Which of these answers is right? (Hoedown?)

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of Michigan
1

<p>On the umich site, it says this regarding socioeconomic status:</p>

<p>"Questions in our application are included to help us identify a student's socioeconomic status, and we encourage high school counselors and teachers to help us understand students' personal circumstances through their recommendations. In our educational judgment, socioeconomic status is one of the factors that contributes to the diversity of our learning community. Thus, we will consider it during the review process, but it will not constitute the sole or primary basis for an admissions decision. How a student answers questions on the admissions application related to socioeconomic status has no bearing on his or her financial aid or scholarship awards, which are administered separately by the Financial Aid Office using standard procedures."</p>

<p>When I asked them by email about socioeconomic status/financial aid/meeting financial aid, they gave me this response:</p>

<p>"Thank you for your interest in the University of Michigan. There is a section in the application where an applicant posts Family Information. In this area the applicant posts the estimated family gross income etc. this information is optional. We do note in the application that we make admissions decisions separately from financial aid or scholarship decisions. We are need blind in the reviewing process. If you have financial aid questions, please contact our Financial Aid Office directly at..."</p>

<p>On one hand, they say that income is considered in the admissions process, yet in the email the rep specifically states that Umich is "need blind."</p>

<p>Which one is it? And I heard something on this site saying that Umich is guarenteed to meet all fin. aid for instaters?</p>

2

<p>What that means is that if you choose to share socioeconomic/income information, it may be used (favorably) in considering & evaluating your application. "Need-blind" generally means that a college won't keep you out merely because they think you can't afford it or don't want to offer you the aid they need. That's certainly Michigan's position, and it operated that way even before it started asking the direct questions about socioeconomic status. So really, both paragraphs are true--being lower-income can help you, but not hurt you. You do not have to provide that information on the app if you choose not to.</p>

<p>"Need-blind" is confusing because, as you've sort of pointed out, "need-blind" would really mean your income has no effect on admittance. That's not true. But what it really means--and this is how it's used in the admissions lingo--is that having a lower income won't prevent your admission.</p>

<p>UMich will meet all demonstrated need for residents, that's true.</p>