation, low-income student community are QuestBridge Finalists who were admitted to Tufts during EDII or Regular Decision. QuestBridge Finalists who did not match are represented as student leaders on campus in our Diversity Admissions Council, 1+4 and Civic Semester Fellows, STEM Ambassadors, Tisch Scholars, and BEAST pre-orientation peer leaders. These are students who, perhaps like you, did not receive favorable news in the QuestBridge Match process, but the academic achievement, voice, and perspective in their applications still resulted in an offer of admission in February (for EDII) or March (for RD). These are also students who received a Tufts financial aid award covering 100% of their family’s demonstrated need, regardless of their affiliation with QuestBridge. 


The point here: it’s okay to take a moment or an hour or a day and feel sad or frustrated that you didn’t match - those feelings are valid. But after you devour some ice cream and listen to some sad Frank Ocean, let’s re-focus on the many exciting possibilities still in front of you.

So what do we do now?

You’ll find lots of helpful information regarding the post-Match process on the Tufts partner page on the QuestBridge website and on our QuestBridge FAQ page. Here are the basics:

  • Complete the QuestBridge Regular Decision Form in your QB portal by December 15: QuestBridge will forward the applications and materials of non-matched Finalists and non-Finalists to Tufts. We will follow-up with you soon after we have received your application. You may also opt to apply using the Common Application or Coalition Application - we have no preference, but you only need to submit one application.

  • Consider Early Decision II: If you’ve done the research to know that Tufts is your first-choice institution and an affordable option for you and your family (MyinTuition can help with this), ED may be worth considering. Follow the instructions in your post-application email from me (or contact me directly at sean.ashburn@tufts.edu) to pursue EDII. 

  • Tackle the Writing Supplement: QuestBridge applicants in EDII and Regular Decision will need to complete the two short essays in the Tufts Writing Supplement form available in your application status page. Check out essay advice on our website.

  • Send us your updates: If you have updated SAT or ACT scores from the past two months, you may self-report these using the form available in your Tufts application status page. We will also need your school counselor to provide your mid-year senior grades once they become available in January or February.

  • Consider an interview: If you would like to request an optional alumni interview, you may do so within your Tufts application status page through January 6.

Once again, to those who were selected as QuestBridge Match Scholars, congratulations! You’re joining a tight-knit, awesome network of college students and alumni who are doing big things. To those who did not match, that network is here for you, too! If you come to Tufts, you’ll join our QuestBridge Scholars Network and First-Gen Collective in celebrating the sense of pride that can be found in our first-generation and low-income student identities. Like I said, the application process is still evolving for you. Complete the required next steps, maintain a balanced college list, and appreciate these last few months of high school with people who matter to you. As always, the Tufts Admissions team is here to help if/when you need it.