<p>Does needing financial aid reduce my chances at all? I know that Vandy is need-blind, but honestly, I have no idea what that means. Anyone wanna enlighten me? Also, my mother just married a disabled veteran. Would what he draws from the VA be included on the form for FA? It's untaxed.</p>
<p>If Vanderbilt states that it is need blind for admissions, and still is this year (it can change and has for some schools), then needing financial aid does not reduce your chances for acceptance at all. Need blind means that the admissions office does not take into consideration that you are applying or will need financial aid when making their decision to accept or reject you.</p>
<p>You and your mother do have to fill out both FAFSA and PROFILE in order to get a financial aid package for Vanderbilt and your stepfather’s financials will be included. I don’t think his untaxed VA benefits will be included for FAFSA, but you willl have to see with PROFILE as schools can ask for any information they please on that form whether they will be using it or not.</p>
<p>I believe VA benefits will be included as resources for your family. Because your household size has grown by one, how much money your family needs to support everyone in their household (so, three as opposed to two) has increased. The VA money will be included because there is additional, though untaxed, income to support your now-larger family.</p>
<p>And no, needing aid at a need-blind school will in no way affect admissions; admissions officers will not see that you need aid or your family’s financial status.</p>
<p>Edit to confirm: I’m not sure if the income is included in the calculation, but untaxed “Veterans noneducation benefits” are included on the FAFSA. FAFSA actually tries to cover most types of untaxed income.</p>