Are colleges really need blind?

scottaa
Tue, 01 Dec 2009 10:52:53 +0000

I don’t think there’s a good understanding of need blind vs. need aware.

Need blind is simply no consideration of available finances or student financial need enters the student admission process.

Need aware takes in account the school’s resources to meet the student’s need.

Need aware policies have increasing bearing on students with greater need, NOT those students who have little need as the OP described. Also, need aware policies come further into play the closer the student is to the bubble. If the school is choosing it’s last few slots for admission and has run through the bulk of its available funds, a need aware school is more likely to offer the slot to a student it knows can better afford the school; rather than offer the slot to a student who requires a great deal of financial help that the school does not have left.

In other words, student with little or no need have nothing to fear of need aware policies.