I am the PP who speculated that software is used as a substitute for direct need-based decision making. I think another PP hit the nail on the head - if the initial class is “mis-shaped” as in requiring too much financial aid the software tells them to make certain adjustments like take more kids from CT or private school. It is blended with other adjustments until the class has the characteristics it needs to have. This is backdoor need aware but the schools can get away with saying they are need blind because the individual applicant’s financial situation is not taken into account. But the fact that classes have such consistent ratios of financial need is no accident. Schools have financial aid budget and need to manage around it. |
They can see when they were added to the Common App, certainly. I don't know about Scoir. |
+1 It's all about the data. |
Interesting. So, at the end of the day, the Dean of Admissions or his/her proxy is dropping those kids who might need aid in favor of full pay? And this year, is the theory that more of this happens now (or has already happened this month to be realistic) for RD? |
NP. DC applied for FA- filed the FAFSA and CSS but didn't qualify for FA. Did AOs consider my kid as a full pay applicant? |
Unclear. Possibly could mean that yield will be a problem bc kid is looking for $$$? |
Wow. Anyone else hear this today? Wondering if admissions officers will start going on the record later this month and talk about the changes. Has anyone seen unexpected early results from regular decision schools this month? To indicate they’re admitting larger regular decision classes or more full pay? |
On Reddit there seems to be an increase in the number of students that were waitlisted at T40s during RD decisions to date vs 2024 round but there are still several schools remaining until March 27th. |
We are full pay and no. |
Why "caucasian"? There are plenty of wealthy people of all backgrounds. |
Waitlists aren’t need blind
If I were a college, I’d add more kids to the waitlist. Then open those financial documents are take it from there. I live in nyc where, sure, sometimes your address says it all. But in my Brooklyn apartment building we have teachers and millionaires. Not atypical. |
Saw the below from a Vanderbilt professor on Twitter (commenting on my merit scholarship announcements have not been made yet) and thought of this thread. Yikes. Sounds like a lot of disarray in admissions offices: https://www.reddit.com/r/Vanderbilt/s/rVIlp8tnnK “Prof here. Sorry to hear we're several weeks behind. I can't say for sure, but there are a couple things going on that relate to concerns over federal funding and reductions in the endowment fund. I know we were about a month behind in awarding fellowships for PhD students, so I imagine the undergraduate scholarships are behind as well. The good news is it seems we were able to offer a similar number of fellowships compared to previous years. Basically, the school is anticipating (1) a reduction in federally funded grants and contracts, and (2) an economic downturn that will reduce the valuation of the endowment. I would bet that the university leadership is trying to predict how much money they can spend on various activities (including scholarships). I suspect that scholarships and financial aid are going to be highly protected -- that is, the school will prioritize scholarships and financial aid over things when deciding budget changes (and anyway, some of the endowment is almost certainly earmarked only for financial aid and scholarships that cannot be reallocated). They're just taking longer to account for the overall hit the school (and frankly every other school) will have to absorb.“ |
Curious how the RD decisions this week have come out for those needing aid versus those that don’t from private universities.
I’m not sure if there’s a systematic way to track if the current chaos is making a difference at places like Tufts or not. |
Just one anecdote, this week's RD results, 3.98uw/1570 and full pay, admitted to GWU Elliot with 28k scholarship. Waitlisted at Tufts. Did not visit GW. Did the campus tour at Tufts fall 2023. |
Tufts takes a lot of their class ED and they still put your kid on the waitlist. I could see your kid potentially coming off it. |