It is is not true that you get less financial aid when you apply ED You usually get more. Some schools that do not guarantee to meet full need will do so for ED candidates. The coffers are full and ED’s purpose is to get commitments. You are more likely to get closer to what you need in the ED round than RD. You can also discuss your package without the hordes all appealing their aid packages when you get an early package. If you can’t make it work, you are released from your ED contract.
The downside is that you can’t compare and there are merit awards that may not be available in the early season. ED is often a wake up call and rude awakening to those thinking they qualify for more need than college calculators’ numbers.
You should run your family numbers through some NPCs and estimate your FAFSA EFC to see what sort of aid you can realistically expect. Quest ridge scholarships tend to cater to zero EFC students so you may not be in the running for those awards. However, IMO the program is an excellent one and is overall the best chance to get into a high.y selective college especially if you are without xperienced and dedicated support in the process.