Does not applying for financial aid increase chances?

fireandrain
Wed, 12 Nov 2008 23:52:48 +0000

modestmelody is correct in theory. However, there are some parents who are very skeptical and argue that no college is really need blind. Their “proof” is that the percentage of students on financial aid rarely changes from year to year, which seems a little fishy. Admissions can typically guess a student’s financial situation based on zip code and other factors (a student who holds down a job most likely needs financial aid more than a student who plays raquetball and skis). And the “are you applying for financial aid” check-off box is on the application.

Honestly, I don’t know what to believe. The idealist in me agrees with modestmelody, the skeptic in me is, well, skeptical. I do think that if you are an exceptionally strong student you will be accepted no matter what your financial need is. I don’t think that students who are not applying for need have a statistically significant increase in the chance of getting accepted. I do think it will be tougher this year for a high need international student to get accepted.