Guys, taking an example of Harvard and Yale, they are need blind schools but they still ask on the application if the applicant is applying for need based aid? Do adcoms see this question or it goes to the FA department of the college?
You’re overthinking it. Colleges at the level of those you mentioned can afford to provide need based aid to everyone who needs it, and will take the candidates who best meet their needs regardless.
Seconding what Groundwork2022 said. If Harvard and Yale don’t admit you, it won’t be because you applied for financial aid.
Also, I’d worry less about whether schools are need-blind in the admissions process and more about whether they meet full financial need. Because if a school admits you but doesn’t provide enough financial aid, you won’t be able to attend. So make sure that you run the net price calculators for the schools you’re interested in.
Agree with the above.
To answer your question directly, some need-blind colleges suppress the answer to the applied-for-FA question so AOs/readers can’t see the answer, some don’t.
Lots of people apply for FA and are ultimately determined not to have any need, so the answer to that question is not going to impact the admission decision at a need-blind school.