<p>does applying for financial aid harm your admission chances in any way? (Hey that rhymes)
but seriously, does it? I probably need need-based aid and am applying through FAFSA and CSS early decision. Because colleges need students that are both competent and willing to accept the cost, would they look down at people who require financial aid more than people who don't?</p>
<p>It depends on the school. Look for the phrase “need-blind” on the admissions page of a school’s website. This indicates that they do not consider financial aid when deciding whom to admit.</p>
<p>This is usually an issue only with private schools. Public schools are typically need-blind, as providing affordable education is part of their mission as public institutions. Wealthier schools with large endowments are often need-blind; less wealthy private schools often are not. But, again, it varies, and you have to check for each school. If it’s not on their website, just call their admissions office and ask.</p>
<p>Keep in mind, though, that even if a school is “need-aware” it may not hurt any given individual’s chance of admission even if they do need aid. Few privates can fill their seats with only students who can pay full fare, and even those schools that could often don’t want to because it makes the campus too homogeneous.</p>
<p>Some schools are not technically “need blind”, but they first admit the students they really want (regardless of need) and then fill out the incoming class with borderline applicants by tilting in the favor of those who can pay – or if not pay full fare, at least can pay a substantial portion of it.</p>
<p>So it’s not black-and-white, even at need-aware schools.</p>
<p>anyone know if any of these are not need-blind:</p>
<p>Tufts
NYU
Case Western
swarthmore
carnegie mellon
rice university
Emory</p>
<p>Check</p>
<p>their</p>
<p>web</p>
<p>sites.</p>
<p>At the vast majority of schools, needing aid hurts.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>You must mean private schools.</p>
<p>Many are priced out of public colleges because most don’t meet full need. So even there, needing aid hurts.</p>