From what I have seen, I do believe most schools are need blind in admissions. The less selective schools, the larger schools just gap. They make no guarantees to meet full need.
As for the selective schools that guarantee to meet full need or meet most of it, and say that they are need blind, the reason that Ivycoach gives for them not possibly being need blind is that if " 95% of an incoming class needed financial aid, that college would be in major trouble." That argument sadly doesn’t hold water in the least. The fact of the matter is that in education, there is such a strong correlation between wealth and academic achievement that for those in the running for these selective schools will primarily be students from upper income/asset families. The sad fact of the matter is that exceptions and special consideration are often given for those coming from challenging enviornments. Ironically,selective schools are NOT truly need blind in admissions because they do take into account the privileges, benefits, hardships, challenges students face, and such admissions officers do not tend to like the “silver spoon” kids. They LOVE that they can make holistic decision on those with hardships and give that kid who wasn’t handed everything by parents a bit of a boost. Yes, I’ve seen that directly When I was on scholarship councils, we gave the same boost. We took environment into consideration, but not the way you would think.
If you read Michelle Hernandez’s book from years ago, “A is for Admission”, she addresses this reverse favoritism that those who are not so annointed with privilege get. SHe even outright says to down play Mom and Dad’s job titles, etc so a student doesn’t come off as so privileged.
I’ve known many who have worked in admissions and know all kinds of not so great stories about what has gone on there, but giving full need kids a boost at those schools that say they are need aware was not one of them. Quite the contrary. Those working in admissions are not particularly sympathetic to the apps of kids whose activiities, schooling, etc are likely “bought” and parents who can afford for a year of college costs than said admissions employee even makes in a year.
Not always the case, of course. GWU was caught lying. But I feel that most of these schools are telling the truth from what I’ve seen.