<p>I just remember seeing something on a thread about how need blind admissions aren't always entirely need blind. Would it benefit someone at all whos applying RD if they are not applying for financial aid?</p>
<p>i doubt it. unless you're really borderline. because if ur any good, im sure they'll be happy to give you the money to make you come. i think not having to fill out any forms is a much bigger benefit than that which you will get in terms of college admissions.</p>
<p>It depends, firstly on whether your schools are need blind or need aware. If they are need aware obviously not applying for financial aid would definitely help you. But need blind gets a little tricky. Do a CC search for strategic admissions or need blind and read some of the threads- especially over in the Parent's Forum. </p>
<p>There are some who believe that even at need blind schools wealthier students (who wouldn't be applying for FA) have the upper hand. Logically this makes sense. Schools have a limited FA budget. If they have two statistically equal applicants, the only difference being one can pay and one cannot, which would the school rather pick. The whole subject is tricky. It won't give you an outright advantage or anything.</p>
<p>even for need aware schools, it usually is only a factor in borderline cases. Take a look at the stats and if you are above the median, then you would be competitve.</p>
<p>IMO, need blind is exactly that in the admissions room. Where it makes a difference in highly selective schools is that applicants with high gpa, high test scores, fantastic EC's, volunteer service, etc., tend to come from middle to upper income groups. (Even collegeboard's own data show SAT scores correlate well with income.) Thus, there aren't a whole lot of inner city, low income kids (outside of Boston) applying to top tier schools, even if they meet all need.</p>
<p>alright thanks everyone. so it seems that at highly selective schools, it doesnt really matter</p>
<p>I agree with what bluebayou posted. Although the school may indeed be 'need blind', the more selective schools tend to accept applicants who are more qualified in all areas and rightfully so, I guess. Coming from a more affluent family allows one to have more resources & opportunities (private school, tutors, expensive ECs, summer enrichment programs, etc.). If you look at the ED acceptances for the Ivy schools, you will see a huge trend of kids being accepted who came from upper income families. I don't think it has anything to do with those kids not needing f/a but more so because, yes, they were more qualified.</p>