<p>This is just one of the many topics under the discussion of whether or not these top universities are “Need Blind,” and you can see that term used many times on a college website. It means colleges evaluate your application without glancing at your financial status, but the fact of the matter is that when a college admissions officers first gets your application, they see your name, SSN, and the unchecked or checked box for financial aid (many credible sources have said this to me). Your admissions officer goes through the app with that little reminder in their heads that “Oh, this person is asking for aid.” And when it comes down to it, the chances that they will take a financial aid candidate rather than another candidate who is of equal stats and who is willing to pay full tuition (and maybe even donate) are very slim. </p>
<p>But then again, these sort of deliberation are more frequently made in the Regular decision pools as at the beginning of the process schools have more money to give away and they are lurching to secure the top early candidates who applied.</p>
<p>So don’t fret too much; if you have exceptional stats, I believe you can get in.</p>