<p>In theory, need-blind means exactly that, schools evaluate applications without regard to need, but is that really true? Or do they have ways of getting around the requirement? And with good reason. After all, in theory, a school could wind up admitting a class full of students that needed 100% aid, and that would break practically every school outside Princeton.</p>
<p>I have had several people that should know tell me they suspect that many schools at least peek, by knowing if a FAFSA has been filed. (The schools also require a preliminary FAFSA with ED applications.) They don't ding you for filing one, but not filing one is consider a plus. Schools also probably know that ED applicants are less likely to ask for financial aid and can use historical data to support this. Hence, that's why ED applicants get a leg up and a substantial part of the class is filled with ED applicants, they aren't peeking, but they also know they're getting more full ticket students than the RD pile.</p>
<p>I've even had one parent tell me that a need-blind school told them flat-out, if you apply ED and know there's little to no chance you will get need-based aid, don't file the FAFSA, as if that's some sort of signal. They tend to tell you the opposite in info sessions, that you never know if you'll qualify, but in reality, there's little point for some people and it's a pain, so why do it?</p>
<p>Anyone have any additional info, or is this merely ill-informed speculation on the part of my sources?</p>
<p>You may look up the financial aid data such as from CDS for the percentage of students applied for aid and determined to have need. Nevertheless, having a high percentage of students with need does not mean the school would meet most of the need.</p>
<p>Asking for aid is never a problem. Needing aid can be. Whether or not you are considered to need aid is something that the college/university decides for itself based on the numbers in your FAFSA and/or CSS Profile and/or other financial aid applications. So if aid would be useful, go ahead and apply for it.</p>
<p>Truth be told, MOST colleges and universities in the US practice need-blind admissions. The admissions application goes to one office. The aid application goes to another. If a student is admitted, then the aid office shells out whatever monies it has available according to that institution’s aid policy. And, truth be told, MOST colleges and universities in the US have very little aid to hand out other than federally determined aid.</p>
<p>My impression is just the opposite. I believe most private schools are very need aware and full pay applicants are generally admitted at higher rates than those who apply for aid. I’ve often wished schools were more transparent about this process.</p>
<p>Just to clarify, we’re talking about need-blind schools who meet 100% of demonstrated need here. Should have stated that earlier.</p>
<p>Yep, I doubt if any school is fully need blind. (My opinion) I suspect need blind schools are need blind until the final selection process when suddenly they’re not.</p>
<p>This article is pretty relevant, though it is talking about schools who have not promised that they are need blind, they would just like to be - [Even</a> as the economy improves, colleges lower the ambition of their financial aid programs - Metro - The Boston Globe](<a href=“College aid offers fail to grow with economy - The Boston Globe”>College aid offers fail to grow with economy - The Boston Globe)</p>
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I think Harvard and Yale ARE most likely fully need blind. They could buy entire cities (Detroit anyone?).</p>
<p>Now there’s an idea! They could put William F. Buckley’s idea to the test.</p>
<p>“I would rather be governed by the first 2000 people in the Manhattan phone book than the entire faculty of Harvard.”</p>
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<p>All but two of the California State University campuses have an admissions process that ranks applicants by a GPA and test score formula (for frosh; GPA for transfers) for their campus, major, state residency, and local residency. This trivially makes them need-blind for admissions, although they do not meet 100% of need except for California resident commuter students.</p>
<p>Even more trivially, open admission community colleges are obviously need-blind.</p>
<p>They have a general idea just from the student’s zip code and high school. Don’t kid yourself that admissions officers don’t know how to read wealth in an application.</p>