Student from low-income family

Applying to College
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<p>Hello, I am a rising Junior who is interested in going to top-tier schools. I am from an Asian-American family with low incomes (less than $35,000) and I'm also in the free/reduced lunch program at my school. I have very good academics (top 1% in my class) which I am not worried about. However, I have recently read a book on admissions and heard from people that being a student from a low-income family inhibits chances of getting into prestigious colleges. Is this true? And if it is, what can I do (other than start making $100,000 a year and winning Intel) to increase my chances as a student from a low income family? Until I read this book, I actually believed that it was a blessing for me to be born into such a family because it has made a very independent person, but now I'm doubting myself. Please be very honest. Thank you!</p>

<p>PS. This is off-topic but how important are winning awards in terms of college acceptance?</p>

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<p>The main issue is the affordability. Use the net price calculator on the web site of each college you are considering.</p>

<p>Also, take the PSAT this year to try for National Merit status which can give more scholarship opportunities. Taking the SAT and ACT this year can help; that gives you the chance to retake the initially higher one later if desired. Consider whether SAT subjects tests are needed.</p>

<p>Questbridge is worth looking into as well.</p>

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<p>I am planning to take the PSAT this fall and have scored well above the state cut off in my practice tests consistently. Sorry to bother you with another question but do you think colleges generally prefer students with high income families over students from low income families? I am just wondering if I will have lower chances simply because I am not rich enough, which to me sounds like discrimination. Thank you for your help!</p>

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<p>Some schools’ admissions offices prefer high achieving students from low income families because of the assumed additional obstacles that such students had to climb over.</p>

<p>However, financial aid and scholarships may be a different story. Even if the admissions office likes you, if the aid isn’t there, you won’t be able to go.</p>

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<p>Apply to colleges which are need-blind and have large endowments. Good luck with the PSAT!</p>

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<p>Most US colleges are need-blind when it comes to admissions. The main difficulty comes from schools that can afford to give you enough to cover their fees. There’s no active discrimination per se – other than normal challenges other lower income people face. Some public schools grant little Fin Aid to OOS applicants. Thus full pay kids can have more options.</p>

<p>Please investigate the suggestion for Questbridge. Although rigorous, the benefits are many.</p>

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<p>

What is the book’s title?</p>

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<p>It’s harder starting out as low income to achieve as much, not hwrder for ones with equal achievement</p>

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<p>For need blind schools, if two students have the same stats, one is low income and one is wealthy, the low income kid would probably get chosen 99% of the time.</p>

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<p>Thank you all for the helpful comments! I will definitely apply to QB. I’ve gained hope once again. @4kidsdad‌ I’m sorry! I have read too many books about admissions that I forgot the title. Once I remember, I can tell you.
And a quick question (sorry) from the curious and aspiring OP. Do these need blind schools include top tier private and public schools? Thank you once more! :)</p>

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<p>Top tier private (most of top 20 at least). Don’t apply to put of state publics for the most part, they already are tight on funding and won’t help you.</p>

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<p>@anniebeats could you explain that answer? How would the school know if it’s need blind? And if they did somehow know why would they choose the lower income student? Forgive me, my kid is a rising junior and we won’t get any need based aid at all. </p>

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<p>They assume the lower income kid has gone through more struggle to get where they are and thus are more deserving, a logic which I can hardly fault.</p>

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<p>OP, great that you have started looking into Questbridge. Also see if your state has a Higher Education Opportunity program. Definitely look into your options at your state schools (eg, honors program, campus best ranked for your intended area of study, admissions selectivity). Net price calculators are extremely important. Have your family’s tax returns handy so you can get the best approximations.</p>

<p>Are you the first generation in yoru family to attend college? Some schools give special consideration if you are, and a couple have special scholarships / fly-in programs specifically for first generation kids.</p>

<p>This is a really important website which has helped our low income family, with great results. The more experienced posters have a wealth of information, make use of it! </p>

<p>What do you hope to study, and what are your geographical limits, if any?</p>

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<p>@kandcsmom‌ </p>

<p>1) You can google a list of need blind schools.</p>

<p>2) Lower income students have less access to things like private tutors, private college counselors, and SAT prep. If they get the same scores, or even scores that are slightly lower than someone who is wealthy, it will show how driven they are. They did a lot, with a little, instead of a wealthy person doing a lot with a lot.</p>

<p>3) Well, you don’t know that for sure. I would love to talk to you through PM about your options. I am in the same boat as you.</p>

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<p>@momcinco Provided the OP has SAT scores that request their class rank, why would they need Questbridge? They would likely be aiming for schools that meet full need anyway right?</p>

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<p>@AnnieBeats: being a QB finalist puts you on the radar of many top schools. Why not have them beat down your door (with full offers) rather than your having to chase them? QB is a premier program and widely respected. If they give you their blessing, people and colleges take note.</p>

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<p>@anniebeats For question one how would the school know if the student is from a lower socioeconomic class if the school is need blind? Would they just assume based on district? Because in ours we have kids on Welfare and SNAP and kids driving brand new cars. </p>

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<p>Hello OP and AnnieBeats, S is a Questbridge College Prep finalist (precursor to Match-option finalist program). In June he was invited to a conference at Princeton where 32 we each went to a day of panels where admissions officers from Yale, Pomona, etc. explain the whole process to you…what they are looking for ina an application, mistakes to avoid, how financial aid works, etc. Afterward there was a college fair where we met reps from each of those 32 schools. If nothing else comes of his QB experience, that day was so helpful.</p>

<p>Yes we are aiming for schools that meet full need. However I have discovered (this is kid #2) that a school’s definition of meeting full need can still leave us with a gap of up to $10 K!!! We will not be able to help our kids pay back loans. So their loans have to be minimal.</p>

<p>No, you do not need QB if you are a low income student who gets into a great school. If you have great stats AND if you have a true favorite, a reasonably “safe” top choice you can always apply ED to a school IF their net price calculator shows that they really are a full need school. S’s top choice is Yale (I know, I know) so this does not work for us. I don’t think it is always a good strategy for low income students, but it has worked for some so I will put it out there. Personally it makes me nervous bc of the $ and high stakes involved.</p>

<p>There is another strategy, going through National Merit. Many schools have automatic scholarships, or you can be considered for a full scholarship (tuition or tuition and room and board). if However S did not make NMF (his writing score was low, which brought down his overall score) so he cannot qualify for any of those.</p>

<p>The QB app allows more space than thte Common App for you to explain yourself. From the reps from 32 schools, we heard that they really like QB kids. First of all it is a complicated and intensive process, so they see the kids are motivated. Second, and this is purely personal, I think it shows that the kids’ families support them morally if not financially, and that they value education. This helps when the going gets tough and the parents encourage the kids to keep at it, meet deadlines, finish essays, etc. There is also a QB community at a lot of schools, so kids don’t feel as isolated as low income kids at prestigious schools.</p>

<p>If S is a finalist he will either rank schools or have his app forwarded – for free – for regular decision to about 10 schools which are QB partners. So that app, which again is more favorable, will be read and hopefully he will get a generous package.</p>

<p>Feel free to contact me and good luck!</p>

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<p>For low income students, you should have in state flagship and other in state public on the list and then put some private schools that provide good need based aids there too. You should check the NPC of each school. Some oos public may also provide good aids to low income student although it is not guaranteed (e.g. UMich if you look at their sample financial aid scenario). With less than $35k annual income, your EFC should be 0 or near 0. Many top privates and in state public would meet the need of the students, however, partly of the aid may be in forms of loan and work study. </p>