Harvard Need Blind

Colleges and Universities A-Z Harvard University
1

<p>Hello! My parents are planning to apply to Harvard financial aid. I've heard rumors that although Harvard says it's need blind, it sometimes tries to pick people from various economic backgrounds. Thus "rich people" have less of a chance of getting in, and rich people who applied for financial aid, have even less of a chance. I've tried to explain to them that I am not asking for a full tuition, just how much ever they can give, because although my parents have an income on the higher end, my mom doesn't have a stable job as of now, and we have had many unexpected expenditures, we have no benefits or pension, and we have housed and taken care of my grandmother for 18 years. </p>

<p>I don't want this to ruin my chances of getting into Harvard, and at the same time I don't want Harvard to reject me because they find it unreasonable that I'm applying for financial aid.</p>

<p>I would like some of your thoughts. I would appreciate it if a college admissions officer could also answer and give an opinion. </p>

<p>Thanks</p>

2

<p>Harvard is need blind. For sure. 100%. Your financial situation will have no bearing in your admission. Period.</p>

<p>Now it could be that someone with an interesting history, growing up in abject poverty and making the most of their limited opportunities to achieve something remarkable may have an edge in the admissions…but that’s different than being admitted based on one’s ability to pay.</p>

3

<p>Decisions about who to admit are made independently - by different people - from decisions about what financial aid is appropriate in each case. </p>

<p>This is clearly the case at Harvard, although not at every school, including some other elites.</p>