What does “full pay” mean to colleges .. and how do they figure?

[Anonymous]

lol at trying to buy your way into a school your kid is too dumb to qualify for.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:lol at trying to buy your way into a school your kid is too dumb to qualify for.

No, the issue these days is that the number of qualified applicants far exceeds the number of available spots. There is no reason to admit unqualified applicants at most schools.

[Anonymous]

It means you have a very high income and can afford full price. V

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There is no bump for full pay at nearly all of the most selective schools. It’s only a bump at schools that are need aware (as opposed to need blind).

True

This seems disingenuous at best.

Applicants that are full pay can take advantage of ED and that’s a huge bump.

[Anonymous]

Then apply Early Decision at your favorite school, because you’ll get no merit aid, but increase your chances of getting in.
ED is known as “affirmative action” for rich kids.

[Anonymous]

There’s no merit aid anyway at these schools

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Then apply Early Decision at your favorite school, because you’ll get no merit aid, but increase your chances of getting in.
ED is known as “affirmative action” for rich kids.

I know seniors who got into schools ED who also got merit aid, this isn't true across the board unless you are talking about DCUM's favorite schools e.g. the Top 8.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You should know that having more than one kid in college at once is no longer considered a factor when determining FA eligibility.

You should know that’s only fafsa schools. Not css schools

And only really for federal aid, aka Pell Grant. For all other purposes, FAFSA is informational, and the schools themselves decide what to do with that information.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You should know that having more than one kid in college at once is no longer considered a factor when determining FA eligibility.

I only have one (not the OP) so this doesn't apply to me, but I'm curious ..... really? My widowed father (and therefore single-earner family) was able to put two kids through college because we qualified for FA for the two years we were both attending. We both got enough financial aid that his outlay was almost the same as if only one were in school. He was cash-flowing tuition so this was pretty important. I realize this was a hundred years ago ....

Yes it changed and we can all thank Lamar Alexander (R-TN) bc that was his big policy goal, for some reason.

As a pp said, private institutions (e.g. those that use the CSS profile) may still choose to provide more aid for families with siblings in college at the same time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Then apply Early Decision at your favorite school, because you’ll get no merit aid, but increase your chances of getting in.
ED is known as “affirmative action” for rich kids.

I know seniors who got into schools ED who also got merit aid, this isn't true across the board unless you are talking about DCUM's favorite schools e.g. the Top 8.

Like where? Are you sure it was merit aid and not regular financial aid? Are you sure parents aren’t embellishing. I’ve seen otherwise very honest people fib quite a bit about their kid’s colleague acceptances/aid etc.

[Anonymous]

I think full pay means colleges consider you full pay even if you don’t.

You decline the seat and they swap you for another full pay from the WL

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Then apply Early Decision at your favorite school, because you’ll get no merit aid, but increase your chances of getting in.
ED is known as “affirmative action” for rich kids.

I know seniors who got into schools ED who also got merit aid, this isn't true across the board unless you are talking about DCUM's favorite schools e.g. the Top 8.

Like where? Are you sure it was merit aid and not regular financial aid? Are you sure parents aren’t embellishing. I’ve seen otherwise very honest people fib quite a bit about their kid’s colleague acceptances/aid etc.

Dp, yes, it happens. At some schools merit is only available to kids who submit their applications early, and many kids decide to apply ED because the dates are close, Emory and Vandy for example.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:lol at trying to buy your way into a school your kid is too dumb to qualify for.

Sure. The same way recruited athletes, URM, Pell grant kids and first Gen are too dumb to qualify. aka, 1/3 of the student body or more at some schools.

Here’s reality. You are given a hand of cards to play in the big college admissions game. Learn the rules of the game, develop a strategy, and then be smart about playing the hand you were dealt, including your ED card. For example, your smart, hardworking, mostly As some Bs, 4.2W, goor rigor kid can play their ED card at Brown, because “it’s the school of my dreams” (aka, buzzy among their peers), where chances are 99+% a rejection or WM or Bates, where that’s likely admission in ED but not RD. Your choice. But don’t hate the players. We’re all stuck with this confusing mess. Hate the game.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Then apply Early Decision at your favorite school, because you’ll get no merit aid, but increase your chances of getting in.
ED is known as “affirmative action” for rich kids.

And I’d say, play your ED card at your favorite school— where you have a legit possibility of acceptance. 1/2 of the DMV’s favorite is an Ivy. Very few will get admitted in ED or SCEA or whatever. And almost none who are unhooked without a perfect resume.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There is no bump for full pay at nearly all of the most selective schools. It’s only a bump at schools that are need aware (as opposed to need blind).

True

This seems disingenuous at best.

Applicants that are full pay can take advantage of ED and that’s a huge bump.

Anyone that can afford the college after running the NPC can take advantage of ED. Please don’t misinform.