By Holly Simpson

Haverford is always looking for ways to improve its accessibility to applicants, so this year it formed a partnership with QuestBridge, a non-profit nation-wide outreach program that helps connect promising low-income students with a broader range of college options. As one of QuestBridge’s 26 partner colleges, Haverford agrees to accept a certain number of students as QuestBridge scholars.

Students applying to colleges through QuestBridge rank the colleges to which they apply, and QuestBridge then finds out at which colleges the students were accepted. If a student and a college included each other in their rankings, a match is made. Acceptances are binding, on the condition that students accepted in this manner can attend the institution at which they were accepted on full scholarship.

Haverford admitted eight QuestBridge scholars into the Class of 2013, and Director of Admissions Jess Lord described them as a diverse group in all ways, including in terms of race, ethnicity, gender, geography, and some being the first in their family to attend college. He also added that other students connected to the college through QuestBridge were accepted through regular admission and will, in accordance with college policy, obviously also receive as much financial aid as needed.

Lord explained that there was a natural connection between Haverford and QuestBridge since the goals of the program are in line with those of the college. Haverford wants to be accessible to students from a wide array of backgrounds and locations, and partnership with QuestBridge makes Haverford more available by increasing its visibility. Similarly, since QuestBridge reaches out to low-income students, the program advances Haverford’s goals of increasing socio-economic diversity and attracting students from schools that do not often send applicants. Thus, QuestBridge enhances Haverford’s ability to make contact with students who would not normally hear about or consider Haverford.

Lord explained that while he accepts that people do not apply to Haverford because they have looked at it and decided they are not interested, he finds the idea that people do not apply to the College because they have never heard of it disappointing. He concluded, “It is important to put Haverford before people, so that they can make a conscious decision not to apply.” So far QuestBridge has been successful in helping Haverford achieve this: many students who have discovered Haverford through QuestBridge come from schools that normally do not send applicants.

Partnership with QuestBridge also helps spread the word that Haverford’s need-based financial aid policy makes it economically possible for low-income students to attend. QuestBridge serves as a mediator between admissions representatives and prospective applicants. Lord said that while it is easy for him to come across as “a salesman for the institution,” whether or not this is the case, people trust organizations like QuestBridge to give an accurate representation of Haverford and other colleges.

He explained that QuestBridge is central in working to convince low-income students that “indeed these schools [like Haverford] want people like you; they are not elite in that sense. In fact they want you so badly they will give you significant financial aid.” A $50,000 price tag is intimidating even to those who can afford it, and can easily dissuade low-income students from considering Haverford. QuestBridge works to spread the word that there are many opportunities for full scholarships and substantial financial aid from institutions like Haverford.

While Lord sees Haverford’s relationship with QuestBridge continuing, he does not anticipate increasing the number of people the College accepts as QuestBridge scholars. Decisions regarding students applying to Haverford through the program are made in October, and just as the College does not want to over accept early decision applicants before considering students applying regular decision, it similarly does not want to over-accept QuestBridge applicants.

Lord noted, “Haverford didn’t compromise anything to participate.” Haverford does not award scholarships based on merit, but because all of the students directed to Haverford by QuestBridge are low-income, this issue is irrelevant.

“Haverford’s first year with QuestBridge exceeded my expectations, and [the partnership] should be even more successful in the future, since the longer we participate the more we will be able to reach out to the students who connect with QuestBridge," Lord concluded. "The longevity of our involvement will benefit us by allowing us to reach out to a broader range of students.”

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