<p>Will my daughter impair her chances of getting into colleges if she applies for an application fee waiver, which will indicate to the admissions staff that we currently are a low-income family? She has super test scores and grades and is a National Merit semifinalist. I wouldn't want to harm her chances of getting into schools based on fees that, although they're hefty, can be covered by us if we set aside money for them.</p>
<p>Most kids at private colleges are getting financial aide. Not a problem. Also - the admissions committee does not see the raw materials, so they might not even see that.</p>
<p>I was recently at a preview day of a “Needs Aware” school. They are not a very old school, so they have a limited endowment. They wish they could be needs blind, but they are not. The way handle it is that the first phase of admissions is needs blind. They pick the best possible students. Then another committee goes through and sees if they have enough money to offer everyone what they need. If they do not, they have to tweak the class make up. </p>
<p>Good luck with your daughter. Have you seen the list of schools that gives full rides to NMFs? It is on this site, in the NMSF subforum.</p>
<p>I wouldn’t worry about the impact of asking for the fee waiver- plenty of kids probably do, just to shave expenses.
Plus, I believe the question about whether the applicant will be applying for aid is still right there on the common application. At a needs-blind school, it’s not supposed to be a consideration in reviewing a candidate. The web sites will indicate whether a school is needs-blind. (Some may be for domestic residents but not internationals- it’s worth reviewing.)</p>
<p>megdog: two things – only a few schools actually practice need-blind admissions. Unless they explicitly state so, you can assume that it is need aware and the pot for FA students can be assumed to be limited.</p>
<p>secondly, the few schools that are need-blind are very proud of that fact and their alumni, faculty and students wouldn’t stand for any fudging of that policy. It’s a point of pride (and a selling point when they ask for donations).</p>
<p>Good luck to your family (BTW: have you looked at Questbridge? If daughter isn’t a senior, she should seriously look at this program)</p>
<p>Actually MOST schools are need-blind. MOST schools do NOT consider need for admissions.</p>
<p>People get confused. Only a limited number of schools are “need blind AND meet 100% of need.” That is different.</p>
<p>Megdog…since your D is a likely NMF, she needs to apply to some schools that give huge merit to NMF as her financial safety schools.</p>
<p>Top schools that are “need blind and meet 100% of need” are super hard to get into even when a student has great stats. So, applying to some schools that give huge NMF scholarships can be great financial safety schools.</p>
<p>Don’t be afraid to use waivers…save your money for the many other costs to come during senior year and getting ready for a dorm room!</p>
<p>I would look at some of these schools for good merit aid: <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/national-merit-scholarships/649276-nmf-scholarships-updated-compilation.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/national-merit-scholarships/649276-nmf-scholarships-updated-compilation.html</a></p>