If you DO need help paying for college but your income is usually too high for anything need-based, then is it better to check yes or no to that question on the common app? Will checking NO prevent you from seeking financial aid altogether?
Check yes. Most schools are need blind for admissions so it will not matter. If you need aid and can’t go to school without it, then what good would it do to get into a school without the aid you need?
You can always apply for the federal loans and any other federal aid, even if you check ‘no’ for financial aid, but some schools will not consider you for their own aid if you check ‘no’ and later change your mind.
I would check no if you are not eligible for aid, even if you would get a little bit of money I would still check no. Not needing is a hook. I do not believe schools are need blind for admissions even if they claim to be so. I also do not like to share my financial information with anyone if I am not getting anything out of them.
My kids’ school counselors and my younger daughter’s private counselor have all advised the same.
Not needing aid is NOT a hook at the majority of colleges. Few schools are need aware.
If your family really can pay the full cost of attendance, and that is not an issue, then check no…and don’t apply for aid.
If you plan to apply for aid, then check yes.
I don’t think it’s a “hook”. You do need to make sure that your family is really able to cover all of the costs.
My kid’s school just happens to admit 55% full pay every year. Not sure how that happens.
There is a difference between “plan to apply for aid” vs “eligible for aid.” Just because you apply for aid doesn’t make you eligible for aid. It is not a lottery ticket.
My kids’ counselors have consistently given the same message about applying for aid. It is especially the case if you are WL. Unfortunately you wouldn’t be able to uncheck it during the WL round.
It is very true about wait list students. Some schools that meet full need in the regular decision round do not guarantee to do so for students acceoted off the waitlist.
The important thing…if you NEED financial aid…apply for financial aid and check yes. An acceptance without sufficient aid to attend might just as well be a rejection.
If you do NOT need financial aid, and don’t intend to apply for it…check no.
One more thing…if you are an international student…check school policies because you might not be able to apply in subsequent years if you don’t apply as an incoming freshman.
There are a handful of,colleges that place restrictions on subsequent year aid applications for U.S. citizens.
There is a difference between needing FA vs eligible for FA. If you are not eligible then do not apply, and it is not that hard to figure out if you are eligible or not.
A relative of mine who made over 7 figures thought they could use some FA because of their high spending life style, so she applied and was upset when they didn’t get any. I do think it didn’t help her son’s application to her alma mater.
I have always wondered this as well. If you check no because you do not qualify for need based financial aid, can you still apply for Stafford loans?
So checking no means you are not applying for the school’s financial aid, but you can still apply for federal financial aid like Stafford loans…did I perhaps just have a lightbulb moment?
I think a lot of typically full pay parents are confused by how to answer the question…
I work for a need blind and promise you, the “applying for FA” box no longer appears on the file in admissions. OP needs to see how any of his/her targets that are “need aware” actually make decisions. At some, need consideration only occurs further down the list, when you’re borderline or they’re starting to run out of funds to give.
And some families we wouldn’t think are going to qualify for aid (based on income, eg,) still have factors that may get them some help- eg, multiple kids in college at the same time.
OP, also make sure to run the Net Price Calculators for each college.
Yes, one can complete the Fafsa to get the federally funded loans only later on…and any portion of the Pell grant if eligible
Thanks, three in college and never really understood that question. Didn’t impact us either way, but good to know.
I know a couple of very well-off families whose kids received merit money because their stats stood out at schools they applied to… So I assume checking the " NO" box and filing FAFSA or CSS has nothing to do with merit, just need- based, is that correct?
My kid got a full ride at a LAC and we didn’t check yes for FA. It was a merit scholarship. Some posters have said certain schools require students to apply for FA, whether they qualify or not, in order to get merit aid.
We didn’t check the “yes for FA” box, but DS16 did receive several merit offers. We were surprised by that at the time, but have learned it’s consistent with school practices around merit (he was at the higher end of stats).
You can check no for will apply but will be directed to file anyway for the merit aid at those schools.
OP, maybe this will help you decide:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Need-blind_admission
If you trust this list you can decide on a college by college basis.
This OLDER article is also interesting, if these schools are on your list:
I know that several schools have gone need-aware since this was written.
FYI I have no data to back this up, but I have read and been told: “There is no such thing as need blind admission”. Googling that phrase will bring you to many blogs of professionals discussing the topic.
(I am just providing info, I do not know if I believe them or not).
Anyone who thinks they might apply for need-based aid should check yes. This has nothing to do with merit aid. We checked no and both kids received numerous offers of merit aid.
Interesting thread, thanks all! So…we are lucky enough to have enough saved for tuition, therefore we do not have need. Of course, merit aid would be fantastic, and yes if one could “apply” for merit aid we absolutely would do so, and it would come into the decision if we were offered some. I thought I just heard at a seminar that you must file a FAFSA to be considered for merit aid. So…should we be checking that box, or not? Thanks!