<p>I've read that Vanderbilt is need-blind during the admissions process. However, I did think that many schools strive to admit a certain number of low income students to achieve economic diversity.</p>
<p>I qualify for the Pell, a marker used to determine the percentage of low income students at a school. Would this help me in the admissions process? Would the Admission staff know this during the RD process? </p>
<p>Would it help to give a heads up to my admissions counselor about the Pell or would it be totally inappropriate? </p>
<p>FYI, Vanderbilt is my first choice, but a reach school for me. I guess I'm looking for anything that might boost my chances, LOL.</p>
<p>^ I don't think anyone really knows the answer to your questions. Especially now with this economic meltdown we are in uncharted territory. We do know that many, if not most, schools have announced plans to cut back on hiring new staff, have suspended some of their building programs, and made other announcements showing that their budgets are being negatively impacted. </p>
<p>I wouldn't count on being a Pell grant receipient as being a plus on your application. It could just as easily be a minus since this shows the admissions people that you are going to be a net COST to the university.</p>
<p>I wouldn't count on being a Pell grant receipient as being a plus on your application. It could just as easily be a minus since this shows the admissions people that you are going to be a net COST to the university.</p>
<p>True, I could be seen as a cost instead of a benefit.</p>
<p>However, places of higher education strive to assemble a diverse group of scholars and economic diversity is just as desirable as political or ethnic, no?</p>
<p>I also believe that many schools like to point to their Pell recipients as evidence that they have, indeed, attempted to include all groups in the selection process.</p>
<p>So, the question remains, will this help or hinder my app?</p>