With A High EFC, Am I Wise to Skip Financial Aid Applications?

[thumper1]

But the more insidious issue is that if your family needs that financial aid in the future, you might not be eligible because the school accepted your student on the assumption of no need. I think it’s danged nasty and sneaky that this is not made VERY clear at such schools, but it often is not

This is true for international students at almost every college. If they don’t apply as freshmen, they can’t apply in the future.

This is only true for a small handful of colleges for U.S. citizens and permanent residents. There are schools that place restrictions on applying in subsequent years if one doesn’t apply as a freshman. IIRC, Skidmore has a restriction. There are not that many colleges with this restriction for U.S. citizens or permanent residents.

But do check.

But for schools that don’t meet full need for all students, it’s very possible that more need based aid is awarded to incoming freshmen and returning students who have received aid…than for students applying for the first time as upperclassmen. Possible…