FAFSA/PROFILE and the privacy of your college list

Paying for College
1

<p>Dear (fake name I provided for anonymity),</p>

<p>In response to your question;

[quote]
Subject: Fwd: Privacy of FAFSA and PROFILE</p>

<p>Dear Admissions Committee:</p>

<p>I noticed when filling out my financial aid applications (FAFSA and PROFILE) that colleges receive a report that lists every other college that I'm applying to. I don't have anything to hide, but this feels intrusive.</p>

<p>Does Emory College use the list of other colleges in its admissions decisions?</p>

<p>Thank you for your time.

[/quote]

When Emory gets the FAFSA and Profile these documents are electronically routed directly to the Financial Aid Office. Our Admissions Office does not have access to these records; nor does anyone outside of our office. Emory is a need-blind institution when it comes to admission. That means that we do not consider the financial need of; or the application for financial aid of; any applicants. We read your application without regard to whether or not you can afford Emory or what other institutions you may have applied to.</p>

<p>The fact that Collegeboard lists other colleges that you have requested receive the Profile in no way sways our admissions or financial aid decisions. Same goes for FAFSA; simply because we can see some of the other colleges you’ve applied to does not affect your financial aid award or admissions decision. I hope this answers your question. Please let me know if I can be of further assistance to you.</p>

<p>Sincerely,</p>

<p>John F. Sisk
Assistant Director
Emory University
Financial Aid/Admission
<a href="mailto:john.sisk@emory.edu">john.sisk@emory.edu</a></p>

<p>


While Emory is indeed only one school, they are usually the most anal about raising their enrollment rate (yield) by measuring "demonstrated interest" every way possible.  If anyone would do this, Emory would.  </p>

<p>So rest assured, your college list will not grace the desk of the admissions office.

</p>

2

<p>Thanks for the info. I've been wondering about this myself :)</p>

3

<p>There are schools where admissions and financial aid are done in the same office, and it is certainly possible for the adcoms to view the FAFSA. I do not believe that they stumble over themselves in doing so. I worked for a selective college that is NOT needblind, and admissions made the decisions without any regard to financial aid. All accepted kids were coded "A", "B", or "C". The "A" s were the ones considered for merit awards and a special visit day, and if they applied for aid, were the ones who got the best of the grants and all of the need covered. There seemed to be enough to take good care of the "B"s as well. The problem came with those who were "C'"s and needed financial aid. That is when tough decisions as to whom to accept, who should be gapped, and who should get what, and who should be denied had to be made. At the time that was less than 5% of the accepted kids, and those decisions were made jointly by the adcoms and financial aid at times.</p>