Haha.. if full pay meaning you can pay an extra million. Otherwise, no

Anonymous wrote:
I have heard at least one "expert" on college admissions (who has authored several books on the subject) say that even at "need-blind" colleges, the fact that an applicant is full pay or will need little in terms of scholarship assistance is a factor and it is naive to think otherwise. Even schools with big endowments and "need-blind" policies have estimated budgets for financial aid.

This is probably true (heard it as well). However, it does not square up with what you hear at schools, that being, the financial aid department doesn't communicate with admissions. Thus, in theory, neither side is supposed to know what the other does. Is that realistic though? Who knows.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So why are there so many students from wealthy families at Ivies?

Influence of legacy preference is also part of the reason.

Ivies also want sophistication. Not that many applicants can project that they "get it." And many seem to receive poor HS guidance. There are top-performing HS students all over the country that, every year, apply to fifth-tier schools in the mistaken belief that they are "affordable" when Ivies would net cheaper.

very unsophisticated double-ivy degree graduate here... and was equivalently-agedly unsophisticated as a 17 year old when I entered school. That comment was just silly but gave me a good laugh. Most of the admissions is done by paper (or electronic) applications. Legacy & opportunity factors influence the student body. Social-economic advantages beget social-economic advantages (knowledge about where to apply, people encouraging them to aim high & apply, help on applications (paying 'college counselors' to 'advise' (ghost write) essays included!), understanding financial aid and financing options, etc etc)

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So why are there so many students from wealthy families at Ivies?

Influence of legacy preference is also part of the reason.

Ivies also want sophistication. Not that many applicants can project that they "get it." And many seem to receive poor HS guidance. There are top-performing HS students all over the country that, every year, apply to fifth-tier schools in the mistaken belief that they are "affordable" when Ivies would net cheaper.

Anonymous wrote:So why are there so many students from wealthy families at Ivies?

Influence of legacy preference is also part of the reason.

I have heard at least one "expert" on college admissions (who has authored several books on the subject) say that even at "need-blind" colleges, the fact that an applicant is full pay or will need little in terms of scholarship assistance is a factor and it is naive to think otherwise. Even schools with big endowments and "need-blind" policies have estimated budgets for financial aid.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So why are there so many students from wealthy families at Ivies?

60-70% of students at ivies get need based aid so they aren't all wealthy. And high test scores and high school achievement is correlated with SES.

Or more accurately high IQ is correlated with SES and is strongly heritable.

Anonymous wrote:It's easier to be an exceptional student with exceptional accomplishments and test scores when you are high SES. Academic performance is strongly correlated to SES, so if they are selecting only for the top applicants, it makes sense that many fewer would come from poor or truly middle class backgrounds.

but what they put into practice does not reflect a true need-blind admissions policy. If you have to equally qualified candidates--the kid from the wealthy zip code will gain admissions over the kids from the "projects"....it just is what it is and if you want to keep applying political correctness to a business, you won't understand the difference--between "impeding" and actually considering.....much in the same way that checking the URM box will help your admissions.

Then they require you to fill out the CSS and one of the questions is "how much can you afford to pay each year"....before admissions decisions....

Zero hook, unless you are talking multiple 7-figures. $1M will emphatically not buy a severely under qualified applicant in any longer, not to any Ivy. At least five are sufficiently well-endowed per FTSE as to be essentially immune from having to roll over for money.

Probably plenty of people who could/would gladly be full pay at Ivys, so maybe not so much of a hook.

No longer a difference at the Ivies...it can and does make a difference at some of the better SLACs. Especially those that state they are NOT "need blind"....and they are out there. Those that understand the process do often ask this question at information sessions. Fun to watch admissions officers stumble through their answer on that one!

There was an article recently listing the schools where full pay helps. I don't recall any I y league schos being on it but if you google it the article should come up. It's a disgusting practice though so I would be turned off by schools that give preference for full pay.