<p>
OK, I get to be the curmudgeon (with a little “c”) here. Smart enough to get into JHU, sibling at Columbia, regular CC reader, parents economically savvy enough to maintain multiple rental properties.</p>
<p>“it did not catch my attention” - Bullpucky.</p>
<p>Although given everything else going on in the world, I guess it is not surprising that the lesson learned is that everything exists to be manipulated.</p>
<p>I agree with drb.</p>
<p>It was one of the items I initially said to myself that I would save for later, but it was in a section of the application that I never had to go back to, so I guess it never popped up again in my mind. It’s a dumb excuse and an even dumber mistake, I know, but that’s what happened…</p>
<p>Let me be very clear - I do not believe you. Do not compound the lie - “it was in a section of the application that I never had to go back to”. This statement implies that you did not review the application before sending it.</p>
<p>To me it is as reprehensible that you maintain the fiction as you would do this in the first place.</p>
<p>drb, while I believe your assesment of the situation, for the purposes of this thread, let’s assume that the OP did not do this on purpose and provide reasonable suggestions of potential solutions as if this was an honest mistake. I suppose such stuff can happen (immigrant parents without much knowledge of the application process, clueless GCs, etc.).</p>
<p>asdfjk134,
I’m sure that the admission /FA office at JHU has heard of other students forgetting[ or not] to apply for FA or having their family’s financial circumstances change after ED applications have been submitted. Regardless of WHY it happened, your ONLY recourse now is to contact JHU and throw yourself at their mercy. Maybe they will allow you to apply for FA, maybe not. If not, and you CAN’T afford to go there, ask to be released from the ED commitment, and apply to some other colleges asap.</p>
<p>I don’t understand why I would do this on purpose - what could I gain by not applying for financial aid?</p>
<p>I already have heard the answers I need, but I don’t get why I’m doing something wrong.</p>
<p>asdfj134 you do not have to apply for financial aid at all if you don’t want to and your family doesn’t need it. Your original post made it sound like you hadn’t done this…but you either meant to and didn’t, or wanted to and didn’t. </p>
<p>If you don’t need or want financial aid, you have done nothing wrong. If you DO need financial aid, you should call JHU immediately and find out what to do.</p>
<p>If all you would like is a Stafford Loan, just complete the FAFSA in January or February and you will be allowed to take one out.</p>
<p>To answer…“what could you gain by NOT applying for financial aid”…well some schools (those that are not need blind) would consider giving you admittance because you can pay the full bill…over someone who can’t pay the full bill.</p>
<p>Don’t worry about the people here who are claiming they can read your mind and discern bad faith on your part. You know about the mistake you made, and that’s all that matters.</p>
<p>At some colleges, full-pay students have a better chance of admission than students who need financial aid, especially when colleges are getting close the end of the admission process and they’re deciding on the last few students who will get in. This is because the college only has so much aid to give out, and they have to admit a class of students they can afford to support. So the mind-readers above are suggesting that you tried to increase your chances of admission by saying you didn’t need aid. Don’t worry about it - just proceed with your phone calls, and good luck.</p>
<p>Ah, I see. I think I read somewhere Hopkins is need-blind but I’m not 100% sure on that.</p>
<p>In either case, there is nothing more I can say or do to prove I’m telling the truth, so I’ll leave it at that… Thanks everybody for your help!</p>
<p>By all means, talk, repeatedly, with the financial aid office. MOST students will fill out the Fafsa in early January and the CSS Profile about the same time. You are ED, so you were supposed to be in the mill earlier, but you goofed and are mature enough to say so. </p>
<p>Find someone in the Financial Aid office to work with you. Make SURE you keep track of their name (ie, don’t start over constantly with a new person each phone call – but do try another person if the original is unkind). Do everything in your power to get them all the numbers as quick as possible.</p>
<p>You are going to need your parents’ help. Frankly, it is usually the parents that fill out these forms because so much of it is their information. It is a difficult process, particularly the first time around – but make copies before you submit the forms and those copies will provide the framework for next year’s forms (you will need to reapply each year). </p>
<p>You may not get much this time (particularly since your folks have multiple homes) but you won’t know until you try. </p>
<p>Now, here’s two little goodies that many do not know:
<p>People may take out loans to buy cars, but not 20-40 thou and not EVERY year, totaling 80 to 100 thousand dollars. Though it’s true cars depreciate and a college education should ultimately be worth more.</p>
<p>I’d sell one of the houses.</p>