<p>So I realized that I probably won't get much from financial aid from the ivies that I applied to. My parents net income is barely under $100,000 though we own a few apartments worth about a a million. That is about 4 mil in assets even though there is a lot of debt from buying the apartments and paying property tax. Would I be better off telling the schools that I will not be applying for financial aid to increase my chances of being accepted? I know the schools say that they are need blind, but i don't believe them.</p>
<p>Believe them.</p>
<p>Believe them.</p>
<p>Please apply for FA that is the only way you will get any federal loans or grants. Also any merit based aid or school based aid absolutely uses FAFSA. Do not tell them you aren't applying for FA, it does not increase your chances.</p>
<p>If they are need blind, then why do they ask you if you are applying for financial aid? In Princeton's Financial aid section, it asks how much my family is willing to pay. My parents would like it to be as little as possible, but then if i put 0 $ then it may look bad. Also, why do they have you put in your financial aid info now. Couldn't the colleges admit you then have you submit the financial info? According to the school, only half recieve some form of financial aid. The number of people applying for Aid is greater than those who don't. Therefore not applying for Aid is better?</p>
<p>Look, i think people here are giving you good advice. Most of us have been throuh the process. Schools are need blind meaning that you are admitted based on your qualifications, not what you can pay. The question i beleive you are refering to is on the CSS profile. Most schools do expect your parents and yes, you, to pay something. Most IVY schools want the student to contribute 2000.00. This was last year, the number may have changed for next year. You would have to check. I would put down a raesonable amount, even if it is small. It really doesn't matter anyway. What I put down didn't matter. They base your FA on your FAFSA and CSS profile.
It doesn't hurt to fill it out and it doesn't cost you anything. What is the problem?</p>
<p>Not applying for aid is NOT better. Many schools will not even consider you for scholarship money until you apply for financial aid.</p>
<p>One reason: they want to use their limited scholarship and grant money wisely -- if a prospective student is eligible for federal aid, for instance, they would rather cover that student's need with federal funds than scholarship funds. That way, their scholarship funds are available for another student who does not have the "need," and more students are able to attend. Both students in this example can more likely afford to attend, and the school gets two attractive candidates for their money instead of just one. Everybody wins.</p>
<p>If a prospective student is not eligible for federal funds, the school would like to know that too. It doesn't mean you won't get scholarship money. In fact, the opposite could be true. Once you prove that you're not eligible for federal aid, then the school knows that the only way they can help meet any other reasonable need they may think you have, and attract you to their school (if that is what they want to do) is with other types of funds.</p>
<p>Students' financial aid applications give them information they want in order to build their best candidate pool. By requesting that all students apply for aid, they have a better idea of how to distribute their limited scholarship funds amongst the students who are most attractive to them.</p>
<p>You see, turtlecloud, the school holds all the cards when they make the rules, select the candidates, and dole out their money. So you really would be wise to comply with their rules if you would like to be considered.</p>
<p>The schools need to have an idea of how much they're spending when selecting their pool of applicants, and all applicants have until May 1 to commit to a school, so your idea of accepting the students first and then asking for financial data and assigning scholarships is not as feasible considering time and budget constraints.</p>
<p>Some of the schools give good aid packages for families with over $100k in income. The assets could tip you out, but if there are mortgages and loans involved, you still may get something. Also unless you fill out FAFSA, you will not be eligible for the unsubsidized Stafford loan if you want to borrow on your own.</p>
<p>I believe that those schools who state that they are need blind are.</p>
<p>Have you run the calculators on this site? If your parents have even 50% quity in $4MM worth of real estate, I think aid is unlikely, but you won't know until you run the numbers.</p>