Seasonal Reader (contract, remote)

QuestBridge connects high-achieving students from low-income backgrounds with a thriving community and transformative educational, career, and life opportunities that help propel them to lives of fulfillment, meaning, and purpose. From our founding over 30 years ago, QuestBridge has always been an organization focused on creating opportunities for students from low-income backgrounds, regardless of race, geography, or academic interest.

QuestBridge offers the National College Match for high-achieving high school seniors from low-income backgrounds. Through the National College Match, students can apply for admission and full four-year scholarships at our 55 college partners. QuestBridge uses a holistic review process to evaluate all applications for academic excellence, financial need, and strength in character. The most exceptional students are selected as “Finalists,” and will be considered by our college partners for The Match Scholarship. Our hope is for as many Finalists as possible to matriculate to our college partners through the National College Match or another admissions round.

Responsibilities

We are looking for seasonal application readers to review applications of incredibly talented students from across the country. Application readers will be trained on QuestBridge’s evaluation criteria and will work with supervisors to normalize their application review. Training includes weekly commitments throughout September.  

In the month of September, readers will be required to complete training through pre-recorded sessions via an online learning platform and accompanied by learning exercises. During the reading period in October, readers will evaluate financial information, academic achievement, writing, and recommendations based on guidance and materials shared during training. Applications are grouped by region and application readers must be able to commit to reading at least 150 applications. 

Readers must complete their training, all required exercises, and all application review by the dates provided below. 

Skills and Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree. 
• Comfortable making decisions and exercising good judgment.
• Strong analytical reading skills and attention to detail.
• Ability to meet strict deadlines.
• Ability to internalize feedback and adapt to suggested recommendations. 
• Demonstrate a high level of discretion and confidentiality. 
• Basic familiarity with online databases, PDFs, and email.
• Understanding of the U.S. high school system(s). 
• Knowledge of, and ideally experience with, higher education and college admissions or financial aid.
• Comfortable evaluating financial information, transcripts, and high school curriculum based on pre-set guidelines.
• Ability to complete all training requirements between September 4 and September 25, 2025 including pre-recorded sessions and accompanying training exercises, and work approximately 45 to 55 hours between October 1 and October 12, 2025.
• Prior experience in reviewing and evaluating applications is preferred.

Hours, Duration, and Location of Work 

This is a remote contract position that requires a total of approximately 45 to 55 hours of work.

Approximately nine hours of training throughout September, including mandatory online training sessions approximately totaling six hours, are required prior to the reading period. Readers will be expected to engage with all recorded trainings and complete a suite of accompanying training exercises.

Between October 1 and October 12, the reading period, readers will be assigned up to 200 applications to read and evaluate. Readers are expected to review applications at a consistent daily pace. 

Compensation

Application readers will be compensated at a rate of $5 per application, plus an additional $175 for the training process.