<p>What do you think the effects of having your application fee waved are? Do you think it could possibly hinder acceptance?</p>
<p>No..........</p>
<p>No, not at all.</p>
<p>Will they (the adcoms) be fully aware that you used a fee-waiver? This would help distinguish you as low-income right? (I personally would like that they see it)</p>
<p>I know many will respondto you that it will not make a difference, but I'm not so sure based on the experience of a young friend of my D's. </p>
<p>If you are a top student who is competative enough for merit scholarhip offers anyway - a waiver will not matter. </p>
<p>If you are a great student, but not at the top of the crowd, and your financial aid will need to draw heavily from the schools need based grants AND the school does not publicly claim to have "need-blind" admission policy somewhere in their description - then I would be at least a bit skeptical. </p>
<p>In select cases - for schools which are important to you - see if there is a way to apply on line (or visit the school) to obtain the fee waiver for a different reason - then you won't be worried about it. </p>
<p>On the other hand - taking full advantage of the fee waiver is being up-front about low income. Perhaps there will be less likelihood of what happened to my D's young friend who used fee waivers - which was a certain number of "admt-deny" situations, where she got in, but got such little financial aid offered that she couldn't possibly attend. Strange because the couple schools who were obviously serious about her - loaded her up with merit $ and financial aid grants almost to 100% need met.</p>