Need-Blind and "Low-income" Plus Factor

[brantly]

@1NJParent

I read somewhere that at Princeton PELL-eligible applicants are flagged by its FA office in the admission process even though it’s technically need-blind. I assume other need-blind schools could do the same. Asking GCs to flag low income status is highly problematic. Most GCs at public high schools, where nearly all low income students attend, either have no idea of students’ SES or too busy to pay attention to the issue for every student.

Need blind means that they do not EXCLUDE applicants solely on the basis of financial need. Need-blind does not prevent a school from extending extra consideration to an applicant who has great financial need.