Reply to Straight talk: give up chance of aid and improve admit chances?

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]Through a lucky circumstance, I am extremely fortunate enough to be able to fully pay for DC’s college for four years. But I would be very happy to keep that money towards retirement or an inheritance for DC. I don’t have so much that this is like loose change.

That said, DC wants to go to the absolute best school they can get into. DC is going to shoot their shot for the usual T10+ dream schools, though realizes “nobody gets in.” DC is an academic high-achiever but is unhooked.

I’m curious to hear from people how much it matters, and at which specific schools, whether DC’s application signals that they can pay for the whole thing. (I assume this is signaled by not filling out the FAFSA? Is there any other way this is signaled?) I imagine the applications are initially reviewed without reference to economics but then maybe a subsequent round of admissions review takes family finances into account? (Maybe a current or former AO, among others, can speak to this?)

Any input on this, whether based on what you’ve heard or direct personal experience,  on this is greatly appreciated. [/quote]

You're wrong on both sides of this equation: You won't qualify for meaningful aid, so there's nothing to give up -- and being full pay won't meaningfully improve admit chances.

If there's any way to improve admit chances, all thinsgs being equal, it's to apply early. But "academic high-achiever" doesn't begin to get anyone into those schools. Academic high-achiever gets you into UMD -- which is a great school! -- but not applying for FA will not move the needle at all at Harvard or Yale or Johns Hopkins or Duke. [/quote]

If the kid is in the mix in ED, will applying for financial aid impact the kid during the class shaping portion of RD at HY, JHU or Duke?

Maybe? Maybe not?[/quote]

It will, every college has a budget even claiming 'need-blind', looking at percentage of financial aid and average aid, they are about same each year, that tells you they have a lid on aid. Financial aid officer should know but  I guess no one would tell. On the other hand, 1% income kids are about 20% in top colleges consistently, that tells same story.

So, if you qualify some aid but not so significant, not applying it would improve your chance. If you need aid to be able to attend, then you have no choice. [/quote]

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