Our Counselors Answered:
What is “need blind” and “need sensitive” admissions?
Kim GlenchurEducational ConsultantCollegesGPS
Admissions decisions and the ability to pay
Colleges range from need-blind (ability to pay is not part of the admission decision) to need-sensitive, need-conscious, or need-aware (ability to pay may determine admission). But mind the fine print. Need-blind colleges may not meet an admitted student’s full financial need, a situation called “gapping.” Need-sensitive policies may affect only the applicants who are at the lower end of a college’s applicant pool.
Erin AveryCertified Educational PlannerAvery Educational Resources, LLC
Was Blind But Now I See
“Need” is when a student demonstrates that they require financial assistance to make college affordable or possible for that student to attend. Therefore, need blind is the college’s promise that, in the application review process, the amount of money a student needs will not impact whether or not they are accepted. Need Aware is a more recent term emerging to acknowledge that colleges in fact do (and in some cases must) know whether a student is applying for financial aid in order to make an informed decision regarding whether to admit said student.
Rare Personal Anecdote: Of my eight roommates at BC, not one of us paid the same dollar amount for the same exact diploma that hangs on each of our walls. How do you like them apples?
Laura O’Brien GatzionisFounderEducational Advisory Services
Need Blind vs. Need Sensitive
Need-blind means that the admissions office will absolutely not consider your ability to finance your education when deciding whether or not to offer you admission. Need sensitive means that your family’s ability to pay for your education will be a factor in the admissions process.
王文君 June ScortinoPresidentIVY Counselors Network
those are financial aid policy terms
when “need blind” policy implementated by college, students are considered for admissions soley on academic performance and other facts for admissions. once the students are accepted by the admissions office, then the student’s financial aid application will be reviewed by the financial aid office. those are two seperate process and procedures.
” need sensitive” is the term that college use to determine the seats open to financial needy students for admissions. it has a lot to do with the amount of scholarships offered by the college, the amount of federal and state aid received by the college, and what percentage of students should be under fiancial aid classification.
王文君 June ScortinoPresidentIVY Counselors Network
those are financial aid policy terms
when “need blind” policy implementated by college, students are considered for admissions soley on academic performance and other facts for admissions. once the students are accepted by the admissions office, then the student’s financial aid application will be reviewed by the financial aid office. those are two seperate process and procedures.
” need sensitive” is the term that college use to determine the seats open to financial needy students for admissions. it has a lot to do with the amount of scholarships offered by the college, the amount of federal and state aid received by the college, and what percentage of students should be under fiancial aid classification.
Maura KastbergExecutive Director of Student ServicesRSC
The difference between need blind and need sensitive
Need blind schools do not take the applicants financial situation into accout as they admit students. Need sensitive or sometimes called need aware means the schools usually does not take the students financial situation into account but they may hold some openings for students who are able to meet the schools cost of attendance without assistance. Keep in mind that need blind or need sensitive does not mean that the school will meet all of your financial need once they have admitted you. Need blind and need sensitive apply only to admissions decisions. You should also check thier published information on how they meet the financial need of the students that attend.
Rod BugarinFormer Admissions OfficerColumbia, Brown, and Wesleyan University
What is “need blind” and “need sensitive” admissions?
Here is my video response to the question.
Rod BugarinFormer Admissions OfficerColumbia, Brown, and Wesleyan University
What is “need blind” and “need sensitive” admissions?
Here is my video response to the question.
Karen Ekman-BaurDirector of College CounselingLeysin American School
What is “need blind” and “need sensitive” admissions?
As I understand it, “need-blind” means that, when your application is being considered, the amount of financial assistance you will need if admitted is not a factor. “Need-blind” institutions have the resources to commit to meeting the full financial need of all admitted students. Keep in mind, however, that your “need” as perceived by the institution and your “need” as perceived by your family may be quite different.
“Need-sensitive” institutions must consider, as part of their admissions decisions, the amount of financial assistance a student would require if admitted. These schools do not have the resources to supply full financial aid to all admitted students, or the institution has chosen to allocate its resources in a different way. A student could conceivably be denied admission if it is felt that the family could not meet the financial requirements of the institution.
Although many institutions in the U.S. do have merit scholarships which are available to all admitted students, financial assistance is usually not as accessible for international students as for domestic students. Students need to prove that financial resources are available to cover expenses for a full year of study and that adequate funds will be available in coming years in order to receive the necessary student visa.
Karen Ekman-BaurDirector of College CounselingLeysin American School
What is “need blind” and “need sensitive” admissions?
“Need-blind” means that, when your application is being considered, the amount of financial assistance you will need if admitted is not a determining factor, and your financial need will not be considered at all in making the admissions decision. “Need-blind” institutions have the resources to commit to meeting the full financial need of admitted students through various means – loans, grants, and work-study opportunities. Keep in mind, however, that your “full need” as perceived by the institution and your “full need” as perceived by your family may be quite different.
“Need-sensitive” institutions must consider, as part of their admissions decisions, the amount of financial assistance a student would require if admitted. These schools do not have the resources to supply full financial aid to all admitted students, or the institution may have chosen to allocate its resources in a different way. A student could conceivably be denied admission if it is felt that the family could not meet the financial requirements of the institution without receiving more financial aid than the institution is prepared to offer. The expression “need-aware” is often used, as well.
Although many institutions in the U.S. have merit-based scholarships which are available to all admitted students, need-based aid is usually not as accessible for international students as it is for domestic students. Additionally, in order to receive the necessary student visa, a prospective international student must provide proof that financial resources are available to cover expenses for a full year of study and that adequate funds will be available in coming years.
Bill PrudenHead of Upper School, College CounselorRavenscroft School
What is “need blind” and “need sensitive” admissions?
“Need blind” admission is the approach where no consideration is given to the question of whether an applicant may or may not need financial aid. Under a need blind policy, the admissions decision is based solely on a consideration of the standard factors—academic record, co-curricular activities, etc—that are used to determine who will and who will not be admitted. In contrast, a “need sensitive” approach to admissions will add the question of finances to that list and so someone capable of paying full tuition has a positive attribute that someone needing financial aid does not. That fact may not be enough to earn them admission, or it may tip the scales in their favor. Each school implements that approach in a different way and it will vary from school to school depending upon the financial resources available.
Rebecca JosephExecutive Director & Foundergetmetocollege.org
What is “need blind” and “need sensitive” admissions?
Simple. Need blind= colleges do not look at your finances when making admissions decisions. Need sensitive= colleges consider your finances when making admissions decisions. Despite this–you still need to pay for the colleges via scholarships, grants, work-study, loans, and family finances.
Lora LewisEducational ConsultantLora Lewis Consulting
What is “need blind” and “need sensitive” admissions?
Need blind means that a college evaluates your suitability for admission without regard to your ability to pay the cost of attendance. Need sensitive means that they take into account your ability to pay when deciding whether or not to offer you admission.
Phil KerleeOwnerKerlee & Associates
What is “need blind” and “need sensitive” admissions?
Need Blind – The admissions committe will not look at your financial status until after they have accepted or rejected your application. They usually not even have access to the data until after a decision has been reached.
Need Sensitive – They reserve the right to look at your financial condition as a part of the application process. The ability to pay the full cost of attnedance could help your admissions chances.
Benjamin CaldarelliPartnerPrinceton College Consulting, LLC
What is “need blind” and “need sensitive” admissions?
If a school is need blind, it does not consider how much aid a student needs in their admission decision. If they are need sensitive, they do. Most of the most prestigious schools, because they have large endowments, are need blind
Nancy MilneOwnerMilne Collegiate Consulting
Admissions and financial aid
Need blind admissions refers to the policy where a school evaluates an applicant without knowing their financial circumstances. This policy allows an institution to make offers of acceptance regardless of the candidate’s ability to pay.
Need sensitive admissions refers to the policy where a student’s finances are taken in to consideration when evaluating their application. If two students are on the “bubble” and one can afford to pay tuition, while the other may need significant assistance; that may sway a decision.
Reecy ArestyCollege Admissions/Financial Aid Expert & AuthorPayless For College, Inc.
What is “need blind” and “need sensitive” admissions?
Need blind refers to a family’s financial fingerprint NOT being factored into the admissions process; need sensitive is just the opposite. Very few schools use the latter.
Reecy ArestyCollege Admissions/Financial Aid Expert & AuthorPayless For College, Inc.
What is “need blind” and “need sensitive” admissions?
Need blind refers to a family’s financial fingerprint NOT being factored into the admissions process; need sensitive is just the opposite. Very few schools use the latter.