<p>It might be because not all colleges have the same policy, and it might also be because even colleges that usually do things that way have limited circumstances that are exceptions to that policy. If you’ve already been named a finalist, you’re in great shape for both admission and for financial aid at some great colleges. The National College Match is a great subset of the QuestBridge program, but you can gain admission to a great college and afford to attend it even if you don’t get a match. </p>
<p>By the way, how are all of you guessing your family’s Estimated Family Contribution (EFC)?</p>
<p>There are some EFC calculators online, such as collegeboard’s, or one of the ones available on the colleges’ websites, like Yale, Princeton, etc.</p>
<p>well my parents didn’t want to make it look like we were begging for money, so we put down 2000 instead of 0. it wasnt something we calculated. it was just a random number that we put down…</p>
<p>My mom and I live off of $13,800 a year and our EFC was still $500-$1,000 for Princeton.</p>
<p>As others have stated, there are many factors in determining financial aid which include extenuating circumstances (i.e., layoffs, medical bills, siblings in college etc.).</p>
<p>Even if we are not matched on December 1st, more finalists are admitted regular decision and from what I’ve read the colleges still offer very generous financial aid.</p>
<p>We also can’t forget that financial aid is not going to be the total factor in being matched. The schools will not accept everyone even if they have a 0 EFC. Remember the academics, recommendations, essays (oh those essays!!), etc. are all being weighed.</p>
<p>I think we should all be proud we had the honor of being selected as finalists. I’m sure the disappointed non-finalists would trade places with us any time. Yes, it was lots of hard work, angst and more angst to apply. I won’t regret it at all. At least I gave it my best shot (and I have all those essays to use for other schools). :)</p>
<p>Please, everyone don’t stress over this. Please re-read brittany’s post1335, and say to yourself is that the wording of a top LAC? Also look at the amount of the cutoff, they would not give a “range” they would give an exact number. Sorry, I call bull.</p>
<p>I hope as a parent, that this class of QB has a little more class than last year. Cruel things were said and one poster even changed screen names to slam a mTch recipient. Please show you as a class are better than that!</p>
<p>^ Oh wow. You know that reminds me of an article I read about the psychological impulse to unleash your worst on online forums, where you are virtually anonymous. It is so much cooler to be able to restrain yourself than to write a hurtful and hateful post on a forum that is meant to help fellow teens.</p>
<p>Were we supposed to use any of the EFC calculators provided by the schools? I didn’t even know they offered them; I just assumed the schools wanted us to guess how much our parent(s) may be able to contribute next year. I said zero because, frankly, we can’t even afford instate tuition. My mom’s income is about $27000 (and that’s working about 50 hours every week), but there are three children living off of that…not to mention rent and whatnot. Should I contact the schools to ask if I should resubmit everything with an accurate EFC or will they do it themselves?</p>
<p>I believe when we submit the financial aid paperwork required from each school they use it to figure the EFC. Again, this is just my assumption, but I believe the calculators are for us (and our parents) to get an idea what our contribution would be.</p>
<p>Yours is a case in point of what I said earlier. Your mom makes more than mine but she has three children - kwim? She is supporting four people with her income. Hence each of us will have different circumstances and figuring EFC just by an income/assets or assuming we will not be chosen for match because of a higher EFC just doesn’t make sense to me.</p>
<p>Perhaps we all are just over-analyzing at this point because we are so nervous while waiting for the match results. I hate to quote High School Musical but we are “all in this together”. Let’s support one another! </p>
<p>However, I will gladly (LOL) quote from Desderata: “You are a child of the universe, no less than the trees & the stars; you have a right to be here. And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.”</p>
<p>“Please, everyone don’t stress over this. Please re-read brittany’s post1335, and say to yourself is that the wording of a top LAC? Also look at the amount of the cutoff, they would not give a “range” they would give an exact number. Sorry, I call bull.”</p>
<p>Honestly, I’m pretty insulted by this; there was an unnecessary meanness to your post. Sorry, not bull. That is part of a personal message (hence the casual wording) sent to me by an admissions officer at Williams. If you’d like me to forward you the email so you can see name<em>of</em>officer at williams.edu, go ahead and give me your email address.</p>
<p>Besides, why on earth would I fabricate this? I’m completely devastated about it and would never want anyone else to worry the way I am if they didn’t have to. I just came out of the woodwork because I saw that QBbound was quoting me from the Facebook group. Sorry I did, now.</p>
<p>My understanding … and you can take that phrase with a grain of salt … is that the schools offering a 4-year free ride are the ones doing the $0 EFC-or-bust deal. </p>
<p>Check out the schools you have ranked; in fact, check out all the partner schools and see how they have worded their Match packages. Some do the 4-year guaranteed thing while others clearly state that you must resubmit your financials each year. The ones who say you must resubmit each year do not hold to the $0 EFC thing. You can have a higher EFC at those schools and still get matched. </p>
<p>At least that’s what I’ve been led to believe …</p>
<p>hsstudent09, that is what makes QB great, it is more than just the numbers. It has to do with what life has dealt you and how you have utilized those opportunities.</p>
<p>Brittany, I apologize for being harsh. I was upset that finalists are going to be stressed even more. Please realize that those are just the words of one adcom. Even if she does have informal insight into SOME other colleges policies, she certainly cannot speak for them, only for her own institution.</p>
<p>BTW, my D did not put down $0 for the amount we could contribute on our profile for those of you who are concerned about that question. That question does not determine your EFC.</p>
<p>I know Brittany2009 from the Facebook QB group, and I can tell you that she is NOT lying about this. There was no reason to be so harsh - she’s had her dreams at a College Match Scholarship ripped from under her. Jeez.</p>
<p>Brittany2009 needn’t worry though. Many more people receive excellent, large scholarships through the Regular Decision round than the College Match round. You’re very bright and will do fine!</p>
<p>Sligh, I hope you saw that I apologized to Brittany. I was frustrated that it was implied that NOBODY with an EFC of $0 could recieve a match, when that was a comment from one adcom at one partner school.</p>
<p>60% of you will end up with great financial packages offered to you through the QB partner schools, I hope Briittany gets a great one from Williams.</p>
<p>There are all kinds of people. Some, like me, tend to get their hopes up… then when things don’t pan out, their world kind of shuts down till they can regroup and get going again. I’m nothing clinical, but probably pretty normal. Reading about Brittney’s situation, and sharing here for others, I guess is my way of preparing myself for a big let down after such a huge high of being named finalist. Less than 10% odds of getting matched is great if youre playing the lottery. (Though the %age will be lower/higher given the number applicants and the economy.) To have made it this far is an accomplishment in itself. Not getting match will be devastating, for a time. Some people do pretty well on roller coaster rides. I think I’m more the type that gets sick after the ride…but then later on, looks back and says, “Well it wasn’t THAT bad.” I’m sure I’ll survive. But being able to come here and say “oh my gosh…blha” helps me work through and think through. Reading your comments…even the ones that insite others…keeps me on my toes thinking, rationalizing, analyzing, mentally preparing, evaluating…HMMMM…learning! </p>
<p>I totally agree that writing in the blind can be a dangerous thing. Even my texting is not how I would normally talk. I would hope that all of QB folks could keep the tone positive and supportive. But I think none of could have made it as far as we have without knowing that not everything you read is true. Sharing of information we’ve heard is what keeps these forum boards alive! Have you seen how many times our post has been viewed by others. Pretty amazing actually. Well obviously I’ve digressed. </p>
<p>There has been a rumor going around that the partner colleges through QuestBridge do not match students during the match process if they did not indicate that their family contribution is $0. When I indicated a family contribution on my financial forms I figured that just as my parents are taking out loans to pay for my secondary education today (the remaining amount not covered by financial aid), they will be able to continue to take out loans and pay for at least my books and supplies. So how would the university know where this contribution is coming from? My family income is about 14000, so we have taken out many loans to pay for just everyday expenses, and I don’t see how a college can automatically assume that the money being contributed for the college education is directly from my family’s income or from loans. If I were to indicate my family contribution from the income we get, it would probably (to be honest) be negative negative negative something meaning i really wouldn’t be able to contribute even a penny. </p>
<p>Please someone… this is bothering me any thoughts?</p>
Yes, it was lots of hard work, angst and more angst to apply. I won’t regret it at all. At least I gave it my best shot (and I have all those essays to use for other schools). :)</p>