Anonymous
07/30/2025 15:28
Subject: how do you signal full pay to need blind schools
If you input a SSN the AO can see a number was submitted (it will be xxxd out). If you do t, it says NA.
Do not, do not, do not fill that in. IEC advise their clients not to - and have been doing it for years.
Do not, do not, do not fill that in. IEC advise their clients not to - and have been doing it for years.
Anonymous
07/30/2025 14:40
Subject: how do you signal full pay to need blind schools
Anonymous wrote:The FA checkbox is not visible to AOs during application reading at need blind schools. It only comes into play in shaping of the class via algorithm.
Not checking the box and not including SSN are about the only things you can do, other than play up the employment title and include expensive activities, if any. The remaining factors are baked into the algorithm used on the back end in the shaping of the class (Landscape, parent occupation and education, etc).
I don't think OP's situation, barely full pay, is likely to be all that helpful at need blind schools. At best, it could help if the student is on waitlists.
One additional possibility - speculative - is that College Board's data grab might include an optional question that asks income level. Make sure your student fills that out ASAP, erring on the high side, hoping that the income level data point somehow gets used by the Landscape tool.
Seen my kid’s admissions file at HYPSM. There was a field called Fin Aid which said no because no SSN submitted.
Anonymous
07/30/2025 14:37
Subject: how do you signal full pay to need blind schools
Anonymous wrote:Don’t submit a SSN#
This!!!
Anonymous
07/30/2025 12:52
Subject: how do you signal full pay to need blind schools
Expensive ECs, fencing, lacrosse, rowing. Basically all the stupid sports no one is playing anymore.
Expensive summer research programs. You may even consider those stupid pre-college camps, particularly Chicago.
It’s not the time to hide your wealth. Not this year.
Expensive summer research programs. You may even consider those stupid pre-college camps, particularly Chicago.
It’s not the time to hide your wealth. Not this year.
Anonymous
07/30/2025 12:49
Subject: how do you signal full pay to need blind schools
Anonymous wrote:ED 0 to UChicago
Only students who participated in a specific UChicago summer program can apply ED0
Anonymous
07/30/2025 12:47
Subject: how do you signal full pay to need blind schools
The FA checkbox is not visible to AOs during application reading at need blind schools. It only comes into play in shaping of the class via algorithm.
Not checking the box and not including SSN are about the only things you can do, other than play up the employment title and include expensive activities, if any. The remaining factors are baked into the algorithm used on the back end in the shaping of the class (Landscape, parent occupation and education, etc).
I don't think OP's situation, barely full pay, is likely to be all that helpful at need blind schools. At best, it could help if the student is on waitlists.
One additional possibility - speculative - is that College Board's data grab might include an optional question that asks income level. Make sure your student fills that out ASAP, erring on the high side, hoping that the income level data point somehow gets used by the Landscape tool.
Not checking the box and not including SSN are about the only things you can do, other than play up the employment title and include expensive activities, if any. The remaining factors are baked into the algorithm used on the back end in the shaping of the class (Landscape, parent occupation and education, etc).
I don't think OP's situation, barely full pay, is likely to be all that helpful at need blind schools. At best, it could help if the student is on waitlists.
One additional possibility - speculative - is that College Board's data grab might include an optional question that asks income level. Make sure your student fills that out ASAP, erring on the high side, hoping that the income level data point somehow gets used by the Landscape tool.
Anonymous
07/30/2025 12:46
Subject: Re:how do you signal full pay to need blind schools
full need intls aren't paid with government funds, but the university's private endowment.Anonymous wrote: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.
this annoys me as well. I really hate need blind for international. I hate that it makes me sound MAGA, but I dont love taking so many full need intl kids over fun need American kids. if you're using international to help out your budget, but this is the opposite
Do you also get mad the charity:water is paying 0 tax on their money yet isn't focusing their efforts on, say, Flint, but instead on countries outside the US? At least US private schools still give domestic students a boost over intls even when they have no real need to. Meanwhile plenty of other US based nonprofits get tax benefits while being entirely focused on non-US beneficiaries.
Anonymous
07/30/2025 12:43
Subject: Re:how do you signal full pay to need blind schools
Anonymous wrote: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.
this annoys me as well. I really hate need blind for international. I hate that it makes me sound MAGA, but I dont love taking so many full need intl kids over fun need American kids. if you're using international to help out your budget, but this is the opposite
Very few schools are need blind for international - it’s less than 20 schools.
That’s why they are replacing the international visa issue kids with full pay domestic.
https://studyinternational.com/news/need-blind-universities-in-the-us/
Anonymous
07/30/2025 12:42
Subject: how do you signal full pay to need blind schools
ED 0 to UChicago
Anonymous
07/30/2025 12:39
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.
this annoys me as well. I really hate need blind for international. I hate that it makes me sound MAGA, but I dont love taking so many full need intl kids over fun need American kids. if you're using international to help out your budget, but this is the opposite
Anonymous
07/30/2025 12:20
Subject: how do you signal full pay to need blind schools
Ask a private IEC who has been an AO about this in your “interview”. They’ll spill the beans.
It’s also why I’d never pay full package service prices for anyone who hasn’t been in the room. It’s more important now than ever.
It’s also why I’d never pay full package service prices for anyone who hasn’t been in the room. It’s more important now than ever.
Anonymous
07/30/2025 12:18
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.
Excellent summary.
Anonymous
07/30/2025 12:04
Subject: how do you signal full pay to need blind schools
Anonymous wrote: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.
There’s no office. You people are clueless.
When the reader advocates for a full pay fit, they have more room to advocate for a needy kid they really like. You guys all need to read more about how this works.
Also, during shaping, ability to pay matters. Even at need blind
I think most of us know. That PP was incredibly naive.
Anonymous
07/30/2025 12:01
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.
There’s no office. You people are clueless.
When the reader advocates for a full pay fit, they have more room to advocate for a needy kid they really like. You guys all need to read more about how this works.
Also, during shaping, ability to pay matters. Even at need blind
Anonymous
07/30/2025 11:54
Subject: how do you signal full pay to need blind schools
The world has changed. They want full pay now. They need full pay now.
Look at the layoffs for Pete’s sake. Family member in T10 academia - it’s rough out there. They are being asked to cut cut cut.
Look at the layoffs for Pete’s sake. Family member in T10 academia - it’s rough out there. They are being asked to cut cut cut.