<p>I've heard conflicting things about how much money is too much to get you into Questbridge, so I wanted to get some things straightened out. What is the average income for a Questbridge applicant? What would be considered an upper range income for those admitted to Questbridge? What would be the absolute most an applicant could make? Is Questbridge income calculated before or after taxes? Does the program take other things into account (like number of children who are or will be attending college, adversity overcome, etc.)?</p>
<p>I was wondering this too… especially the part about calculating income before or after taxes.</p>
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<p>See if this helps:
[National</a> College Match Program: 2009 College Match Recipient Profile](<a href=“QuestBridge”>QuestBridge)</p>
<p>Here’s my understanding, and someone please correct me if I’m wrong: the program definitely takes into account other factors about your family such as how many children are attending college, extenuating circumstances, etc., just as they do during the financial aid process. At schools with generous financial aid---- for instance, let’s say Yale---- applicants who are matched are those who would be expected to qualify for zero contribution to college costs anyway regardless of whether they apply through Questbridge, which is generally people who come from families that make less than $60,000/year, taken into account assets and business ownerships. </p>
<p>If your family income is high enough that you do not qualify for zero parental contribution but you are a QB finalist, there is a good chance that your application will simply be deferred to the regular round instead, during which you would have an equally good chance of being admitted as through QB.</p>
<p>Thirding the question on before or after taxes.</p>
<p>Questbridge asks for adjusted gross income. I think that answers your before or after taxes question.</p>
<p>How about assets?</p>
<p>We made well below the $60,000 the two last years and even less this year. But that is because we are self-employed and our business is all but dead. </p>
<p>We do own a home (paying mortgage with home equity line, which is almost all used up). There is equity left in the home. </p>
<p>Also, we have retirement funds (which we will start having to use to survive shortly). Do they count these? </p>
<p>Son will apply next year and we will have three years of tax returns where we are well below the limit. Do they count this, or do you have to have a lifelong low level of income and no assets?</p>
<p>you don’t have to have a lifelong low-income. The best part about questbridge is that they know that you probably have extenuating circumstances, and that’s what they want to know about. questbridge only asks about your current household or, if you have been in the household for less than a year, your current and previous household. It asks specific questions about your assets.</p>