A few questions about applying for financial aid at UChicago.
Is UChicago actually need-blind? I know they claim to be, but there's been a number of articles in recent years which have shown-and shown rather conclusively-that a lot of colleges are need-blind only for PR purposes, and with the opaqueness of the college admissions process I find it hard to take anything at face value.
I’m a US citizen, so the need-aware policy for internationals wouldn’t apply to me.
If applying for aid does hurt your chances, is the effect significant?
The university's website says this:
“Although you may apply for financial aid at any time, we recommend that you apply for aid when you apply for admission in order to receive an aid decision in a timely manner.”
Does this mean that it is, in theory, possible to apply for aid only after being admitted? If so, and if UChicago does hold applying for aid against students, would you suggest doing so?
There are instances of colleges changing from ostensibly need blind to need aware. My advice would be if your family can afford the full cost of tuition and the net price calculator indicates you won’t qualify for financial aid - don’t check off the box on the common app saying you will apply for financial aid. Above $250k/year family income, unless ther are multiple students in college, it’s unlikely you would qualify for aid. Last year for D’s applications we completed And filed FAFSA and CSS for all colleges but it might have been better not to disclose family income and assets altogether. I don’t pretend to know how U.Chicago might treat students who need aid but they have their pick of top students and their endowment/student is not as high as some other colleges
Based on our personal experience for the past 3 years, UChiacgo aid has been amazing. Yes, with over 47% of their current students receiving FA, they are a need-blind school. Run the npc, and if it appears likely for you to receive anything, then apply for FA. UChicago has committed to helping many students with aid, especially with the ‘no barriers’ program instituted last year.
They use FAFSA, CSS Profile and their own form to screen applicant’s financial background. If you pass all of them, yes, they are need blind to US applicants.
I think they are need blind as well. We got the best package of the few schools we were considering.
In general, because of some unique circumstances on what is taken into account there were certain schools where we would have gotten not much and others where we would have gotten a decent amount. The almost nothing schools I applied without aid (not sure why I bothered, wanted to see what would happen, they indicated aid could be applied for later). They claimed to be need blind. I was rejected and wait listed even when they thought I was full pay. Some of the other schools that claim to be need aware but met full need where I did apply and received aid, I got in. I really think at the upper levels of schools, they do not care unless your family donates buildings