In regards to the “Do you intend to pursue need-based financial aid?” question that every college asks on the Common App, if you check yes, is that binding? Would not actually applying for financial aid through the FAFSA and the CSS Profile even though I checked “yes” would hurt me?
You can check yes. If you don’t actually send the application materials for financial aid, the school will not send you a financial aid package.
Would it hurt my chances because I did not send application materials for financial aid even though I said yes?
Can you/your parents afford the cost of attendance without financial aid?
Are you a US citizen/permanent resident/ If yes, it probably won’t matter if you apply for financial aids as the school is most likely need blind
If you are an international student, make sure that you have enough money cover all 4 years because if you do not apply for financial aid this year, it is highly unlikely that you will receive it in the future
The way some schools work is that acceptance lists from Admissions are sent to Financial aid for those students that indicated that they are applying for fin aid. If you don’t let fin aid know that you are not going to be pursuing need based aid, your file could be held up there, as some schools like to send the fin aid packages out with the acceptance package.
The other issue that sometimes can occur is that admissions likes to use their pot of merit money to stretch as far as possible and may not like to give merit awards to kids who are getting fin aid, since fin aid would just integrate it into their package and give less aid since those qualifying for need based aid generally have need reduced by any scholarships.
You should file anyway if you suspect you might need financial aid later on, in years 2, 3, or 4. Some schools give aid only to those who file as incoming freshmen (or you have to go down there and plead your case.)
Red poodles. I used to think that too…about aid in subsequent years. There are a very small number of colleges where there are restrictions on applying for aid in future years for U.S.citizens. There are many more colleges who will not allow international students to apply for aid in subsequent years if they don’t apply as incoming freshmen.
Sure…the student should check the policy at his colleges.
I’ve learned that I will receive very little need-based financial aid, and that there will most likely not be any financial issues in the years to come, so would it just not affect my actual application to a college, but rather, just affect my application for financial aid if I did not send anything?
Just send the schools an email indicating that you’ve changed your mind about applying for aid, and will not be applying.
Email and tell them. If the school is need blind it won’t matter anyway, but if they are need aware admissions could be awaiting word on your FA need before making a decision. Just email admissions at each school and tell them you have decided not to apply for FA even though you said you would in your app. If you have a portal or application ID, give them that so they can easily identify your application. Or give them the last 4 digits of your SSN. Be sure to give your full name, too.
Would it be alright just to have just two sentences or so stating that I’d like to withdraw my application? Would something like that require a longer e-mail?
Be careful you don’t withdraw your full application, just tell them you have decided not to apply for FA. And be sure it is easy to identify your application. I would add a note that you are still excited about their school, and hope to be admitted – but that is just me. And for heaven’s sake, proofread very carefully if you put the college name in the email to make sure you change it to the correct college each time, and that you spell it correctly…
Haha, thank you very much. I’ve heard of the horror stories about not having the right college on an e-mail.
Yup… they post out here in a panic out here all the time. 
And I think there are schools like Carleton that get misspelled a lot (leaving out that E).
Should I send these e-mails to financial aid office or the undergraduate office? Most of the colleges do not have an e-mail that they specify if I do not wish to apply for financial aid anymore.
I would send it to admissions, they can forward to FA office. Or copy both of them. Certainly the FA office wants to know, but it can also affect your admissions decision (favorably) at colleges that are not need-blind. There generally is an email address for the admissions office and a separate one for the financial aid office.