<p>I've noticed (especially amongst more prominent unis) that they state that they meet 100% of a student's demonstrated financial need. What does this mean exactly? If I am a high achieving, minority (let's face it, it matters to colleges) student, who's willing to write a damn good admission's essay...can I expect to get significant aid?</p>
<p>Be careful when a college says it will meet 100% of your “demonstrated financial need”.</p>
<p>Some colleges will give you loans to go to their school, but not grants, and the loans could be massive.</p>
<p>Some will say that your parents, based on their income, are able to pay $20,000 a year, for example, when your parents might find such a conclusion laughable.</p>
<p>I have heard about the trap with the parents, but that is not an issue in my case, as I am officially independent/a ward of the state. </p>
<p>So, should I just ignore colleges that, although expensive, claim to help me out? And instead focus on those which are cheaper, and still anticipate aid?</p>
<p>!This is so complicated! Are there any colleges that are notorious for financial aid?</p>
<p>“What does this mean exactly?”
It means that, if you are accepted, a college will help your family pay for college based strictly on the calculations arrived at after your parents complete 2 complicated financial application forms.
These forms- FAFSA and PROFILE, are what determine what your financial “need” is and how much money colleges will give OR LEND you -NOT what your parents say they can actually afford!</p>
<p>Alright, so I should expect them to offer more loans than grants, yeah?And therefore a cheaper college will be better?! Or, would a more expensive school+their scholarships wind up being cheaper?</p>
<p>If you are a high achieving minority, then you need to ALSO look for MERIT scholarships, which are given without regard to your financial ability to pay. </p>
<p>What are your stats? SAT? GPA? Did you take the PSAT and was your score higher than your states NMF cut off score?</p>
<p>Danielle - You just need to contact the Financial Aid offices of the schools in which you’re interested and ask about loans. Some top schools either cap the loan level or don’t include loans in their aid packages. Most will involve some loans. Definitely consider private schools - if you have very limited finances, it may be that they come in less expensive than you in-state publics.</p>
<p>I have a 4.1 GPA, mainly advanced courses, 8 years of foreign language (french and spanish, 4 years each). I live in WI, so I took the ACT like my peers, on that I got a 30, but could most likely get it up by a few. I was at 201 for the PSAT, but did not qualify for any scholarships:(</p>
<p>I am trying to figure this out now, so I can narrow down my college search. And thanks gadad, for mentioning private. I hadn’t considered them much, but knowing they have more money than our public schools…I may be in luck.</p>
<p>And, just to clarify-- I have no parents, legally. So, only my income counts, yes? And I never paid taxes (not enough taxable income), so…officially I got nothing, right?</p>
<p>You should be apply for Questbridge RIGHT NOW. </p>
<p><a href=“http://www.questbridge.org/[/url]”>http://www.questbridge.org/</a></p>
<p><a href=“http://www.questbridge.org/for-students/students-start-here[/url]”>http://www.questbridge.org/for-students/students-start-here</a></p>
<p>AND, take the ACT again and see if you can improve it.<br>
AND, Complete your application to USC by DEC 1, and you’'ll be considered for both their very generous merit AND financial aid programs.
Get going!</p>
<p>Danielle:</p>
<p>From what I have read, you have to apply to both the “cheap” schools, AND the schools that promise to meet your demonstrated financial aid (because you never know how much aid they might give you)</p>
<p>Since you are a “URM”, rightly or wrongly, that might make a big difference, because some schools will work hard to get you to attend. (when they wouldn’t do the same thing for your “99% twin”, who happened to be an asian)</p>
<p>I would apply to some schools that have been classified as “best bargains” by various magazines. There are a few state universities out there that have rather low tuition, even if you are out of state.</p>
<p>Hopefully, some URMs who have gone through the process will respond to your question.</p>
<p>There are schools that offer substantial guaranteed merit scholarships to students with high stats, which you definitely have. There’s a CC thread that lists those schools; I don’t have it at hand, but someone else may.</p>
<p>Thank you guys so much! This is the most help I’ve gotten…ever (regarding college). I was thinking about QuestBridge, as they did send me their information, but I have concerns…
- If I am matched with a college…do I <em>have</em> to go there?
- What if I am matched with a college I don’t like?
- Am I even likely to get in to the program?
- If I am matched, can I expect a free ride?</p>
<p>Lots of info here:
[Questbridge</a> Programs - College Confidential](<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/questbridge-programs/]Questbridge”>Questbridge Programs - College Confidential Forums)</p>
<p>honey, the Questbridge colleges are among the finest colleges in the country!</p>
<pre><code>Amherst College
Bowdoin College
Brown University
California Institute of Technology
Columbia University
Dartmouth College
Emory University
Grinnell College
Haverford College
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Northwestern University
Oberlin College
Parsons The New School for Design
Pomona College
Princeton University
Rice University
Scripps College
Stanford University
Swarthmore College
Trinity College
University of Chicago
University of Notre Dame
University of Pennsylvania
University of Southern California
University of Virginia
Vassar College
Washington and Lee University
Wellesley College
Wesleyan University
Williams College
Yale University
</code></pre>
<p>And yes you get a free ride, which is more than 99% of other poor kids can expect. So dont look a gift horse in the mouth before you even apply. Delay will cost you more than $$- it will mean you are greatly reducing your chances of acceptance in the first place!</p>
<p>[How</a> Do You Apply for the National College Match?](<a href=“http://www.questbridge.org/for-students/ncm-how-to-apply]How”>QuestBridge | National College Match: How To Apply)</p>
<p>The 2011 National College Match application is now open. Please read through this section before you apply. You can access the application from the Apply page.</p>
<p>A note from us: You may find the prospect of applying to the National College Match a bit overwhelming. Rest assured; you are not alone. The college application process can be challenging and stressful to virtually everyone who goes through it. But remember that it also can—and should—be exciting: it is a time to focus on your future, reflect upon your past, your strengths, and your passions, and keep yourself organized in the present so that you put forward the best applications you can.
Read More…</p>
<p>You May Apply Through QuestBridge in Two Ways</p>
<p>The National College Match application requires you to provide extensive information on your academic accomplishments and financial background, as well as write three essays, complete short answer questions, and gather three letters of recommendation, a transcript, and test score reports.</p>
<p>The National College Match allows you to apply to up to 8 of our partner colleges by using one application. You will be asked to rank these colleges in order of your preference. The National College Match application is due on September 30.</p>
<p>The QuestBridge Regular Decision process allows you to apply to any or all of our partner colleges through a traditional regular decision process. You may choose not to rank colleges for the College Match process and only apply to our partner colleges for Regular Decision. Or, if you apply for the College Match and are not selected for a match scholarship, you can request to have your application forwarded to our partner colleges for Regular Decision.</p>
<p>In order to participate in the Regular Decision process, you must submit your National College Match application by September 30.</p>
<p>I know, Questbridge sounds almost too good to be true! I am just overly cautious, I don’t want to end up sucked into attending a school in which I will not be happy, regardless of the(lack of) cost. I am stubborn in that way. But, they will only ‘match’ me with colleges which I have expressed an interest in? And if they do match me with said college, I am legally bound to go there? That is what alarms me, the legally binding action.</p>
<p>I am currently applying to questbridge and I personally think your stats and circumstances fit questbridge’s criteria amazingly well. You get to choose up to 8 of the partner colleges that you would want to be potentially matched with (so yup you get a choice), and you have until October 12th to do so! (The actual application is due Sept. 30 so you have some time after finishing the application to look into all of the colleges). And as for the legally binding part, if you are matched to a college than yes, you have to go there. If you are not matched than you can forward your application to the regular decision pool, and if you get accepted in this round you are not bound, but instead of a full-ride you get 100% need-based aid, which in your case, I’m assuming will still be quite generous. If the second option seems better to you then you can decide not to rank colleges and then you can forward your application to the reg. decision pool when the time comes to any of the partner colleges and not be bound to go there.</p>
<p>You’re a high-achieving independent child (sounds like you were a foster child?). If so, then you have an amazing success story to tell.</p>
<p>Practice and retest the ACT…also take the SAT. </p>
<p>Then do Questbridge and/or apply to a good number of schools that promise to meet need…the ivies and the top LACs.</p>
<p>Also, apply to your state flagship and other schools as match/safeties.</p>
<p>Since your EFC will likely be zero, at schools that meet need, you’ll get a free ride if accepted.</p>
<p>Try to find a good GC or knowledgeable adult who can help guide you thru this year.</p>
<p>People on this board will also help whenever you need it.</p>
<p>Best wishes for you.</p>
<p>BTW…which URM are you?</p>
<p>I consider a free ride as the school covering tuition, room board, books, fees and misc. expenses.</p>
<p>In that respect, at the Questbridge schools or any other school, there is really no such thing as a “free ride” because there is an expectation that the student has some skin in the game. </p>
<p>This will usually come in the form of a student contribution from summer earnings. If you do not make the student contribution, the school is not going to give up additional grant aid to make up the short fall. The money that you make from summer earning will be your start up money when you come to campus as there is an expectation that you purchase school supplies and books to be up and running when classes begin.</p>
<p>As an independent student, you will be mandated to purchase the health insurance through your school as you most likely do not have adequate health insurance where you can get a waiver. This will be included in the fees that you will have to pay the school. Some schools may cover a portion of the fee and give you a loan to cover the balance.</p>
<p>There will probably be work study, either FWS or work study in your aid package. The money from work study is to be used to cover your miscellaneous expenses and sundry items (laundry, toiletries, pizza, etc). Again, if you do not get a job, you do not get the $$ and the school does not make up the shortfall.</p>
<p>Some schools will give loans as part of their financial aid package as loans is considered meeting your need. Some schools will cap loans, will other schools can and will max you out on Stafford loans (which can be up to 9500 as an independent student)
[FinAid</a> | Loans | Student Loans](<a href=“Your Guide for College Financial Aid - Finaid”>Student Loans - Finaid)</p>
<p>Considering that over 90% of the colleges in the country do notmeet 100% of demonstrated need, it is definitely worth your time to do the application.</p>