Financial Aid Impact on Application Forum

[NDOMUKONGGGG]

I've notice that some schools (Columbia is one example I'm thinking of) ask you whether you're applying for financial aid as a part of the initial application packet. WHY do they ask that???? Do adcoms consider financial needs when evaluating apps? No way right?

Aren't admissions are supposed to be need-blind?!?! If adcoms see one applicant who is applying for aid and another who would pay sticker, they can't consider that right?

[North]

I think it's just a Boolean thing, dude. If you say yes, they put you on the financial aid list-serve. If you say no, they don't. Don't worry so much.

[NDOMUKONGGGG]

Yeah but if it's on the application materials ad coms will see it... I thought this was the whole reason that financial aid was a completely separate process.

[vanwinkle]

Yeah but if it's on the application materials ad coms will see it... I thought this was the whole reason that financial aid was a completely separate process.

Just because they can see something doesn't mean they make decisions from it.

[NDOMUKONGGGG]

So general consensus is ability to pay full sticker will have no impact?

[vanwinkle]

So general consensus is ability to pay full sticker will have no impact?

Everyone can pay full sticker. Those who don't have that much in the bank can just apply for financial aid and take out loans. The school gets its money either way. They don't really care.