<p>Will waiving an application fee hurt my chances for admission? For example I know that Yale is need-blind, but will the admissions officers see that I waived my application fee, or will they just see my application? I feel like if they see that I obtained a fee waver, it will start the process off on a bad note because it will be pretty obvious that I could not come even close to paying even a very small tuition.</p>
<p>Waiving your application fee will not be used against you in any way.</p>
<p>How are you guys managing to post questions in College Confidential? I’m trying to post a question but I don’t know where. So, till I know how, here is my question: I failed an Intermediate Algebra class in college, but placed afterwards through a placement test all the way to College Algebra and Trig. I’m going for physics with emphasis on Astronomy. I know I qualify (grade-wise and mind-wise [though because of the F not GPA-wise]) to something like MIT or any Ivy League. I’ve been reading much about MIT in particular and I know it’s hard. But I was also considering University of Pennsylvania or Standford. If my GPA does not stand out (despite my nearly all A’s–Just one B in theater–along with the F) how do I convince these universities that I am Ivy material? I failed Int. Algebra I don’t know how, when I understand most of it. I wasn’t working hard enough because I was in a difficult relationship blah blah and all sorts of excuses + reasons. I need help.</p>
<p>@The Un-Nerd: You can go to the upper right-ish of your screen and click “forum tools” (right under the page numbers), then select “post a new thread”. You can ask your question there. </p>
<p>@wmm8: I was wondering this also…I’ve heard from people at school not to waive application fees, but what if you actually need it? Can they really hold it against you? </p>
<p>so bump :p</p>
<p>tsubomi: Yale has need blind admissions. The $75 or whatever means nothing to them – by their estimation, it costs Yale about $90,000 per year per student. The lose about $45-50000 per year on each student who even pays full tuition. They have deep pockets. </p>
<p>The file readers don’t ever even look at that info. Tell your “people” at school that they are absolutely wrong (in the case of Yale). Apply for the waivers.</p>
<p>wmm8 wrote: “I feel like if they see that I obtained a fee waver, it will start the process off on a bad note because it will be pretty obvious that I could not come even close to paying even a very small tuition.” </p>
<p>That’s absolutely incorrect thinking. To be frank, Yale is above considerations like this. There’s no easier way to say it but money isn’t much of a driving factor in things like admissions and other institutional priorities. They have the 2nd largest endowment of colleges in the USA.</p>
<p>For example: in the plans to build the two new Residential Colleges, they expect to spend $600 million – the second most costly construction program in the history of New England.</p>
<p>D’you see the scale that Yale operates? Hope this helps.</p>
<p>I applied to 7 schools and I think I paid for maybe 2 or 3 of those applications. I got into all of them and 3 of them were ivies. Trust me, they don’t look down on you for it I only paid the fee for Columbia, Hopkins and USF.</p>
<p>EDIT: I also applied to Yale and didn’t pay that fee.</p>