<p>I read that between 40%~60% of applicants to top colleges with need-blind policy apply for financial aid.
That means roughly 50% of applicants are willing to pay almost $60k a year.
I don’t understand it at all. Median household income for a family of 4 is $65,000.
I think roughly 85% of applicants cannot pay $60k a year.
Why don’t they apply for financial aid when they are unable to pay that much???</p>
<p>But the other 15% can pay. </p>
<p>So, all you said was 50% of your admitted pool comes from about 15% of the population. I do not know the actual numbers, just using your example above. But, I would be surprised if that is not pretty close. </p>
<p>They do not apply because they do not qualify for it. Plus, a lot fewer students go to $60K schools than people think. </p>
<p>I believe @cptofthehouse gives a more complete answer for you below re demographics.</p>
<p>Your stats are not relevant. Those who apply to top colleges are not the general population. They are those students are the “top”. Income and academic achievement are heavily linked. Also median household include all type from the elders to those just starting out Families with college aged kids are a sub group within that. </p>
<p>About half, so yes 40-60% of the kids at these expensive school are full pay. Their families do not qualify for fin aid.</p>
<p>Because they know they won’t be approved or aren’t qualified. International students, too many assets, too high an income. And they don’t want loans.</p>
<p>I applied this year knowing we wouldn’t qualify for anything and that we won’t be taking loans. It was a waste of time, so I won’t do it next year unless we need the loans.</p>
<p>@cptofthehouse is dead on. Highly selective colleges maintain stringent admissions criteria. Students who meet those qualifications tend to come from better funded or private high schools, invariable skewing the income demographics toward the more affluent families. Many affluent families realize they will not qualify and don’t apply for FA.</p>
<p>That said, despite a virtual crusade by the likes of Questbridge and the Joyce Ivy foundation why does it seem like arm twisting is required to get kids to apply for scholarships that could change their lives.</p>
<p>Last thought, Something as simple as dual enrollment can really slash the out of pocket cost of a college education yet at least in my school district and many I am familiar with it is vastly underused. Any thoughts ?</p>
<p>@Singersdad, in my area, dual enrollment isn’t a viable option. I don’t think the local branch of our state u would even accept high school students, since they have overstuffed classrooms as it is. The nearest community college, which might accept them, is a half hour away, and its academics are nothing to write home about. Our most ambitious high school students have a full plate of AP’s junior and senior year plus significant EC’s that consume a lot of time. I don’t see how they could fit college classes into their schedules even if they wanted to. I suppose some very high achiever could exhaust all our AP offerings before senior year, but anyone that capable would find the level of instruction and discourse at our cc to be disappointing.</p>
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<p>Studies like <a href=“http://www.brookings.edu/research/interactives/2013/low-income-high-achieving-hoxby-avery”>http://www.brookings.edu/research/interactives/2013/low-income-high-achieving-hoxby-avery</a> indicate that many high achieving students from low income backgrounds choose non-selective schools.</p>
<p><a href=“http://www.brookings.edu/about/Projects/BPEA/latest-conference/2013-spring-selective-colleges-income-diversity-hoxby”>http://www.brookings.edu/about/Projects/BPEA/latest-conference/2013-spring-selective-colleges-income-diversity-hoxby</a> has the following:</p>
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<p>It would not be surprising if something similar caused low interest in dual enrollment or other rigorous college-prep course options in high school.</p>
<p>@mommaj I totally understand that there are many places where access to an appropriate dual enrollment institution will create challenges. Perhaps one solution could be high quality web courses ? No question some locale’s will not have as many options as others.</p>
<p>@ucbalumnus thank you for posting the link. Effectively the conclusion is that much like the “cycle of poverty” there is a self perpetuating cycle of unrealized potential. What a sad thought.</p>
<p>@rnjsanwjd1 I guess there is your answer:
Many of the students who would be qualified applicants, and would apply for, deserve, and receive financial aid, never even consider applying.</p>
<p>@mommaj At our HS the dual enrollment classes are taught at the HS like all the other classes. The kids can choose from Dual-credit or AP classes in most subjects. I guess I never considered how lucky that is before. Our district is really small too. We only have 2 HS’s.</p>