Better odds for full pay applicants

[Anonymous]

Without aid, grants, DEI and affirmative action, is it going to be the year of wealthy Caucasian applicants?

[Anonymous]

Colleges report the % of the class getting grants. That % is remarkably stable from year to year at most colleges, even need-blind ones. I doubt they are going to significantly change that % this year.

[Anonymous]

Size of grant will change.

[Anonymous]

Yes absolutely.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/scottwhite/2025/03/05/the-college-conundrum-chasing--international-students-and-full-pay-families

[Anonymous]

Asians are much wealthier than whites.

[Anonymous]

The era for wealthy Caucasians has been centuries long and shows no sign of abating.

[Anonymous]

I guess we'll find out next week. Full pay, high stats, 13 schools remaining to release RD results. Schools like Tufts, BU, NYU, USC, Georgetown, etc. If my kid gets into one or two of 13, or zero, then probably no significant consideration for full pay. If my kid gets into several, then maybe that would indicate that something about the schools' process considers full pay, even the ones that are at least nominally need-blind. An algorithm, perhaps, or a DonorSearch angle.

[Anonymous]

I’ve thought about this too. I don’t think Caucasian will make a difference, but I think full pay will make a difference at a lot of schools this year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’ve thought about this too. I don’t think Caucasian will make a difference, but I think full pay will make a difference at a lot of schools this year.

To add on to this, a lot of schools aren’t need blind for their waitlist - I coho see them really utilizing their waitlist this year.

[Anonymous]

I thikn top schools will want to remain need blind, but it will matter a lot during waitlist process IMO.

but you really have to skip that FA box.

[Anonymous]

I haven’t heard of any school changing their policy - from need blind to need aware. I think the taxing on endowments will be the trigger that hurts universities the most.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’ve thought about this too. I don’t think Caucasian will make a difference, but I think full pay will make a difference at a lot of schools this year.

I think some people are going to decline schools they would have accepted in the past due to the $85-90k (or even $60k)price tag due to the economic uncertainty, job loss, etc.

I think that will definitely open the door at RD this cycle and massive WL movement for full pay students.

[Anonymous]

Hasn’t helped my DS so far in RD… Hard to believe it will really impact this RD cycle but perhaps it will affect waitlists.

[Anonymous]

ED is already a method for identifying full pay candidates. To apply ED you have to commit to one college before you know how much merit aid you will get from various schools. That’s a calculation you can only do if you are full pay or willing to take a big risk.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’ve thought about this too. I don’t think Caucasian will make a difference, but I think full pay will make a difference at a lot of schools this year.

I think some people are going to decline schools they would have accepted in the past due to the $85-90k (or even $60k)price tag due to the economic uncertainty, job loss, etc.

I think that will definitely open the door at RD this cycle and massive WL movement for full pay students.

I agree - I could see schools like UVM, Denison, etc. with wealthier students and merit doing well this year filling their class. If you make 300-400k in the DC area right now as a couple with jobs linked to the government, you’re not going to want to spend 90k for Hamilton when you could spend 50k for St. Lawrence.