<p>@SholtoPinn
One of my best friends is low-income and applying through Questbridge. His dad died of cancer when he was 5 years old; his mother had polio as a child and is physically disabled because of it. Nevertheless, she works 2 jobs 50+ hours a week just to make about $25,000. In order to participate in extracurricular activities, he works 20 hours a week on top of taking 4 AP classes, just so he can pay for his activities.</p>
<p>Can you even imagine how much harder he has to work than the average student just to participate in an EC so he can go to college. He’s not getting any unfair advantage in the applications process; he’s being given due consideration for the hardships he’s had to endure for 18 years. It’s not because his parents are lazy, or don’t want to work hard and make more money. Did I mention he has 3 younger siblings?</p>
<p>I don’t know how much money your family makes, but I think it’s safe to assume that you haven’t had to grow up with a single parent and a family income of less than $30,000. And a “measly $20,000” is the difference between eating a proper meal every day and eating canned beans and bread. It is the difference between having a house and being homeless. It’s the difference between being able to buy your own clothes as opposed to getting them secondhand. A difference that, in short, a person can never truly appreciate until he has seen and experienced it firsthand.</p>
<p>If you cannot appreciate the trials these students have had to endure just to stay in school with so much going on at home, you are entitled to your opinion. But DO NOT disrespect these people by belittling their struggles.</p>
<p>You are aware of how painfully ignorant you’re coming across as, correct? Cracking your poor excuse for jokes about families living in less than excellent financial situations is evidence of such.</p>
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<p>This statement is entirely false. Can you find some evidence to prove that students with “middle income” are, as you put it, basically ignored? You fail to realize that are are many schools that will grant some form of financial aid to students with families making less than around 150k a year, not to mention the various scholarships available and merit aid.</p>
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<p>Actually, you’re entirely wrong. A student in a family of 80k+, while not allowed absolutely infinite opportunities, are, indeed, enormously different. A student with a family income of 30k might have to take up a job, once they are of age, to help out with the family – depending on specific situations. Your statements are all generalizations. I know of many people who make around that much, and are able to travel, partake in summer programs. We live in a society in which money can buy you various (but not all) opportunities. A family making 80k, depending on where they live, and other specific variables can surely afford a plane ticket or a tutor’s fee for SAT prep.</p>
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<p>That statement is ridiculous in so many ways. You’re assuming that, just because somebody lives in a lower income family, they are of any less intelligence. Personally, I grew up in a household with a single parent who decided to pursue his passions instead of trying to go into the most lucrative field, and I grew up reading books and in excelled education programs.</p>
<p>You need a serious reality check if you’re going to continue through life with this narrow opinion and falsely acquired superiority complex. </p>
<p>I would like to see you back up for empty statements with any actual proof, and even then, I doubt they would give your inane statements any merit.</p>
<p>He assumes that everyone had an education in America… My family came to America when I was very young, and they did not have any education in english, and thus had to work in a low-wage job trying to feed our family. </p>
<p>My mother yet, in her country, was a very intelligent and high scoring women in her college, and was practicing medicine. </p>
<p>So my mother had to support me since my parents were divorced. </p>
<p>Just because you are low-waged doesn’t mean you’re not intelligent, especially if you are an immigrant from another nation. In America, an American Education is what mostly can make you a middle class/above.</p>
<p>Those who did not have this chance, are getting a fair one at QB. Ignorance is bliss for some people.</p>
<p>There is a very big difference between a 30k income and a 80k income family. A family with a 30k income can’t travel anywhere, can’t afford a tutor, can’t afford a private education, can’t even afford basic school supplies and books needed to study for a standardized test such as an SAT/ACT. Yet those with an 80k income can afford at the least school supplies or tutoring. This can make a huge difference in qualification of students. </p>
<p>That gap is what QB tries to close. QB doesn’t accept low-achieving students from low-income. They accept high achieving students who went PAST that barrier. That is the extra boost you get. Well deserved as well.</p>
<p>I wish I could say ■■■■■, but I have a feeling he honestly believes what he is saying because he hasn’t met or known someone who had to grow up in such circumstances, or lacks sympathy for them.</p>
<p>Debt is the problem of the family, and what they did. If the family bought 3 home to live lavishly, then it’s their fault they’re in debt and doesn’t deserve it, however, if there family were legit debt by things out of their reach, then it’s fine. </p>
<p>It all rests on the essays and how you explain your situation.</p>
<p>Has Shotos post been removed? I can’t find it. However, I must say the the middle class kid really does get burned on college. By middle class, I mean those who make too much to qualify for need based aid, but do not make enough to actually be able to afford 50K tuition. And, in some cases, it really is as if the more irresponsible one is, the more society rewards one for that irresponsibility. I do mean GENERALLY speaking. I haven’t even started the financial forms yet, but I read somewhere on CC that the more equity you have in a home etc. the more you get burned-and it is better if you have not managed to save any thing.</p>
<p>Hey, I was invited to do a QuestBridge College Match application about a month ago. I don’t really have a desire to go to any of the member colleges. My top-choice college is Georgia Tech. So, does QB offer scholarships anywhere? Or is it just for those few colleges?</p>