<p>Consider Bard College. Bard does not consider your ability to pay while evaluating your application for admission. However, even if Bard decides to admit you, Bard could potentially not meet your need, i.e to say, Bard <em>could</em> ask you to contribute a larger amount of $$ than your calculated estimated family contribution (EFC). Reed, however, promises to meet your need, so if you get in, you can afford to go (usually). However, since Reed’s financial resources are limited, Reed has to consider your ability to pay while evaluating your application (at Reed, having need affects about 10% of applicants). There is a group of schools that have BOTH need-blind and full-need policies, but this group is very, very well-off.</p>