<p>Wondering whether the same person who reads your application also sees your financial aid form with all of its data. I assume that goes directly to the financial aid office, but wondering whether anyone knows the answer to that.</p>
<p>Maybe not the form, but as many schools are need aware, admissions decisions are contingent on how much need/how much they want you.
Since most schools dont meet need however, they could admit you, but leave a gap in your aid package.</p>
<p>The vast majority of schools are NOT need aware and do NOT know whether or not you have applied for aid. Frankly, they don’t care as the vast majority of schools are not going to meet your aid.</p>
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<p>Not our experience. All of the schools that my daughter has on her application list are need blind (so I agree with you there). However, all but one of those schools as part of their member-specific part of the Common App asks if the applicant will be applying for need-based financial aid. The question requires a straight “yes” or “no” answer. So, while the admissions reader will not see the actual financial aid forms, they will definitely know whether or not the applicant will be applying for financial aid.</p>
<p>The million dollar question is if this knowledge will have any influence, intentional or not, on the admissions decision.</p>
<p>It depends on the college. For need-blind, the forms will go to finaid, not admissions. Ime, we can see the FA check box and the parents’ education and occupations, but do not make assumptions, are told from the get-go not to consider finances or frame the review based on that.</p>
<p>Sorry… a better thing for me to have said was they don’t know your need. Lots of people apply for aid that don’t “need” it based on EFC.</p>
<p>Schools can interpret your financial information however they want if it is their money.
My daughters finaid package met her FAFSA EFC, but a couple classmates with similar income & assets had to transfer or attend other schools because it wasnt affordable.</p>
<p>Some schools do have the same office doing the fin aid and admissions. You can tell if that is the case as the office personnel are the same. I think Muhlenberg does and St Mary’s College do, or did, off the top of my head. Most colleges do not. It’s enough for admissions to get the best candidates, and it’s up to Fin aid, the bean counters to pay for them.</p>