<p>I'm a low-income rising senior who will soon be filling out applications. (However, I want to note I'm not drastically low-income...I live with my grandmother who makes a minimal amount of money from social security benefits, but I've never had extreme issues with poverty like homelessness or hunger.) I've often heard that excellent test scores stand out especially among low-income applicants. Does a college's perception of low-income applicants also extend to things like ECs, high school quality, etc.? Exactly how do colleges consider low-income students in comparison to middle- to upper-class students, and what can I do to improve my chances as a low-income applicant?</p>
<p>Well…if you’re on a waitlist, you’re basically screwed.</p>
<p>From what I’ve heard, though, being low-income is becoming slightly more of a boost in top schools like Harvard.</p>
<p>Top schools, which are need blind, won’t even know you’re low-income unless you tell them or you live in a very poor zip code, etc. If your income is low enough, you can use the Questrbridge program. If it’s not, it’s not really going to make much of a difference. If you’re an average applicant at a need-aware school, you may get shafted. Otherwise, it doesn’t really make a difference. Top schools like students who overcome adversity, no matter what income level.</p>
<p>Take advantage of fee waivers</p>
<p>Yeah, you can get fee waivers for tests, application fees, and maybe some other stuff if you look hard enough. You may also qualify for an Automatic 0 EFC, which has a host of benefits (including not touching the student’s income and possibly his or her assets).</p>
<p>try questbridge, i got 9 free applications. However, schools will know your low income (even need blind ones) if your a questbridge finalist, which may hurt your chances (especially on a wait list). However i got into wonderful schools in the program, so you should really consider it.</p>
<p>All right, thanks for the responses! Applicannot, I’m only applying to need-blind/meets 100% EFC schools and a state school, so hopefully that won’t be a problem. Battlo, I’ve always heard that colleges look at fee waivers as a sign that you aren’t truly interested enough in the school to pay the app. fee…is that true? I’ve been saving money to pay all my application fees, so if it will have a negative effect on my application to waive the fees I’d rather continue saving.</p>
<p>I really considered Questbridge, and quite a few colleges I’m interested in are members. You can still apply to non-Questbridge schools though, right? Also, like I said, I haven’t been in any extreme situations like Questbridge highlights…is simply being low-income sufficient, or do there have to be extenuating circumstances?</p>
<p>extenuating circumstances help but simply being low income does qualify, although you never know if you will make finalist because its extremely competitive. Yes you can apply to any school you wish however if you do the program you cannot do any ED (you have this “match” opportunity instead). So if you are sure you want to do ED to a school, do not do the program.</p>
<p>Just being low-income generally won’t help your chances at all by itself. However, if you go to an inner-city school (and excel in it) that may give you a boost. Being a first-generation college student also often helps. If you have a job to help support your family, that would help a lot. I can’t imagine a school seeing a fee waiver as a sign that you aren’t interested, don’t you have to fill out a bunch of extra paperwork to get the waiver? I would think that it shows more interest.</p>
<p>^
You dont have to put loads of work into everything to show your interested… there would be no point of making forums more difficult than it should.</p>
<p>As a low imcome application to improve your chances take advantage of free waivers, apply to universities of your interest and if accepted compare the financial aid. As I know one can not completely depend on open scholarships ( like the ones you search all over the web for), a university is likely to offer you some sort of loan, grant, scholarships etc… though I have heard many mention being low income the university offered not enough financial aid, or none at all. Though I also know of many students being offered financial aid where one only needed to take out very small loan ( like under 3,000), or none at all.</p>
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<p>That sounds like a fantastically bad idea. 100% need / no-loans schools are reaches for everyone. If you are qualified for those schools, there are almost certainly matches at there for which you also qualify and that tend to offer excellent financial aid (usually merit + need). GW usually gives good aid to low-income students, and Boston University is excellent if you’re low-income AND at the top of the applicant pool. If you search CC or make a thread on the subject, you’ll find plenty of schools that are excellent, close to top tier, and generous to certain students. I seriously recommend putting some schools in the middle of your list. Since those schools are not bound by guarantees, if you are an especially desired applicant (top of the applicant pool, URM, first-gen, low-income, all the tips you can think of…), you may very well get a better financial aid package.</p>
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<p>Huh? this is really strange thinking, but then again, the whole idea is foreign to me. If you have a fee waiver, I’m sure colleges won’t care - to be honest, I don’t think need-aware schools owuld even really care. Money =/= interest. Not having the money for something does NOT mean you’re not interested. It means you don’t have the money for it.</p>
<p>Understand that very, very few colleges care about the low income. Diversifying with low income kids is the mission of only a few, generally top colleges. This is in part because they want to attract more low income URMs as they were getting mostly middle and upper middle income URMs.</p>
<p>and low income may well be less in voge this season as many colleges are in dire financial situations.</p>
<p>Also note, even though you live with a grandmother, if your parents are alive, it is their income you need to use for FAFSA.</p>
<p>my parents don’t work at all</p>
<p>“Also note, even though you live with a grandmother, if your parents are alive, it is their income you need to use for FAFSA.”</p>
<p>How does this affect you if you have a non-custodial parent, will their income be counted? 
I know some colleges require some form pertaining to it, but what is it actually for (I’m asking b/c I doubt my father will/can contribute anything to my education as he owes thousands in back child support)</p>
<p>Wait, what? My grandmother is my legal guardian…I’m not even sure where my dad lives. My parents don’t have any financial responsibilities toward me, so do I still need to find their income for the FAFSA?</p>
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<p>As being a low income student myself, reading your post it comes across as if your stating low income students are one of the least students universities care about or even want to attract. I disagree ofcourse. I don’t think universities look down/ care less about low income students as your post imply, there are tons of sources to explain that. Though (just a example) being low income, 2.5 GPA, and a URM one shouldn’t expect to for favor to work their way, though also neither be ashame to apply to a university because of low income.</p>
<p>Hey, thanks Applicannot…I didn’t know that. I really don’t have much money to work with at all, so I thought my only shot was trying for 100% EFC schools. I’ll look for some schools like that.</p>
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<p>The colleges that require the non-custodial parent’s CSS/PROFILE form use that parent’s income in order to determine your school-determined EFC or “need”. Just because your father can’t or won’t contribute does not mean his income will not be counted toward your EFC (making it higher). It is unfair for single parent families. However, if you don’t know where your father is or if you have extenuating circumstances, you can apply for a non-custodial parent information waiver.</p>