QB vs. ED. What do I do?

[aleader]

<p>Okay, the first thing you need to know is that I DESPERATELY want to attend Brown University. </p>

<p>Now, I don't know if my chances would be better if I applied QB or ED. </p>

<p>On the QB side:
I am low income (30K), but I have only been low income since April. (230K before that.)
I am Caucasian, so definitely not URM. I am from the deep south though, so that may help.
I have a pretty decent story. (Less to do with financial struggle, but my dad committed suicide last year, so I could definitely talk about that and how I've overcome it.)
Decent stats (4.0uw/4.7w GPA, 34 ACT (retaking next weekend), NMSF, NHS, etc.)
Pretty good ecs (Theatre nerd- been in over 35 productions, written and directed full length play, also wrote/directed two short plays for play festival, worked various technical positions <em>will probably devote an essay to this</em>, two years of band playing three types of saxophone, on state youth legislative advisory board, recently employed.)
But, I'm not first generation college student (my dad had a PhD and my mom has a BA), and like I said, I'm not an URM nor have I had any legit financial struggles until recently. </p>

<p>On the ED side:
I am more likely to be accepted as they don't know upon accepting me that I'll require full financial aid.
I may not stand out as much since my stats are not AMAZING, and most of the ED pool seems to be. </p>

<p>I'm just kinda at a loss. Any opinions on what gives me a better shot? Thanks.</p>

[gaginang]

<p>I would suggest that you re-asses your reasoning for applying to Brown University. What makes this the only place that you could prosper in?</p>

<p>Regardless, I think that you should give QB a chance-they have more opportunity for you to more clearly explain your whole situation and every aspect of your being.</p>

[aleader]

<p>I know that Brown isn’t the /only/ place I could prosper in, but I am most interested in attending Brown. I visited several schools this summer, and I just felt at home in Providence and on Brown’s campus. The open curriculum, study abroad (you can go to CUBA), obscure clubs (a club that gets paid to watch The Office!), ice skating marching band, tone deaf a Capella group, 70+ theatrical productions/semester, quirky students, average class size, Roots 'n shoots vegetarian line in the cafeteria, EVERYTHING I heard about Brown only assured me more that I belonged there. We walked into the financial aid office and were able to sit down and speak with a FAofficer in less than five minutes. Everything was so accessible. I know I can succeed and be happy elsewhere, but truly, this is my place. I am positive. </p>

<p>That was my initial thought, thank you.</p>

[2blue]

<p>First of all, I’m very sorry about your dad’s death. My deepest sympathies to you and your mom.</p>

<p>My concern with you applying to Brown <em>either</em> through QB College Match or Brown’s own ED program is that in both cases your admission would be binding and you would have to accept whatever FA package Brown says you can afford. It’s what they say, not what your family thinks it can pay. </p>

<p>From the QB website:
"Financial need is evaluated by reviewing applications and family circumstances. Several factors including total family income, household size, and number of household members in college are taken into account. A family’s assets (savings, investments, real estate) may also be considered.</p>

<p>Families who earn less than $60,000 and with assets of less than $100,000 will not be expected to make a contribution toward the cost of education. " ([Partner</a> School: Brown University - 2010 College Match Scholarship Package](<a href=“QuestBridge”>QuestBridge))</p>

<p>The FA package shown is based on the assumption of less than $60,000 income and $100,000 assets. </p>

<p>Your situation is going to be more complicated. If memory serves me correctly the CSS Profile asks for information about the previous year’s income as well as the current year’s. Also, while you mention debt, some homeowners have mortgage insurance that pays off a mortgage in the event of the holder’s death. If that is the case for your family, be aware that Brown considers home equity as an asset. </p>

<p>I highly, highly recommend you don’t apply anywhere with a binding admission decision unless you get an estimated FA package IN ADVANCE from the school so you know if it will be affordable or not. It very well could be affordable; but given your situation I think your family needs to KNOW that, not hope that.</p>

<p>Personally, if you were my kid, I would not want you to apply binding decision anywhere unless I knew the school said there would be a family EFC of $0. If they didn’t, I would want to be able to compare FA packages. I would want you to apply to non-binding schools through QB, and then schools where you think you have a good shot of great FA packages. This would include your state U. </p>

<p>Checking earlier posts of yours I see you had life insurance income used to pay off debts. If those debts included a mortgage, I recommend you apply to schools which disregard or ignore home equity. These include state schools which only use FAFSA, Harvard, Princeton, Stanford which limits it, and I’m sure there are others.</p>

<p>You’re a stronger candidate that you realize, I think. You have great stats and ECs, a compelling story, and are a good writer. Cast a wide net in your applications. Your location is another plus. Colleges often don’t get many applicants from the deep South. Try to include some schools where you can offer geographic diversity. Be flexible rather than setting your heart on one school. You’ve shown tremendous maturity in maintaining your grades in the face of your dad’s death. That maturity will help you to do well wherever you go to college.</p>

[aleader]

<p>Thank you for your thorough response! </p>

<p>The reason QB is so appealing is that in the event of a QB match, I WOULD be guaranteed a full four year scholarship. On the ED side, when I visited Brown this summer, we talked to a Financial Aid officer, and she said she could almost guarantee that unless we weren’t disclosing any large college funds or properties, based on our home equity, assets, and income, we would have zero EFC. She suggested I apply early decision and include a letter in the financial aid information from an attorney detailing why last year’s W2s and tax statements are inaccurate. She said she was confident the aid would come through if I were accepted ED, and if it didn’t, we could contact her and she would see what she could do for us. She basically told me I could safely turn in an application on November 1. </p>

<p>We have no mortgage insurance. Our home equity is absolutely pathetic. =P All of the life insurance was spent on credit card debt. (Our life insurance policies were ridiculously behind as they weren’t upgraded since my dad got his PhD and our debt was disgustingly high.) </p>

<p>So, although we do not have an official FA estimate, I am incredibly confident in saying that there will be no EFC at any institution. </p>

<p>That being said, I don’t know if Brown will be interested in admitting me through QB since I am not URM (And looking at Brown’s QB acceptances for last year, only about 2-3 out of the 11 or so were not URMS.) and have only recently experienced financial hardship. However, I don’t think I’d fare well in the ultra-competitive ED pool. I am simply looking to maximize my chances. I’m pretty sure I will participate in either QB or ED, I just wish I could tell which is my best shot. </p>

<p>Thank you, that really makes me feel more confident. It’s easy to get flustered in the CC craziness of 36’s,2400’s, and extra-curricular cancer researchers. I definitely plan to apply to several schools. I’ve already visited two others and interviewed at one. I have a pretty extensive list of colleges I’ll apply to if my early decision doesn’t come through. I know I will really enjoy myself wherever I end up, but I, like other CC’ers can’t help but try to maximize my chances of scoring a spot at my number one. =)</p>