<p>^^ really? I didn’t know that… are all colleges like that? (deferring you to the regular round if you’re not low-income enough)?</p>
<p>I know my parents’ income is definitely within limits (less than 30,000) but I didn’t even get a fee waiver for the CSS profile… does not getting an automatic fee waiver for the CSS profile mean you’re not “low income” enough? </p>
<p>(I know I didn’t get the waiver because of our house…it’s the smallest in our mediocre neighborhood, but it’s a house…so it’s obviously an asset over 60,000…)</p>
<p>Apply for the QB prep scholarship, but under no means take the results of that to indicate if you would or could be matched. The prep scholarship is through QB, and the Match scholarships are given through each individual school.</p>
<p>If you qualify for federal means tested benefits (reduced lunch program), you more than qualify for QuestBridge. If your family is also under $30,000, you also qualify for the Automatic Zero EFC. Apply. What harm does it do? If nothing else, you’ll have finished your Common App essay by September 30th!</p>
<p>I’d just like to note that income wasn’t the main focus of the post. Almost all of the QB finalists have some hook, whether it be first generation or URM. Moreover, many don’t have the same privileges that I have had; therefore, colleges may look at one of those applicants (who likely have parallel scores and class rank, etc) in a more favorable light.</p>
<p>In that case, if YOU don’t feel you have the appropriate qualifications, don’t bother. I’m saying there’s no harm in trying, unless you are truly that set on non-partner EA or ED.</p>
<p>Also, I have an extra CSS/PROFILE fee waiver. I’d prefer to give it to a student who works as much as me (because I know the feeling) but I’m not about to pretend I’m qualified enough to play gatekeeper. PM me.</p>
<p>somestudent2, If you are on free/reduced lunch you have a “tip”, meaning your family is low income. My D is low income, but has also had advantages from “gifts” from grandparents and others. I’m not sure what you are trying to say. From your post, you are a great QB applicant, not any different from those here now and in the past. As I stated before, QB qand the schools will see what is on your parents tax forms, not your home, backyard, clothing, etc.</p>
<p>@crystal91 -
(Most) QB schools, will NOT ‘Match’ if you have ANY EFC at all - (even a few hundred $$).
Even if you’re a strong candidate, your app will be deferred to the Reg. Decision pool. </p>
<p>@somestudent2 -
First you have to make Finalist
The Finalist QB application gets a ‘first chance’ early look in the Match round.
The QB app. gets a 2nd look if deferred to the Regular Decision round.
The QB App. is in an already separated pool, an advantage.
The QB app has the best chance of acceptance thru the Regular Decision round. (Higher % acceptance than Match round)</p>
<p>Re: QB vs. ED - If Financial Aid is important to you, ED is not a good choice. ED is a binding acceptance, you will not have the chance to compare other school’s acceptances and their FA packages. </p>
<p>JMHO - It’s impossible to know what stengths and/or diversity each college is looking for in their freshman class. No ‘hook’ is a ‘given’, each college has it’s own ‘holistic’ measures.</p>
<p>I have never seen any concrete data on this, therefore I disagree with it. If you look at the QB income pie chart, I cannot believe that most of these students have a 0 EFC. I suspect that this is more of a myth than fact. I’m sure there might be a few schools who have this policy,however you should not assume that you will not be matched is you have an EFC of more than $0.</p>
<p>I think what those schools mean is that you have to have an EFC of zero according to THEIR standards, which are considerably more generous than FAFSA’s standards. For Stanford and Yale, that’s an income of $60,000 or less.</p>
<p>An Automatic 0 EFC is an income of $30,000 or less AND qualification for federal means-tested benefits (free or reduced lunch, food stamps, WIC, etc.) or ability to file a 1040A or 1040EZ. I’m pretty sure that if you meat those qualifications, nothing else is considered and you receive an Automatic 0 EFC. However - don’t quote me.</p>
<p>@gettocollege: how do you know that???(any sources) Do you also imply that students with EFC = 0 have higher chance of getting matched even if the schools they ranked are extremely competitive?</p>
<p>Two sources for the claim that match is based on EFC.
1.At this years Prep conference, there was a seminar where someone(don’t remember if it was a college ad rep or Questbridge rep) spoke to that exact scenario. They used an example of a highly desirable candidate with an EFC of only 200 dollars who was denied match only because of EFC. They wanted to make it clear that if you are denied match it does not mean you are not highly wanted, it could just mean your EFC was too high and therefore you are bumped to regular decision.
2. Second source is it stated right on Yale’s website that matches will only be offered to those with 0 EFC.
But I agree that each school has a different method for determining EFC and also that this policy may not be true for ALL the Questbridge colleges.</p>
<p>Also please be aware that colleges must pay $3500 for each candidate they accept in match round but only a couple hundred dollars if they accept the same Questbridge candidate regular decision(or EA/ED II). So do not be discouraged if you are not matched. It doesn’t mean they do not want you, it just means they are willing to take the risk of losing you to another school. So you may still be a wonderful and desirable applicant, but maybe not one of a kind.</p>
<p>So I’m probably not gonna get matched. Great. My parents don’t even have 10,000 but its the amount they can take out as a loan to pay without going bankrupt.</p>
<p>Why are you so set on getting a match? You have a better chance to get in regular decision as a questbridge applicant then any other way. Not trying to discourage you, but you will still get same scholarship offers regular decision.</p>