@tigerdad I don’t necessarily agree. If a student is well qualified and doesn’t apply for aid I believe it can help. If a student is well qualified it can either hurt or not when applying for aid. I have seen with my D’s friends. Full pay kids are getting their ED schools and equally qualified kids who need a good amt of aid are getting deferred. I don’t know if this applies to my D since she would get very little aid if she did qualify. However, I have to wonder if checking the “applying for FA” box may have hurt her at her ED school since she seemed like a good candidate. Heck, even her guidance counselor told her she should be “getting good news” from them. It’s all irrelevant now though.