Can undergrads apply for financial aid from the second year on?
please do answer in terms of US Citizens, and not International students
Which school? Some won’t let you if you didn’t apply frosh year (except for FAFSA).
Yes, you can apply for need based aid. You usually cannot receive merit aid if you didn’t get any freshman year.
From Stanford Class of 2020 Thread:
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Im applying REA… though im a US citizen, I live in India so im still general pool (phew).
To everyone asking about supplements, theyre in the common app. Seem pretty fun to write tbh.
Im really hopeful for the increase in class size too. Best of luck to everyone applying!
@Madison85 thanks 
Yeah, so im applying early to Stanford
Just curious - why don’t you want to apply for aid for your first year (but you do for your second year) - what is this strategy?
What is the point of getting in if you can’t pay for it?
Well basically I can pay for it, all 4 years, just that things may get rough due to situations in India so that may mess up the cash flow…
Yes, you can apply in subsequent years. But read each website carefully.
If you are applying to Stanford REA for the admissions “edge” and not applying for aid for the admissions “edge”…I’m not sure I would suggest this.
What good will an offer of admission do you if you don’t have sufficient financial aid to attend? Are your parents going to pay out a large sum in savings and loans to make this possible the first year (because if a perceived admissions edge)?
Why not just apply for,the aid now, if you will benefit from it.
Stanford is need blind for admissions, meaning that your ability to pay is not considered when you apply for admission.
I can’t imagine why you wouldn’t apply for aid when applying as an incoming freshman. Makes no sense to me. This is a very generous college…with a generous endowment…that pledges to meet full need for all accepted students.
Alright, Thanks!
@thumper1 the point is primarily that i can afford to go without scholarship for all 4 years without a hassle, and without loans or chunks out of my parents’ savings. However, it would definitely help if i got aid.
The chances are, if you can pay for 4 years without aid, you are not likely to get need based aids even applied. On the other hand, many schools do offer departmental scholarships to sophomore and above although the amount is likely smaller and may or may not be renewable.
The purpose of need based aid is NOT to allow a student to maintain their nest egg for future condo or Lexus purchases.
If your family can easily afford >$60,000 a year for four years…why do you think you would be eligible for need based aid?
As an FYI, you can apply for need based aid in the future at Stanford, but your family finances are the only thing taken into consideration. The school really doesn’t give merit aid. So…if your parents lose their jobs, and your savings goes south…you can apply in subsequent years.
The student should apply for aid this year EVEN if they won’t get a dime. That way, if the family financial picture changes, he can apply.
The student is worried about some future financial problem.
@thumper1 thanks, thats what i was looking for.
@hopefulmuch check the Stanford website for accuracy of what I posted.
But really…why wouldn’t you apply NOW for aid? Why??
Parents feel it may have an impact on acceptance, but i guess i shall.
Your parents are wrong. Stanford admissions is need blind…meaning that admissions does NOT know your financial need when considering your application for admission.
And anyway…if you don’t have financial need…why would it matter if the school DID consider your ability to pay. They would be delighted to accept a full pay student…BUT this doesn’t apply to Stanford…at all. The school does not consider your ability to pay at all when considering your application for admission.
Financial aid and admissions are not located in the same room. Tens of thousands of students apply to Stanford. Do your parents think the adcoms have the time…or inclination…to walk to another place to ask financial aid what your need is? The adcoms do not do this at all at Stanford…because that isn’t considered when you apply.
If you don’t need aid, fine don’t apply…but the full cost of attending is near $70,000 a year. What good will an acceptance do you if you can’t afford to pay this…and COULD have gotten need based aid.
Sorry, Stanford is not need blind for internationals. Their website also says, though, that international students who do not apply for need based aid freshman year cannot apply for it later.