I’m in the process of semi-filling out the common app and I’m facing the dilemna.
Several of the schools im applying to offer financial aid, and I will be applying for aid. However, I wont be applying for aid for several other schools.
Should I check the “financial aid” box?
Or maybe I should just use the school’s own application for the schools where i’m not requesting aid?
Also, to further complicate things, I’ve already gotten a teacher reccomendation (as she’s not coming back next year) on the common app form. Do you think colleges will mind if I submit their app, midyear, counselor reports, but one of my teacher rec’s is from the common app?
Thanks! 
<p>if you are eligible why wouldnt you apply everywhere for it?</p>
<p>If you aren't elgible everywhere, they'll be able to figure that out on their own. It's the financial aid office's job! Let them do the work they're paid to do, and just check YES. No big deal.</p>
<p>Your best bet would be to check the financial aid policies at the schools which you are interested in attending. At some schools if you don't apply for aid yoru first year, you are nto elegible for aid in subsequent years. </p>
<p>If you don't check the box, you are stating that you are not applying for aid because the box specifially asks "Are you applying for financial aid". IF you say no, should you get admitted then your package may not automatically go on to FA therefore keeping you out of the money. </p>
<p>You might as well check the box if there is a remote possibility that you need money. At need blind schools it won't matter, at schools that are not need blind they are going to look at your financial need anyway before making a final decision.</p>
<p>Would it be possible to fill out the app (with the financial aid part checked off) and send it to some schools, and then go back, refill the app, and send it to other schools? OR do you only send the app once, and to all of your schools?</p>
<p>Btw, only some schools are needblind to Canadians, which is why I'm applying for finanacial aid, though not everywhere.</p>
<p>Especially as an international, if you are applying for aid you might as well be up front about it. While most schools are not need blind to internationals, you not checking the box is not going the change the fact that either you do or you don't have the $$. If you say no, there is definitely going to be an assumption that you are a full pay. Your not checking the box does not give you any real advantage because you are evaluated against other qulaified applicants in the international pool. So if atop applicant is a better fit for the school (academically,geographically, or whatever) they will most likely still be chosen regardless of need.</p>
<p>It is not whether or not you check the box that keeps you out of schools that are not need blind, between 2 similiarly qualified candidates, it is how much you can pay. </p>
<p>As an international if you check the box and need for $1000 of aid vs. needing the the whole $40K. Between 2 similiarly qualified candidates, the person who only needs the $1k has a better chance of being admitted than the person who needs 40k.</p>
<p>They could use the FA box for the purpose of admission decisions, but don't forget that checking the box might just be for clerical purposes. If you mark the box, they will send you some FA forms to fill out. If you don't mark the box, you don't get the forms.</p>
<p>If the cost of attendance is high at some schools and low at others, you might anticipate some helpful FA packages at the expensive schools and $0 at the cheaper ones. However, it still might be better to apply for FA everywhere and let the colleges decide.</p>
<p>If you really want to use the common app and apply for FA some places and not others, then fill out two paper versions of the common app and mail them.</p>