What does "need-blind" mean for "current" student?

[Anonymous]

Are Cornell and Northwestern "Need-blind"?

NOVA donut-hole family here. DC (class of 2029) is choosing between Cornell, Northwestern and a few public schools. The public schools are full pay between 40-50K while the two privates are about 80K.

We can stretch and narrowly afford the privates with current incomes and savings.

My concern is, with all these chaos here, if one parent loses job later this year after DC already committed or enrolled in a school, the financial impact will only be shown in next year's tax filing or later.

Will these private schools by then significantly reduce the charges for a "current" freshman or sophomore student for the rest years?


Thanks,

[Anonymous]

Why the heck are you asking us? Your family is admitted. Call the schools and speak to the financial aid departments and ask. They all have office hours these weeks for accepted students. Have a 15 minute consult.

Schools are not a monolith. What Cornell does may be entirely different than what Northwestern does and unless DCUM works for these schools we don't know. Also, 2025-2026 may be entirely different than before

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Are Cornell and Northwestern "Need-blind"?

NOVA donut-hole family here. DC (class of 2029) is choosing between Cornell, Northwestern and a few public schools. The public schools are full pay between 40-50K while the two privates are about 80K.

We can stretch and narrowly afford the privates with current incomes and savings.

My concern is, with all these chaos here, if one parent loses job later this year after DC already committed or enrolled in a school, the financial impact will only be shown in next year's tax filing or later.

Will these private schools by then significantly reduce the charges for a "current" freshman or sophomore student for the rest years?


Thanks,

Need blind refers to the role that financial need plays in admissions. It's not relevant.

The term you're thinking of is "Full need". Many years ago, I was a student at one of those schools, when my Dad was diagnosed with cancer. I got financial aid for the remaining two years. My understanding is that this is still true, but it may be contingent on the student having applied for financial aid in the first year, and/or it being a true change in circumstances. So, a family who applies and indicates they don't have need, because they want an admissions boost (real or imagined) and then applies later may not get help. But a family who can document that their circumstances changed will.

[Anonymous]

I'm guessing your didn't file the FAFSA or CSS Profile, so you aren't aware that you refile them every year so your financial aid package adjusts for your current situation.

If you didn't ask for aid this year, you could ask for it next year by filing the forms.

[Anonymous]

The college isn't going to change your tuition rate mid-year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are Cornell and Northwestern "Need-blind"?

NOVA donut-hole family here. DC (class of 2029) is choosing between Cornell, Northwestern and a few public schools. The public schools are full pay between 40-50K while the two privates are about 80K.

We can stretch and narrowly afford the privates with current incomes and savings.

My concern is, with all these chaos here, if one parent loses job later this year after DC already committed or enrolled in a school, the financial impact will only be shown in next year's tax filing or later.

Will these private schools by then significantly reduce the charges for a "current" freshman or sophomore student for the rest years?


Thanks,

Need blind refers to the role that financial need plays in admissions. It's not relevant.

The term you're thinking of is "Full need". Many years ago, I was a student at one of those schools, when my Dad was diagnosed with cancer. I got financial aid for the remaining two years. My understanding is that this is still true, but it may be contingent on the student having applied for financial aid in the first year, and/or it being a true change in circumstances. So, a family who applies and indicates they don't have need, because they want an admissions boost (real or imagined) and then applies later may not get help. But a family who can document that their circumstances changed will.

This. Did you file the FAFSA and CSS when your dc applied to Cornell and Northwestern, OP?

Not sure about Cornell and Northwestern in particular, but I recently attended an information session at a private university and they told us that only if a student applied for FA in the first year, the student would be qualify for FA when the family's financial situation changes in the subsequent years. The AO was clear: If you believe there is any possibility of a change in your family's financial situation, such as job loss due to the economy, be sure to file for financial aid at the time of application, even if you don't qualify in the first year. This school is a need aware private though.

[Anonymous]

The other thing to think about is that if your financial situation changes, the meets needs schools (Cornell and NU) will adjust their FA. The public schools will not.

[Anonymous]

I think Northwestern’s FA is slightly better than Cornell but I would call the schools. UVA also probably has good FA but you may not qualify if that’s the public you’re considering. Would not choose OOS public - you will never get aid outside of token merit even if you lose your job.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The other thing to think about is that if your financial situation changes, the meets needs schools (Cornell and NU) will adjust their FA. The public schools will not.

PP

although if you have considerable assets, they may not adjust FA anyway. They will expect you to offload assets (rentals, second homes, etc) before they adjust FA.