<p>I don't really understand the concept of "need-blind", but from what I hear most schools are not need-blind. I applied for financial aid out of stupidity, because basically - I'm not going to get any. After I applied, I realized that this might hurt my chances somehow. I read somewhere that some schools give preference to students who don't apply for financial aid. I applied for it, but I will not receive it. Does that mean I'm put into the pile that gets some sort of preference for no aid, or in the pile that got aid. Basically, is applying for aid and receiving aid the same concept when it comes to admission decisions?</p>
<p>Actually, most schools are need-blind. Publics don’t care either way. Most top schools are need need-blind. I think the only ones that are really “need aware” are schools that promise to meet need, but they don’t have HUGE endowments like the ivies. Schools that don’t meet need (like publics and many privates) aren’t going to really care.</p>
<p>What schools did you apply to? What are your stats?</p>
<p>BTW…if you applied to a school that you think might be need-aware, just call them and tell them that you won’t be needing aid after all. :)</p>
<p>Wow. Not sure why you say most schools are need blind. Only the very top schools are, and many of them are changing their policies. Interesting article last year about Oberlin alternating their acceptances between those with need and those who could pay in full. ditto Reed. Our D was turned down by a top tier NON need blind LAC and we were told by the head of admissions that our having too much need was a big factor. I do think that they look at the amount of need you have, so in your case jackdaniels, I would hope it won’t make any difference.</p>
<p>Uh…no…you’re confusing “need blind” with schools that are need blind AND meet 100% of need. Those are the top schools.<br>
**
Nearly all (if not all) public schools are need blind. ** They do not consider whether you need aid in order to be accepted. Most publics admit by formula/stats…if you have the stats or fit the formula, you are admitted. They admit regardless of what your need is. </p>
<p>Can you name any publics that are not “need blind” at least for their resident students? It would be hard to name any that aren’t also need blind for non-residents. The reason why publics can be need-blind is because 99% of them don’t promise to meet need. When you don’t promise to meet need, you can be need-blind.</p>
<p>oh of course, sorry, public schools just weren’t on my radar. You’re right, I don’t know of any publics where finances affect admissions. I was talking about the privates. There have been many examples like mine posted here where kids got into really topnotch schools that were need blind yet were rejected by lower level schools that were need aware.</p>
<p>OP, if you are going to take out Staffords you’ll need to file FAFSA whether or not you need aid. If you absolutely don’t need any aid, then simply call your top choice school and tell admissions you won’t be needing aid. If you are already deferred then call your first choice, remind them it is your first choice and tell them you won’t need aid and you will come if they admit you. That’s about all you can do. What will be will be. At this point in the game you’ve most likely submitted your FAFSA and /or profile so most likely the finaid office has figured out you don’t need aid.</p>
<p>i’m applying to cornell, georgetown, hopkins, berkeley, duke, dartmouth, william and mary, and a few publics. </p>
<p>so since i already submitted my fafsa and profile, if they realize i don’t actually need aid … will the non need blind schools treat me the same as someone who hasent filed those in? or should i call them all…? </p>
<p>the main reason i submitted these in is because i know a few colleges need your fafsa to even give you merit scholarships … so i just went ahead and submitted my stuff to everyone, just in case. which i now realize could be a potentially bad decision</p>
<p>If I were you I would notify them about what your needs are. Tell them you do not need FA, but would like to be considered for merit scholarships and may apply for the unsubsidized Stafford loan, and that is why you submitted the forms. It can’t hurt and it could help.</p>
<p>So if I email them and say I would no longer like to be considered for FA but I want to be considered for loans and merit aid, do you guys think I’ll be okay? I reeallyy don’t want this to hurt my chances</p>
<p>Could anyone tell me which of these schools are not need blind?
Dartmouth, duke, cornell, georgetown, emory, berkeley, USC, and then state schools?</p>
<p>Nearly all (if not all) state schools are need blind.</p>
<p>I would contact all the privates that you won’t need any aid, period. If you could (with your parents’ agreement) that they would be happy to pay full if you were admitted. I do not think anyone should should apply for FA (disclose any financial information) if there is not a very good chance of getting FA.</p>
<p>On the positive side, every school on your list states that they are need-blind, meaning that the admissions and financial aid offices are completely separate. I would take that to mean that you’re fine - really. There are many cynics out there, but I think you can only take the school at its word. We had a lot of need, and the only school that turned down D was the one that said up front that they weren’t need-blind.</p>
<p>There is no need blind school, only need aware.</p>
<p>sorry oldfort, I wasn’t trying to disagree with you - guess we were typing at the same time! What you suggest is not a bad idea. It certainly wouldn’t hurt!</p>
<p>kolijma - I am more of a cynic and do not believe in those school’s marketing of “need blind.” “If this is the right school for you then we’ll make sure to make it happen for you.” At the end of day, it’s a business for them. They are willing to give out FA to students to bring something to the campus, not necessary out of charity.</p>
<p>Oldfort, I understand that there are many cynics out there. I seem to be a minority, but here’s why. The school D ended up wanting to go to, Whitman (need blind), sent her acceptance around April 1st. We scheduled a visit for around the 12th of April, but we still hadn’t heard from the financial aid office. The visit was expensive and a hassle, so we were loath to go if they didn’t offer her enough money. I was frustrated so I called the financial aid office, and they apologetically explained that they don’t get the lists of students to prepare offers for until the acceptance letters go out, so they literally work night and day to prepare financial aid offers in as short a time as possible. Considering that they probably lose some yield over this policy, I am inclined to believe them!</p>
<p>Borderline applicants have more to worry about, especially at top tier schools. GCs at our school (private) told everyone not to apply for FA unless absolutely necessary. In today’s economic environment, a school needs to manage its endowment a lot more carefully. They also need to to worry about current students whose family may experience unexpected loss of jobs and may also need FA.</p>
<p>Honestly, I’d rather be safe than sorry. I’d like to believe schools that claim they are need-blind really are, but I think I’m going to call up all the privates tomorrow and let them know I no longer need FA. Do loans count as FA though? Should I say I still want to be taken in consideration for loans? And I don’t have to worry about contacting the publics, do I?</p>
<p>I would not assume that any colleges are need blind this year. Even publics. Many public colleges are hurting big time and will likely give a tip to applicants who will pay full tuition.</p>
<p>Don’t worry about unsubsidized Stafford loans. You can still apply for those after you are admitted even if you didn’t check the FA box.</p>