Anonymous
07/30/2025 11:47
Subject: how do you signal full pay to need blind schools
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:AOs at need-blind schools will be offended that you are trying to play this card. When they're clear that they don't use finances, but you decide they should, you're basically telling them you either don't believe they are adhering to their policies or that you deserve special treatment.
I can’t possibly imagine OP’s child’s application will “offend” them considering all of the obnoxious applications they must come across.
It probably won’t offend them, but it might be a good laugh around the office.
What do you think will make them laugh? I guess I’m confused. It’s very straightforward. The recommendation is to leave the Financial Aid box unchecked. That’s it. There is no “play” here .
Anonymous
07/30/2025 11:45
Subject: how do you signal full pay to need blind schools
You are rich, not sure what you consider rich but if you can full pay, that is rich.
Anonymous
07/30/2025 11:45
Subject: how do you signal full pay to need blind schools
Anonymous wrote:We're not rich, but I know we're just over the line for full pay. we have some inheritance money that I can't shift to retirement.
Anywho - my question is, assuming full pay matters to these schools now, how can we signal that to need blind schools.
Our occupations, our own alma maters, our home address, kids schools, kids activities- all scream, middle America will need half aid.
If we're going to pay this price, I'd love to get the bump.
This is for the top 20 reach schools on the list. Kid agrees it's not worth paying 90k for wake.
Don't apply for financial aid via CSS of FAFSA. 🙂
Anonymous
07/30/2025 11:42
Subject: how do you signal full pay to need blind schools
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:AOs at need-blind schools will be offended that you are trying to play this card. When they're clear that they don't use finances, but you decide they should, you're basically telling them you either don't believe they are adhering to their policies or that you deserve special treatment.
I can’t possibly imagine OP’s child’s application will “offend” them considering all of the obnoxious applications they must come across.
It probably won’t offend them, but it might be a good laugh around the office.
Anonymous
07/30/2025 11:41
Subject: how do you signal full pay to need blind schools
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:The whole point of need blind schools is that there is no penalty for needing FA - the corollary is that there is no boost for not needing aid.
This.
You wish.
Anonymous
07/30/2025 11:40
Subject: how do you signal full pay to need blind schools
Anonymous wrote:The whole point of need blind schools is that there is no penalty for needing FA - the corollary is that there is no boost for not needing aid.
This.
Anonymous
07/30/2025 11:38
Subject: how do you signal full pay to need blind schools
Anonymous wrote:AOs at need-blind schools will be offended that you are trying to play this card. When they're clear that they don't use finances, but you decide they should, you're basically telling them you either don't believe they are adhering to their policies or that you deserve special treatment.
That's not how this works. You are so clueless about what is going on at colleges today.
Anonymous
07/30/2025 11:37
Subject: how do you signal full pay to need blind schools
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Everyone says don’t check the box that you’re applying for FA and don’t provide SSN. I personally don’t know if this helps. I suspect not for top schools. Only if they’re pulling off the waiting list. For others, I think it’s useful.
I think it is only helpful at the top for this...but this cycle has been incredibly WL driven even for most ivies, more than any cycle since summer-2020 covid driven WL
100%
Know a kid who was going to Wisconsin. Just got off DUKE WL.
WTF.
Anonymous
07/30/2025 10:33
Subject: how do you signal full pay to need blind schools
Anonymous wrote:AOs at need-blind schools will be offended that you are trying to play this card. When they're clear that they don't use finances, but you decide they should, you're basically telling them you either don't believe they are adhering to their policies or that you deserve special treatment.
AOs are very aware about "making a class"
They won't be offended.
Anonymous
07/30/2025 10:29
Subject: how do you signal full pay to need blind schools
Anonymous wrote:AOs at need-blind schools will be offended that you are trying to play this card. When they're clear that they don't use finances, but you decide they should, you're basically telling them you either don't believe they are adhering to their policies or that you deserve special treatment.
I can’t possibly imagine OP’s child’s application will “offend” them considering all of the obnoxious applications they must come across.
Anonymous
07/30/2025 10:27
Subject: how do you signal full pay to need blind schools
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:If the school is really need blind then your status as a full pay family wouldn’t factor into the admissions decision. That’s what need blind means. There is a belief that many so called need blind schools become more need aware as they progress past ED into RD and managing the waitlist. If you believe that, the way you tell a school you are full pay is by declining to fill out the FAFSA or otherwise requesting an evaluation for financial aid.
I don’t know. If you are rich, why not filling out FASTA? Which shows you have over 10 million net worth. It’s a sure way to disqualify you from any aid, but then you signals to need blind schools that you are full pay because your net worth can comfortably afford triple pay.
Because the admissions committee doesn’t see the information from the FAFSA, only whether you indicated you will be filling it out or not. The financial info only goes to the school’s financial aid office, not to the admissions committee.
Anonymous
07/30/2025 10:20
Subject: how do you signal full pay to need blind schools
AOs at need-blind schools will be offended that you are trying to play this card. When they're clear that they don't use finances, but you decide they should, you're basically telling them you either don't believe they are adhering to their policies or that you deserve special treatment.
Anonymous
07/30/2025 10:16
Subject: Re:how do you signal full pay to need blind schools
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Don't worry, they have an algorithm. They know you are full pay.
This. It’s based on the tool: landscape. Based on your address, parents education, job titles.
Signaling comes from ECs.
Except that OP seems to think all those things do NOT signal full pay in their case. It sounds like they are full pay only because of an (I assume fairly recent) inheritance.
Which happens often. Landscape doesn’t capture careful scrimping and saving to boost 529s or inheritances or grandparent help. So colleges can’t possibly rely on it to tell the complete story. I would select you don’t need FA.
I don’t think you’ll get much of a bump, but doesn’t hurt!
well, bigger issues is that if you dont look like your neighbor - you're done. it's really a pretty backward way to look at this imo. colleges literally ask you every dang thing about your income and assets. and then they act cute and say they dont look at it. and then they pay a lot more money to another consultant for a product that predicts - not that well - how much money you have. it's there, colleges. just look at it if you're using this information.
Very true
Anonymous
07/30/2025 10:12
Subject: how do you signal full pay to need blind schools
Anonymous wrote:Everyone says don’t check the box that you’re applying for FA and don’t provide SSN. I personally don’t know if this helps. I suspect not for top schools. Only if they’re pulling off the waiting list. For others, I think it’s useful.
I think it is only helpful at the top for this...but this cycle has been incredibly WL driven even for most ivies, more than any cycle since summer-2020 covid driven WL
Anonymous
07/30/2025 10:11
Subject: how do you signal full pay to need blind schools
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Signals of full pay - outside of address:
Parents have undergrad and grad degrees from what are considered top private colleges and universities
Parents job titles: consulting firm partner; biglaw partner; doctor and owner of practice; CEO; CFO etc
ECs: polo; squash; fencing; ice skating; sailing; equestrian.
Google for more.
Does common app ask for job titles? I thought just generic fields?
yeah but OP's question was, what do you do if you have none of those signifiers. all the pain of full pay, none of the gain