Does it hurt your chances to ask for financial aid? Forum

[PierceFromCT]

I know it isn't supposed to, but let's be honest... does it hurt? Or do you ask for aid after you get in? I'm clueless...

[im_blue]

You typically get financial aid offers a few weeks after acceptance, so it has no effect on your chances.

[kalvano]

Don't ask when you apply. How they offer money depends on the school. Some do it with acceptances, some do scholarship notifications after a round or two of acceptances.

Wait until you have all the offers before comparing, and once you have them all, it's perfectly acceptable to ask schools to raise scholarship amounts if a comparable school has given you more money.