<p>Do colleges take into account someone's family income when they review an application? I know that most colleges are need blind, but if someone has parents with a really high income would they be looked at the same as someone who has parents who make a really low income? Like, do they factor in money when they review someone's scores and extracurriculars? (because someone who comes from a wealthier family might have more opportunities for extracurriculars and could afford the extra sports lessons or music lessons that could bolster their application)</p>
<p>You know, most people say that top universities do, and I believe that they might, but it’s tough to find any official word from any admissions office on this. </p>
<p>That being said, I know Amherst is pretty open about their preference for low-income applicants and exercises sort of affirmative action for low income students.</p>
<p>I know Colgate only accepted a certain percentage of students who needed financial aid. The question was asked on the application (this was back in 2004) if the student was applying for aid. So even if the financial aid information was not in front of the admissions committee, they would take that into consideration.</p>
<p>thank you for your input 
anyone else have comments? bump!</p>
<p>Unless they specifically state they are need-blind, then yes, they will see and consider your income. I don’t think most colleges are need-blind as you suggest.</p>
<p>However, they probably don’t consider it as much in the way that you mentioned. They’re not like “Well, he doesn’t have many ECs, but he’s really poor, so that helps explain his shortcomings.” It’s more like. “Well, this candidate can’t afford much at all, so that makes us like him a little less.”
Schools will of course still accept people who have low income and offer them financial aid, but it probably makes the candidates a little less competitive at schools that are not need-blind.</p>
<p>The simple truth is that nationwide, most places are need-blind. Most places also don’t offer much in the way of financial aid other than federally determined FAFSA aid.</p>
<p>However, for those institutions that do offer significant amounts of aid, many are need-aware. Which, quite frankly, is not such a bad thing. If you can’t afford the place without boatloads of aid, you will be saved a lot of grief if you flat-out aren’t admitted, rather than being admitted to a “dream” institution without the aid that you would need in order to be able to attend.</p>