Full-pay advantage: can someone break this down?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So, do we fill out the FAFSA or not?? The counselor says to fill it out. It will show that we don’t qualify for any money but is that good or better to not fill it out?

If you don’t qualify, don’t fill it out. No FAFSA signifies to the college that you are definitely full pay.

But one could pretend to be full pay, get admitted and then complete the FAFSA, couldn't they?

Not for year 1.

The big issue is most schools only have so much they can give out. They might not have $$ left to allocate.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So, do we fill out the FAFSA or not?? The counselor says to fill it out. It will show that we don’t qualify for any money but is that good or better to not fill it out?

If you don’t qualify, don’t fill it out. No FAFSA signifies to the college that you are definitely full pay.

But do you need to for merit? DC’s top choice gives some merit to almost everyone. Even if 5k a year. Hate to leave 20-40k on the table.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So, do we fill out the FAFSA or not?? The counselor says to fill it out. It will show that we don’t qualify for any money but is that good or better to not fill it out?

If you don’t qualify, don’t fill it out. No FAFSA signifies to the college that you are definitely full pay.

But one could pretend to be full pay, get admitted and then complete the FAFSA, couldn't they?

Not for year 1.

The big issue is most schools only have so much they can give out. They might not have $$ left to allocate.

I thought need based aid was formulaic.. i.e. if your financial profile is such and such, you get $x aid and it was not first come first served.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:When admissions aren't need-blind, how much of an advantage can full pay be? Does it differ at more competitive vs. less competitive schools? Is there an advantage to being able to pay more ( = having a higher notional EFC) even if not quite all?

Thanks in advance for any insights. As you can see here we are new to this.

I can't say about others but Asian child had $0 aid, high EFC didn't help at Ivies even with top notch stats. It probably helps at lower ranking privates.

[Anonymous]

Money only helps at T20 if its in form of of a possible million plus donation check, paying your EFC is not an advantage at wealthy and desirable colleges.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So, do we fill out the FAFSA or not?? The counselor says to fill it out. It will show that we don’t qualify for any money but is that good or better to not fill it out?

There is no clear answer. I suspect if the fafsa shows you can afford, then it may not make a difference. We filled out fafsa but only checked the applying for aid box at need blind & safety schools where we were hoping for merit scholarships.

[Anonymous]

Don't count on full pay getting your child in - these days, schools in the top 30, maybe even top 50 are a complete and total crap shoot. Between lots of people having lots of money, and test scores not required, and common app making it super easy to apply to dozens of colleges with the click of a button and a credit card, nothing is a guarantee.

Full pay family here, who's child is at a safety school - 2021 graduate. Fortunately, it was her 2nd choice and she's very happy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So, do we fill out the FAFSA or not?? The counselor says to fill it out. It will show that we don’t qualify for any money but is that good or better to not fill it out?

If you don’t qualify, don’t fill it out. No FAFSA signifies to the college that you are definitely full pay.

Definitely fill out the FAFSA, as it may help with merit aid. The question that really needs an answer is whether to check the box indicating you are applying for financial aid. I’ve asked on here and no one has had an informed answer. Can someone ask their expensive college counselor and let us know?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So, do we fill out the FAFSA or not?? The counselor says to fill it out. It will show that we don’t qualify for any money but is that good or better to not fill it out?

If you don’t qualify, don’t fill it out. No FAFSA signifies to the college that you are definitely full pay.

Definitely fill out the FAFSA, as it may help with merit aid. The question that really needs an answer is whether to check the box indicating you are applying for financial aid. I’ve asked on here and no one has had an informed answer. Can someone ask their expensive college counselor and let us know?

You do not need to fill out the FAFSA for merit aid. We were full pay. Didn't fill it out. Kid was offered tens and tens of thousands without even asking.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:When admissions aren't need-blind, how much of an advantage can full pay be? Does it differ at more competitive vs. less competitive schools? Is there an advantage to being able to pay more ( = having a higher notional EFC) even if not quite all?

Thanks in advance for any insights. As you can see here we are new to this.

I can't say about others but Asian child had $0 aid, high EFC didn't help at Ivies even with top notch stats. It probably helps at lower ranking privates.

+1. For some f'cked up reason, top schools would rather have a full-pay Chinese student rather than a full-pay Chinese American kid. Go figure.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:When admissions aren't need-blind, how much of an advantage can full pay be? Does it differ at more competitive vs. less competitive schools? Is there an advantage to being able to pay more ( = having a higher notional EFC) even if not quite all?

Thanks in advance for any insights. As you can see here we are new to this.

I can't say about others but Asian child had $0 aid, high EFC didn't help at Ivies even with top notch stats. It probably helps at lower ranking privates.

+1. For some f'cked up reason, top schools would rather have a full-pay Chinese student rather than a full-pay Chinese American kid. Go figure.

are the international kids charged higher tuition than the us citizens?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So, do we fill out the FAFSA or not?? The counselor says to fill it out. It will show that we don’t qualify for any money but is that good or better to not fill it out?

If you don’t qualify, don’t fill it out. No FAFSA signifies to the college that you are definitely full pay.

Definitely fill out the FAFSA, as it may help with merit aid. The question that really needs an answer is whether to check the box indicating you are applying for financial aid. I’ve asked on here and no one has had an informed answer. Can someone ask their expensive college counselor and let us know?

You do not need to fill out the FAFSA for merit aid. We were full pay. Didn't fill it out. Kid was offered tens and tens of thousands without even asking.

Are you certain that no schools require it for merit aid? I’ve read some schools do either require or strongly encourage it. But you sound certain OP need not do so. Thanks!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wow. Obnoxious and illiterate.

Shockingly unable to understand the intent of a written message. Guess some people just need it spelled out very clearly or spoken slowly to them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:When admissions aren't need-blind, how much of an advantage can full pay be? Does it differ at more competitive vs. less competitive schools? Is there an advantage to being able to pay more ( = having a higher notional EFC) even if not quite all?

Thanks in advance for any insights. As you can see here we are new to this.

I can't say about others but Asian child had $0 aid, high EFC didn't help at Ivies even with top notch stats. It probably helps at lower ranking privates.

+1. For some f'cked up reason, top schools would rather have a full-pay Chinese student rather than a full-pay Chinese American kid. Go figure.

are the international kids charged higher tuition than the us citizens?

Nope. Same as out of state with probably a very minor additional international fee (a couple of hundred more), if at all. No difference at Private schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:When admissions aren't need-blind, how much of an advantage can full pay be? Does it differ at more competitive vs. less competitive schools? Is there an advantage to being able to pay more ( = having a higher notional EFC) even if not quite all?

Thanks in advance for any insights. As you can see here we are new to this.

I can't say about others but Asian child had $0 aid, high EFC didn't help at Ivies even with top notch stats. It probably helps at lower ranking privates.

+1. For some f'cked up reason, top schools would rather have a full-pay Chinese student rather than a full-pay Chinese American kid. Go figure.

are the international kids charged higher tuition than the us citizens?

No, however the admission is not need blind, even at the Ivys and other top schools.