I’ve heard many different things on this topic, ranging from “unless you are an international applicant it won’t matter” to “it matters unless the school offers need-blind aid”. Could you guys help me get a clearer understanding of this topic? I’m mostly going to be applying to reportedly '100% need-based aid" schools.
If the college is “need aware” applying for aid may affect the decision. If the college is “need blind” applying for aid will not affect the decision. In the latter case you may be admitted but get inadequate aid, unless the college “meets full need”. Only a handful of well endowed colleges are need blind and meets full aid. you will need to check the admissions and financial aid pages on each college’s website.
It can at those schools with need aware admissions. When you research your schools, look carefully if a school is need aware for admissions. The vast majority of schools are need blind. The need aware schools tend to be the private schools that do give generous financial aid. In order to do so, they limit those students that have need.
Just because a school is need aware does not mean you should avoid it. As said above, these schools tend to give good financial aid if they do accept you and it’s not as though they turn down everyone and anyone with need. Sometimes it’s a small number and % of applicants turned down due to need.
As a general rule, for such schools, the greater your need, the more competitive of an applicant you should be. Or have some hook the school wants. You can’t be in the middle of the applicant pack with high need and not have done hook the school wants, and expect the school to subsidize you. But if you are in the upper quarter of their student body in stats, these may be your best deal schools in terms of meeting your need.
OP has said on another thread that he’s aiming high.
If a college is Need Aware, I’d put it this way: you need to be a ‘most competitive’ applicant. Know what that means, for each target. Nearly all elites have their own sense of idenity and want kids who get what that is.
And OP, as said, this and other info of all sorts can be found on the colleges’ web pages.
It’s your financial NEED that might matter at a news aware school. Simply applying isn’t the issue. If you apply and have NO financial need, and the college doesn’t need to give you need based funds to attend, then it’s not a problem.
If you HAVE financial need at need aware schools, those schools consider your financial need when reviewing your application for admission…and it might matter…and it might not. It depends on the school, the level of your need.
Also, the universities base their funding on what THEY think you need. Not what YOU think you need.
@“aunt bea” @thumper1 @lookingforward @cptofthehouse @TomSrOfBoston
Thanks for the insight, everybody! I think I have a better grasp now