eyrar99
November 15, 2016, 3:23pm
1
3 of the qualifications on the Common App fee waiver section apply to me. Does this mean I’m guaranteed a fee waiver from every college I’m applying to, or is there a possibility that colleges on the Common App won’t give me a fee waiver (even though I meet the Common App’s qualifications)?
If there is a possibility I won’t get a waiver, do you know how often colleges choose to give students fee waivers based on the Common App qualifications? Is this decision at all based on academic merit?
Thanks so much!
MA2012
November 15, 2016, 3:33pm
2
I don’t know exactly how they grant them, but it is completely need based (merit is not applicable to fee waivers).
mommdc
November 15, 2016, 3:43pm
3
I thought once your GC verifies that you meet the fee waiver criteria for the common app, you can apply to all common app schools for free.
GUIDELINES FOR REQUESTING A COMMON APPLICATION FEE WAIVER
You must meet at least one of the following indicators of economic need:
You have received or are eligible to receive an ACT or SAT testing fee waiver.
If you hit three of them you will definitely get a waiver.
https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/get-in/applying-101/college-application-fee-waivers
mommdc
November 15, 2016, 4:42pm
5
^those are the Collegeboard application fee waivers, for which there is a limit of four.
You get those for using a SAT test fee waiver.
mommdc
November 15, 2016, 4:51pm
6
https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/get-in/applying-101/college-application-fee-waivers
quoted from above link:
If I am applying to colleges using the Coalition, Common, or Universal Applications, can I still use a college application fee waiver?
Each of these applications has a specific process for students who apply with a fee waiver. If you have received (or are eligible to receive) an SAT fee waiver, you may apply to any Coalition, Common, or Universal Application college without a fee. You will need to follow the established admission process for each school, including submitting any required application fee or approved fee waiver.
On the Coalition App, students can determine their eligibility for a fee waiver by answering a brief series of questions while creating their Coalition profile. If you qualify for fee waivers from the College Board (or qualify based on any of the other questions), you will automatically bypass the payment screen when you submit your application to a member school.
Similarly, **on the Common App, you will be asked on the application whether your financial circumstances qualify you for a fee waiver; if you received an SAT fee waiver, you should indicate that in response to this question. Your high school counselor will be asked to verify your eligibility. Some colleges may also ask you to enter the unique code found on your fee waiver or upload an electronic copy of your fee waiver. There is no need to send a hard copy of your fee waiver unless you are instructed to do so.
It is important to note that this process is unique to Common Application colleges and does not extend to other institutions. You may use up to four of these college application fee waivers with colleges who do not participate in the Common Application.**
To use your fee waiver on the Universal Application, check the “fee waiver” box on your application and submit your form to the college or university.
So once you qualify for Common App fee waiver you should be able to apply to all Common App schools for free.
The four collegeboard fee waivers can be used for other schools not using Common App.
eyrar99
November 15, 2016, 6:12pm
7
Thank you so much, @mommdc ! My GC has verified my eligibility, so I should be good to go.
Yes CA waivers are unlimited, unlike CB’s SAT waivers. Save those 4 (you also qualify for those) for any schools you plan to apply to that do not take the common app.