<p>I've been hearing a lot about schools offering kids waivers of application fees and even some schools that offered to extend application deadlines for kids, in both cases for kids who showed no prior interest in these schools and no financial need that would support a fee waiver.</p>
<p>I thought it might be educational to hear from parents whose kids had one of these experiences and which schools may be making such offers.</p>
<p>Gordon College, Drexel, Baylor, Dusquene, Williamette, St. Mary’s, Macalaster, a bunch of schools that I’m not considering not even as safeties.</p>
<p>WPI. It wasn’t completely out of nowhere tho’. They are part of a consortium of schools associated with a program my son was involved with.</p>
<p>Rider, Hofstra</p>
<p>We found that if there was an inkling of interest from D in many instances we received the free application waiver. Some schools provided if you attended the open house. If a school visited my D’s HS and she went to the info session many provided a waiver then also.</p>
<p>My D is a college freshman now, but last year Pitt Honors (with a special code) and Rhodes waived application fees. U Rochester was half price online (Priority Review.)</p>
<p>Fordham (this was two years ago)</p>
<p>Oh, I also had Harvey Mudd waived for attending one of their programs. Rochester waived me for being a legacy.</p>
<p>Willamette, but had to apply by Dec 15th.</p>
<p>My D did not pay application fees last year to Carleton, Kenyon, or Mount Holyoke (no waiver requested).</p>
<p>Fordham offered a waiver but the school is still too expensive. We had a nice chat with a rep from sweetbriar at a college fair. she gave us her card and said to call her to get a waiver code. Daughter is a junior. I will start asking reps from now on at college fairs.</p>
<p>Rice waived my application fee when I was applying (over four years ago, though). I didn’t even know this school existed until they invited me (and my friends) to apply.</p>
<p>I found it fairly random and always the free app offers came early in the fall and only from colleges the kids had contacted junior year or the summer before senior year</p>
<p>Wellesley College has no application fee for those using the Common App.</p>
<p>Tulane in New Orleans does not have an application fee, no waivers required.</p>
<p>Brandeis (fee waver letter, unsolicitated)</p>
<p>Rider, Willamette, University of Portland, Fordham, Drexel, Hofstra, Washington College, Hollins… more that I can’t remember. I think they were automatic send outs for test scores.</p>
<p>Case sent DS a postcard for freebie app. He was NMSF, but I think others with high SATs may have also received got the postcard.</p>
<p>I think CO School of Mines, a local state school, also offered free app.</p>
<p>I swam through an ocean of email and found offers from the following:</p>
<p>Kings College, Fordham, St. John’s, Tulane, Clarkson, Case Western, Franklin Pierce, Macalester, Duquense, St. Rose, Rice, University of New Haven, Hofstra, Drexel, Gordon College, Eckerd College, St. Leo, John Cabot (Italy).</p>
<p>St John’s University in NY (their own app; they don’t use Common App), where my son is now a freshman. Some schools will waive fee if you apply online, like Drexel and University of the Sciences in Philadelphia, as of last year anyway. Apparently some people still prefer to mail in their apps.</p>