<p>I realize that there is a new Common App coming out, so maybe some things will change, but I am curious as to how admissions folks <em>truly</em> make themselves need-blind. I understand blocking out the question about whether or not one is applying for financial aid, but what else? I am thinking in particular about the demographics section - is this blocked out, too? If one sees that one parent is a doctor and one is a corporate executive or lawyer, and they both have multiple degrees, isn't that <em>somewhat</em> indicative of an income level? Not entirely indicative, but aren't some assumptions going to be paid about the ability to pay?</p>
<p>Likewise, certain ECs (years of music or dance instruction, participation in traveling athletic teams, etc.) would seem to indicate whether or not there is actual need or not. In the same vein, essays written about traveling abroad would also seem to indicate a certain level of wealth.</p>
<p>I just don't see how a school can be unaware of income levels given some of the questions on the Common App.</p>
<p>You are really overthinking this. Need blind is an admissions process which simply means for US citizens, your having a financial need whether it is 0 to full need will not be a factor in the admissions process. Meeting demonstrated need is a financial aid process. This means that your parents are first in line when it comes to paying for your education and you will receive need based aid based on their income and assets.</p>
<p>At the end of the day, it is going to be about you; what do you offer to the community learners that aligns with the school’s institutional mission (as the mission trumps all)? Are your grades, your scores, your taking the most rigorous courses that your school offers and doing well an accurate reflection of who you are. Your coming to the realization that learning takes place both in and outside of the classroom. </p>
<p>If you have a parents who are doctors and corporate executives, there may perhaps be a little of those whom much has been given much is required. The truth is that you may not have the barriers that a student whose is living along the poverty lines and first gen student may have had to overcome; holding down a job to put food on your table or keeping the lights on in your house, being a surrogate parent because your mom is holding down two jobs to keep the lights on and food on the table.</p>
<p>At the end of the day, don’t try to over think it, you just gotta be you. This means having a sit down with the folks and finding out realistically how much they are willing to pay/borrow to send you to college. Once they tell you plan accordingly. This means using a bottoms up approach and having a true safety; one where you can be admitted, is a financially feasible option for your family and when it dust settles, if it is the only option on the table, you will be happy to attend.</p>
<p>I wouldn’t say that’s necessarily true. As a child, I danced for many years several hours a week and we went to China multiple times to visit family and studied abroad for six weeks. Both of my parents have post-graduate degrees, and one works as an engineer. My zipcode is in one of the more affluent parts of the contry, and my family is also middle-class in a low COA area, and my EFC is less than 10k… so I have need, despite those “indicators” you cite (with an EFC that is mainly income-driven).</p>
<p>The most tangible admissions difference at a need-blind school is that admissions officers don’t need to care about the income level of their students. As endowments decrease, there are some schools that are need-aware for the last 10% of their students-- which means that bubble students will be selected with an emphasis on their ability to pay. At a need-blind school, admissions officers don’t need to worry about if they’ve chosen enough full-pay students without need to make the budget work for the given year. But of course, at need-blind schools, admissions officers will also typically ‘understand’ if a lower-income student who writes about having to take care of family instead of participating in ECs-- so there’s really no advantage to ‘hiding’ wealth status at need-blind schools anyways.</p>
<p>Hoggirl…it is what it is. There are plenty of people who live beyond their means. And there are plenty of doctors (part timers, primary care) and lawyers (community work, not private practice) who are making barely 6 figures…and some would qualify for need based aid.</p>
<p>I would just complete the applications…and know that yours is viewed through the same lens as everyone else’s. All applicants will have their jobs, and geographic locations, and ECs listed on them. </p>
<p>The premise is that the COST of these things is not taken into consideration when your application is being reviewed for admissions.</p>
<p>
School’s policy?
You’re worry too much.
That’s true. The high school that students attended already indicates general levels of family incomes.</p>
<p>GENERAL levels…are not the same as actual incomes. There were some mighty wealthy families in our zipcode…and some mighty poor ones!</p>
<p>I am a parent. 
</p>
<p>I am sure I am overthinking all of it. I am not <em>worried</em> about it - I was just curious as to how any filters might work. Schools claim to be need-blind. It’s just hard for me to fathom how that stance can truly be accomplished based on information on apps. </p>
<p>I guess it just comes down to truly need-blind schools don’t have to think about that aspect as a previous poster said.</p>
<p>Hoggirl…</p>
<p>Most schools are need blind. Actually, nearly all schools are need-blind. They don’t care whether you can pay or not pay when it comes to admission. </p>
<p>Only a small number of schools are “need aware”. Those are the schools that promise to meet need BUT they don’t have ivy-like endowments, so they have to be careful who they admit. These are a small number of schools.</p>
<p>It would likely be impossible to have what you’re asking for - apps that won’t reveal something about the student’s demographics ~ zip codes, school names, addresses, ECs, etc, are pretty good (don’t need to be perfect!) indicators of affluence or lack of it. </p>
<p>Even if there are a small number of poor kids in rich zip codes with fancy ECs, those are the exception and not the rule. If a school were to use zip codes, etc, to “guess” affluence, then they would also know that the guessing isn’t perfect and there may be a couple “full need” kids that will get thru that kind of screening. </p>
<p>But again, most schools are need blind. They don’t worry about how COA will get paid during the app process.</p>
<p>The FA office is separate.</p>
<p>I agree you are over thinking. Need blind doesn’t mean anything other than a student’s need is not considered for acceptances…but it matters not because if you “need” need then getting an acceptance to a college that can’t be afforded is worth nothing. And everyone is correct, there are many things that can point to a family that is not Pell eligible.</p>
<p>Many schools do not claim to be need blind, even though they may have been in the past.
Many schools are rather need -aware, particularly schools that are committed to meeting 100% need.
[Kat</a> Cohen: The Truth About Need-Aware Admissions](<a href=“HuffPost - Breaking News, U.S. and World News | HuffPost”>The Truth About Need-Aware Admissions | HuffPost College)</p>
<p>If it bothers you, ask the admissions officer outright if the school is 100% need blind for freshman US citizen admissions. If they hedge, and won’t say it is, saying it is, MOST of the time, or for “all but a few” or other qualifiers than you know that the school does consider need in the admissions process to some degree. Otherwise, I would take their word for it. Every admissions officer i have ever met, HATES every iota of having to be need aware. If anything, the tip goes to the needy applicant, the one without the proverbial silver spoon feeding great opportunities, ecs, supplements, environment, money. A kid going to a top school with an expensive address, with two college educated parents and with a list of activities that scream out “money”, is going to be viewed quite differently than one who has had to work and earn these things, as far as the Admissions folks can push it. So for the most selective schools, that are need blind in admissions, that meet full need, checking off that fin aid box could be a plus and showing some “pull yourself up by the boot straps” is a good thing. </p>
<p>However, just because a school is need aware does not mean you should cross it off of your list. Those are schools that are often generous aid wise to those students they do accept. It doesn’t help you to get accepted somewhere that you can’t affford… The drop in the accept stat for a student who need aid may still make a good probablitly that an acceptance with a good aid package can happen. Whereas at some schools that are need blind, the chances of getting accepted AND getting a good enough aid package are smaller. </p>
<p>For internationals, to focus on just those schools that are need blind AND meet full need reduces their chances of getting accepted anywhere, as the competiton is so fierce at those few schools that fit that category. Better odds for them to throw in some schools where, yes, they lose some points on the need, but their stats bring up the likelihood of acceptance and if they do get accepted the need is met. It’s a balancing act, but it’s all about improving the odds of getting both the admissions and the money needed to attend.</p>