I may be presumptive here, but I think the OP is looking for a full ride or very close to it to go away to college. That’s not easy to get. In fact, it’s very difficult. That she has such a sterling academic profile is what even make it possible.
With a zero EFC, her chances for QB full ride goes up from zilch to possible. I don’t know of anyone who got that full match award without a zero EFC.
It appears to me, that even with her mother’s financials in the picture , her institutional expected contribution is going to be very low. The kicker is her dad’s business. No idea how PROFILE schools will assess his situation.
You only need one safety school locked up. Understand that is where you will be going if you don’t get other affordable options if you want to go away to college next year. So that school is a very important pick, even more so than the QB early match where you probably would be happy with any school you pick from their list but the chances of getting it are… well just 1000 kids got this total, last year. Get that safety, likely, fail safe school nailed down, and you can play the lottery all you want. Heck, yes, apply to HPY et al. Might as well if you don’t get the QB match, Max out your QB picks and use the great resources they have in the application process. From everything I have read, it does help your chances to get to say you are going through QB. The application procedure, I understand is onerous, but so is all of this Fin aid and regular app stuff