Now that you’re job searching, the college application process is probably long forgotten. There are some similarities in the processes, but applying to college is much more structured and standardized than applying for a job. Structure and standardization doesn’t mean easy. Applying to college can be daunting for even the most well groomed students who have had access to best tutors, college counselors, and coaches that money can buy. Talented students who come from low-income families face the same challenges, but they often face them alone without the guidance of people who have been through the process before. The Quest Scholars Program offers two programs, QuestLeadership and QuestBridge, to help high-achievieng, underserved students get into in some of the country’s top colleges and universities.

The Quest for Success

The Quest Scholars Program seems to have been quiet for the past few years (or maybe they’ve neglected to update their website), but they’re actively hiring now. They didn’t offer a QuestScholars Summer Program in 2007, but they are supposed to be having a week-long summer conference this month. So what exactly is Quest Scholars all about?

QuestLeadership is a part of the Quest Scholars Program, and is a free mentorship and leadership-training program for exceptionally bright, low income students with interests in higher education, leadership, and professional careers. QuestLeadership begins with a five-week summer residential program on the Stanford campus for high school students entering their junior and senior years. Its support continues through the rest of high school and the undergraduate college experience—providing college admissions counseling and more.

and

QuestBridge is a non-profit program that links bright, motivated low-income students with educational and scholarship opportunities at some of the nation’s best colleges. QuestBridge is the provider of the College Prep Scholarship and National College Match Program.

100% of Quest Scholars Program students go on to college, and 82% end up attending Stanford, Harvard, Berkeley, MIT, or other Ivy League schools. That is amazing.

Quest Scholars is located in Palo Alto, CA, and they’re currently looking to add a few key staff members. They need a Program Associate – College Relations and a Temporary Recruitment Assistant – QuestBridge, both of which seem to be geared towards entry-level candidates, as well as a QuestBridge Program Manager, which seems to be intended for candidates with a Master’s Degree and some work experience. To apply for these jobs, send a cover letter and resume to jobs@questbridge.org with the job title and your name in the subject line, e.g. “Program Associate – John Doe”.

Links to Help You Begin Your Research

• QuestScholars.org
• Quest Scholars Program’s Jobs on Idealist
• About Quest Scholars Program
• Quest Scholars Program’s Brochure
• Quest Scholars Program’s Mission and Goals
• Quest’s Staff Profiles
• Quest’s FAQ for Applicants (Students, not Jobs)

Know anything about the Quest Scholars Program? Leave a comment.

We've identified Quest Scholars Program as having career opportunities in the following categories:

• all employers
• California
• coaching
• education
• non-profit
• recruiting

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