Does need-blind mean that financial aid won’t be any disadvantage towards me? Can someone please explain what it is?
Also, which schools are need blind?
thank you in advance xoxo
Need blind means that the admissions committee doesn’t consider ability to pay when admitting students. I googled need-blind boarding schools and the following came up: Phillips Andover, Phillips Exeter and St. Paul’s School. I’m not sure if there are others.
Need blind is a misleading moniker which usually = waitlist. So, you may not be rejected because of FA need, but it doesn’t mean you’ll be admitted, either. There’s only so much FA to go around each year no matter what the school…many FA candidates who are otherwise qualified are, therefore, waitlisted.
Unfortunately, I believe only Andover and St Andrews (DE) are truly need-blind schools. This means that applying for financial aid will not affect your decision. Other schools like Exeter do fulfill all financial needs, but applying for FA will put you at a disadvantage.
MODERATOR’S NOTE:
Exeter and St. Paul’s are not need-blind. @babymalcolm post sums it up correctly. As a preemptive measure, I will caution users not to get into a debate here as to whether a school is truly need-blind.
@skieurope I believe there was a recent thread regarding this same subject that did delve deep into the debate of which schools were and if they actually adhered to the need blind definition…correct? I wanted to refer to it but I’m technologically challenged and not only couldn’t locate but have never figured out how to paste things like that to posts (despite tutorials).
Yes. It’s been done to death as I stated in the most recent thread. Here are some examples:
http://talk.qa.collegeconfidential.com/prep-school-admissions/2031555-how-does-need-blind-admission-work.html
http://talk.qa.collegeconfidential.com/prep-school-admissions/1870010-are-andover-exeter-brooks-school-need-blind-admission-andover-in-particular-p1.html
^^ Oops. I meant to take you to page one.
I remember getting a letter from St. Andrew’s years ago saying they would no longer call their process “need blind” because it was disingenuous of them to do so.
God- I just plowed down memory lane and read the thread I posted above again . I guess I decided to let my hair down … Yikes! The good old days. LOL :
Do people believe all PA “first round” picks are safe (no matter what) and that list is never tinkered with? Do people believe PA would never (ever) swap a FA candidate for a FP candidate from that list? How is Andover’s selection process more “admirable” than other schools? It’s all a variation on the same theme (or practice). The only difference (IMHO) is that Andover has honed and effectively nailed a brilliant marketing strategy.
Geez. … but that was a really interesting thread. I miss many of those voices … even though it got really heated at times. X_X Good times.
I updated the link @PhotographerMom
Thank you so much!