<p>I've seen a few threads on here about need blind vs need aware, etc. Being the kid of higher income parents, would it give me a better chance of getting into need aware schools like Wash U or JHU?
I don't mean to come off as rude or elitist, just an honest question as I don't quite understand how it works.
Thanks</p>
<p>Yes, if you need no or less financial aid and are close to the borderline of admit/reject, that can help you at need-aware schools that try to meet full need but whose financial aid budgets do not allow being need-blind in admissions.</p>
<p>However, there are other permutations of need-awareness, or admission practices and policies that can resemble need-awareness (e.g. a college whose mission is to serve students from disadvantaged backgrounds, or a college which does a lot of legacy or developmental admissions hoping to attract more donations).</p>
<p>You can ask the Admissions Directors of the schools in question straight out if the admissions process is 100% need blind. Some will not tell the truth as this flap with GWU has shown, but hopefully the majority are telling the truth. I’ve known some very cynical folks who worked in admissions at universities, and for all the nonsense that may go on, they have been adament that students at those schools and almost all schools are admitted with no regard to ability to pay. For most schools, it’s the financial aid department, usually separate from admissions that makes the cut with the admit/deny but not giving admitted students that are not on the “A” list good financial packages. </p>
<p>But as Ucbalumnus says, there are many ways need awareness is practiced Some schools will be need blind until the fin aid department says that the funds are at a certain level, and then those left in the pool to be admitted have need as a factor. So if you are in the group evaluated without regard to need and your app discarded, that you are full pay may make no difference at all. Schools don’t share how they practice “enrollment management” so there is no way to no without inside infor as to how much of anand advantage it is to be a full pay candidate. Overall, at a need aware school it gives full pays an advantage, but that advantage may not be evenly distributed and if you are not one of the candidates getting that consideration, it’s of no use to you.</p>