<p>No one legitimately accuses Harvard of lying when it says it does not consider an applicant’s need when it evaluates an application. (If anything, low socio-economic status is probably a plus in Harvard’s consideration, all other things being equal – which happens, but not often.) </p>
<p>The best argument that Harvard is not really need-blind is that it has a bunch of selection criteria that are fairly closely tied to wealth, or at least affluence: Taking into account things like SAT scores, whether a secondary school was strong, lots of volunteer hours (tough to do if you are working to help pay rent, or taking care of your siblings), legacy status. Recruiting top US-born squash players. That sort of thing. They know perfectly well that their normal selection process produces a class where about 40% of the class is full-pay, another 40% gets discounts of various sizes, and maybe 20% go for close to free. That’s how they can budget financial aid. (And, remember, 3/4ths of undergraduate financial aid goes to existing students, and massive financial aid goes to graduate students, so the range of variation in the freshman admits is pretty small relative to the budget. I’m sure they regularly run a small surplus or deficit against budget, and no one cares much.) They know from experience how much financial aid their selection process is going to produce.</p>
<p>So what? Need-blindness is constantly overrated. Are you not going to apply to Harvard because it isn’t need blind? Really? Harvard admits hundreds of kids every year with significant need – why not try to be one of them? Isn’t it more important that, if they admit you, they will meet your need, and that they will define your need more sympathetically than practically any other institution? Wouldn’t you rather apply to Harvard, where you might have somewhat less of a chance of admission than a wealthy candidate (but it would be the difference between 5% and 7%), but you would know that if you were admitted you could almost definitely afford to go there, than apply to someplace that would admit you on a truly need-blind basis but then give you inadequate or no aid? There are plenty of places like that, by the way.</p>
<p>Worry about doing you best on the things you can control.</p>