<p>I would be really hesitant to apply ED if you need financial aid, because Rice has a slighty screwed up way to determine your financial need. It has it’s own internal formula, that often comes out higher than your FAFSA EFC and can leave quite a chunk of change that you have to pay for.</p>
<p>That said, I think Questbridge is an amazingly awesome way to get noticed by schools as someone a little different and offsets the effects of not applying ED. I myself am a Questbridge Non-matched Finalist that got into Rice RD with a really big package coming to me. If you meet the qualifications for Questbridge, absolutely do it. There is nothing to lose in this program, and absolutely everything to gain (plus you get free Applications at the least!).</p>