<p>I applied to several schools, including a few state schools, not requesting financial aid. It has come to our attention that we could likely qualify for something significant needs-based.
What is the best way to handle this- contact the admissions offices right away and get them to change that response, or will that blow the chances for admission?
If I am admitted to a school, is it possible to request aid after that point?</p>
<p>If you used the Common App to apply for admissions, did you check the box saying you were not applying for aid? If so, you should contact those schools and tell them that you’d like to change that. If you filled out apps that never did even ask about aid in the first place, then just submit whatever financial aid materials they require before their FA application deadlines.</p>
<p>Whether or not it will reduce your chances for acceptance depends on the school, and in fact you may not actually ever know.</p>
<p>Do not try to seek institutional aid from the school after you’ve been admitted. That is not going to fly.</p>
<p>I applied to several schools, including a few state schools, not requesting financial aid. It has come to our attention that we could likely qualify for something significant needs-based.</p>
<p>What is the situation? What info do you now have that makes you think you’d qualify for a good amount of aid?</p>
<p>Are the public schools instate or out of state? If you’re OOS, you may not get much aid even if you qualify.</p>
<p>What schools are you applying to? And, what state are you in?</p>
<p>I see that you’ve applied ED to a school, you need to quickly contact that school as well as the rest.</p>
<p>I don’t think many of the state schools will care if you now apply for aid since they are usually need blind.</p>
<p>Fortunately, I applied for financial aid at the ED school after we did their FA calculator that showed a need. I had applied to the other schools earlier, but started thinking about it maybe being a problem applying for aid later.</p>
<p>My dad is self-employed and his income is way down for 2010. I am in FL. The schools I am concerned about are Vanderbilt and U of Miami. The state schools are UF and U. of GA. UF is not a concern financially because of Bright Futures program for FL residents.</p>
<p>I don’t want to spoil my chances at these other schools, in case the ED on doesn’t fly.</p>
<p>bummpppppp?</p>
<p>U of GA isn’t going to give you any aid no matter what your EFC is except for a student loan. You’re OOS and they reserve their aid for resident students.</p>
<p>Vandy will meet need. </p>
<p>UMiami doesn’t meet need, so it will likely gap you.</p>
<p>Do you remember what your EFC is?</p>
<p>If you’re happy with UF being your financial safety, then you’re fine. If you’d rather not go to UF, then you need another financial safety. If your stats are competitive for Vandy, then there probably safety schools that would give you large merit scholarships.</p>
<p>Are you being recruited for a sport? For which school?</p>
<p>I think our EFC is about $25k.</p>
<p>My stats are: 2040 SAT, 4.0 weighted GPA, 6 AP courses, heavy athletic EC’s.</p>
<p>I am being recruited for a sport at CMU.</p>
<p>My concern is what to do about the other schools that I did not request FA from on the app at all, like Vandy, U of Miami. Should I contact admissions to make the change now or wait to let them know? I don’t want to wreck my chances of acceptance.</p>
<p>If you need aid, then you need aid. What good does it do you to get accepted to a school you can’t afford? If you don’t really need the aid, then it’s unlikely you’d get it anyway.</p>
<p>Just tell them now if you want to be considered for aid. Or don’t tell them if you don’t want to be considered for aid. Don’t overthink this. There is absolutely no way to predict how it might affect your admissions, unless the school says it’s “need-blind” – in which case it probably won’t have any effect at all either way.</p>
<p>Even for schools that are “need aware”, it usually comes more into play once they’re considering the iffy applications, internationals, or the wait list admits.</p>
<p>Ask your parents. If they want you to get aid 4 vandy then apply 4 aid. Vandy is need blind.</p>
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<p>Not usually, unless your financial situation changes (parent loses job or something similar).</p>
<p>Agreed with Rent…if you need aid it does you NO GOOD to get accepted to a school without aid you need. Call the schools and change to a request for aid (except at your financial safety with Bright Futures).</p>