Should I apply for the National College Match?

Paying for College Access Programs (Questbridge, Posse)
1

Hello,

I’m a rising senior, and I’m wondering if I should apply for the National College Match. My family makes 70k a year prior to tax, 55k a year gross income. I live in a household of 3 people. My mom does not work; my dad has multiple jobs. I’m not sure if I should apply, since most people have a household income > 65,000 for a family of four.

Here is some extra info if that’s necessary:

Background: Asian male
Weighted GPA: 4.67
ACT: 34

AP scores: AP Human Geography (5), AP US History (5), AP Environmental Science (5), currently waiting on AP Calculus AB, AP Biology, and AP English Lit scores.

Extracurriculars: Key Club (leadership), Interact Club (leadership), Worship Team (leader), National Honor Society, HOSA, Jazz Band, Wind Symphony, Asian American Association, Hospital Volunteer

Should I not spend time doing the QuestBridge application? Do I have a shot at actually being a finalist or matching somewhere? Thanks for all your help.

2

Hi!
You are not that far from the cutoff, (gross income is before tax, net is after tax), and financials can be more complicated than students realize.
Research the schools that you would be applying to through questbridge and particularly look at the school financial aid section. some schools have policies where students who have a gross income of “x” or lower are considered to have no financial contribution, if your income falls below or near this amount, Questbridge may be worth the time investment.
No one can really tell you if you will be a finalist or match to a school because of financials. Although it’s heavily weighed and important, it’s not the sole reason someone gets picked.

Looks like you have great academics. Whether you choose to do Questbridge or not, you should definitely look into school-specific Merit scholarships.

No matter which route you choose, Good Luck!