<p>Initially one’s ability to pay does not influence the admissions decision at Harvard. However, once the Admissions Committee submits a list of applicants to the financial aid office, the FA office looks at the budget they were given by the administration and determines if it is workable. If the numbers do not reconcile, they must do one of two things: cut the number of students that are requiring need, replacing them with full-fare paying students, or try to get the administration to increase the overall financial aid budget.</p>