<p>No, not true. </p>
<p>Some schools are need-aware, as opposed to need-blind; that is, they do take into account ability to pay as part of the admission decision. In contrast, need blind schools separate the ability to pay from the decision to be admitted. </p>
<p>Few tip-top universities are need-aware, it tends to be the smaller LACs which acknowledge that, as they get to the bottom of the pool of applicants, when all available financial aid has been offered, they are need-aware, admitting the full pay student as opposed to the equally well qualified but high financial need students. Some argue this is more fair – why admit someone and then fail to give them the financial aid they need, when they cannot attend without the aid. Schools do identify if they are need-blind or need aware, so they are not hiding it. </p>
<p>But schools are not admitting unqualified applicants who can pay over well-qualified applicants who cannot. Merely being full pay is not the admissions winning lottery ticket. </p>