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Fundamentals of Financial Aid for 2024

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If one sentence could sum up the state of financing an American college education in 2024 it would be, “The more things change the more things stay the same.”

While change is afoot, much remains the same. Changes are particularly pronounced with the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA); yet, with the American economy and many other world economies faltering, it’s important to discuss not only what’s new but also what remains constant with regard to applying for and seeking aid and other sources of financing to fund study at American colleges because more and more American and international families find paying for college difficult.

Let’s dive into some definitions and discuss fundamental financial aid terminology while introducing what’s new this aid cycle and what remains the same so you can successfully navigate the process of funding an American undergraduate education as we approach 2024.

Need-Based Financial Aid
Need-based financial aid is awarded to students based on their demonstrated financial need, which is calculated through the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or other financial aid applications (most notably, the CSS PROFILE, which is discussed below). Students with significant financial need may receive need-based aid in the form of grants, scholarships, work-study programs, and subsidized loans. Grants and scholarships do not need to be repaid, making them a form of “gift aid.” Need-based financial aid is designed to assist students who may not have the financial resources to afford the cost of college. It aims to make higher education accessible to those with limited means.

Merit-Based Financial Aid
Merit-based financial aid is awarded to students based on their individual achievements, abilities, and qualifications, often without regard to their financial need. Common criteria for merit-based aid include academic performance, standardized test scores, leadership, extracurricular involvement, talent, and special skills. Merit-based aid typically does not consider the student’s or their family’s financial situation when making awards. Instead, it focuses on recognizing and rewarding academic or other accomplishments. Merit-based aid is often provided in the form of scholarships and grants. These awards recognize and incentivize excellence in academics, sports, arts, or other areas. Unlike need-based aid, merit-based aid is a recognition of achievement and does not depend on the recipient’s financial circumstances. Merit-based financial aid is intended to attract and reward high-achieving students, whether academically, athletically, or in other areas. It is used by colleges and universities to recruit talented and accomplished students to their institutions.

Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is a form that students in the United States can fill out to apply for federal financial aid for college. The FAFSA is used by the U.S. Department of Education to determine a student’s eligibility for various types of financial aid, including grants, scholarships, work-study programs, and federal student loans. The information provided on the FAFSA, such as the student’s family’s income and assets, has traditionally been used to calculate what was known as the Expected Family Contribution (EFC). The EFC was measure of the student’s family’s ability to contribute to their education expenses, and it plays a crucial role in determining the amount of federal financial aid a student may receive. Yet, starting this year, the Student Aid Index (SAI) will replace the Expected Family Contribution (EFC). The SAI is a new metric to understand the relative amount that the formula estimates a student can contribute and will help clarify how much federal aid and institutional aid a student might qualify for.

As mentioned, colleges also use the FAFSA information to determine eligibility for their own institutional aid programs. It’s important for students interested in receiving aid to complete the FAFSA as early as possible each year because some forms of financial aid are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis. The FAFSA typically becomes available on October 1 for the following academic year, but this year the form is not going live until December 1 because of changes that the US Federal Government has been unable to complete on schedule.

The new FAFSA will be able to sync with data from the Internal Revenue Service to automatically populate that tax information in the forms. There will also be fewer questions for families to complete on the new FAFSA. There are different deadlines for submission that vary by state and college. To complete the FAFSA, students and their families need to provide financial and personal information, including tax returns and other financial documents.

Also worth noting is that “Contributor” is a new term being introduced on the 2024–25 FAFSA form. A contributor is anyone who is required to provide their information and signature on the FAFSA form as well as provide consent and approval to have their federal tax information transferred from the IRS directly into the form via direct data exchange. Contributor participation does not indicate financial responsibility, but everyone contributing to the FAFSA form online must have their own StudentAid.gov account. One can create an account at StudentAid.gov/fsa-id/create-account. All students and contributors will need their own StudentAid.gov account before filling out the FAFSA form. Students and families should create their accounts as soon as possible, and beginning in December 2023, a contributor can create a StudentAid.gov account without a Social Security number. Students and contributors must provide consent and approval to have their federal tax information transferred from the IRS directly into the form via data exchange. Student and contributor federal tax information will be used to determine the student’s eligibility for federal student aid, and if a student or required contributor doesn’t provide consent and approval, the student will not be eligible for federal student aid even if he or she manually enters tax information into the FAFSA form. In summary, a contributor is anyone who is required to provide information on a student’s FAFSA form, including the student, the student’s spouse, a biological or adoptive parent, or the parent’s spouse (stepparent). A contributor isn’t non-adoptive grandparents, foster parents, legal guardians, brothers or sisters, and aunts or uncles, even if they helped provide for or raise the student.

Students should go to fafsa.gov to fill out their FAFSA form in December 2023.  Students can contact the Federal Student Aid Information Center at 1-800-433-3243 if they need additional assistance. Note that it’s important to meet all school, state, and federal FAFSA deadlines. More information about deadlines can be found at StudentAid.gov/fafsa-deadlines. It’s also very important to remember your StudentAid.gov account username and password (FSA ID), which will be used to log in to complete the FAFSA form.

Another new element to the FAFSA this year: students will be able to include up to 20 colleges on the online FAFSA form, which is double the maximum of 10 allowed in previous years.

Federal Methodology (FM)
The Federal Methodology (FM) is a formula used in the United States to determine a student’s financial need for federal student aid when they complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The FM calculates the Student Aid Index (SAI), which represents the amount of money that a student and their family are expected to contribute toward their education expenses for a specific academic year.

Here are some key points about the Federal Methodology (FM) and how it works:

  1. Income and Asset Information: The FM takes into account various financial factors, including the student’s and parents’ income and assets. This information is reported on the FAFSA.
  2. Student Aid Index (SAI) Calculation: The SAI is calculated based on a standardized formula established by the federal government. The formula considers factors such as adjusted gross income, untaxed income, and family size. It should be noted that while the EFC also factored in how many other college students were in a family, the new SAI does not do this. According to NerdWallet, the “SAI is used as part of the equation for financial need, which is found by subtracting the Student Aid Index and other financial assistance from the cost of attendance at each school. Your cost of attendance includes tuition, fees and room and board. The equation essentially looks like this: Cost of attendance – SAI – Other Financial Assistance (OFA) = Financial Need.”
  3. Need-Based Aid: The SAI is used to determine a student’s eligibility for need-based federal financial aid programs, such as the Pell Grant, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG), and subsidized student loans. The formula subtracts the SAI from the cost of attendance (COA) at the student’s chosen college to determine the student’s financial need.
  4. Cost of Attendance (COA): The COA includes tuition, fees, books, supplies, room and board, transportation, and other educational expenses. It is an estimate of the total cost of attending a particular college for one academic year.
  5. Non-Need-Based Aid: Some federal financial aid programs, such as unsubsidized federal student loans and the Federal Work-Study program, are not need-based and do not rely on the SAI for eligibility. Students can generally borrow unsubsidized loans regardless of their SAI, though loan amounts may be capped based on dependency status and academic year.
  6. State and Institutional Aid: States and colleges may use their own formulas or methodologies to award state and institutional financial aid. However, the SAI calculated using the FM on the FAFSA is often used as a starting point for determining eligibility for these programs.
  7. How low can SAI go?: Interestingly, a student’s SAI can be a negative number down as low as -1,500.
  8. Other changes this year: Child support received will now count as an asset. Family farms and small businesses will now count as assets, less the family’s primary residence if also located on the farm. Finally, the number of family members in college is no longer considered in the needs analysis formula, but it is still a required question on the FAFSA form.

Overall, the Federal Methodology is a standardized way to assess a student’s eligibility for federal need-based financial aid programs, and it plays a central role in the financial aid application process in the United States.

CSS PROFILE
The CSS PROFILE (long version: College Scholarship Service PROFILE) is an additional financial aid application used by many private colleges and universities in the United States to assess a student’s eligibility for non-federal financial aid, including institutional grants, scholarships, and other forms of need-based and merit-based financial assistance. It is administered by the College Board, the same organization responsible for standardized tests like the SAT.

Here are some key points about the CSS PROFILE:

  1. Scope: The CSS PROFILE is typically required by private colleges and universities, primarily those that have substantial institutional financial aid programs. Public colleges and universities generally do not use the CSS PROFILE; they typically rely on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) for determining federal financial aid eligibility.
  2. Timing: The CSS PROFILE becomes available in the fall, typically around October 1st, for the upcoming academic year. Deadlines for submission vary by college, and it’s essential for students to check each college’s specific deadline.
  3. Customized Questions: Unlike the FAFSA, which uses a standardized formula (the Federal Methodology), the CSS PROFILE allows colleges to customize the financial information they collect from applicants. This means that the questions and data requested may vary from one institution to another.
  4. Non-Custodial Parent Information: Some colleges that require the CSS PROFILE may also request financial information from a non-custodial parent, especially in cases where the student’s parents are divorced or separated.
  5. Fee: There is a fee associated with submitting the CSS PROFILE, and fee waivers may be available for eligible students. The fee can vary depending on the number of colleges or programs to which the student is sending the PROFILE.
  6. Documentation: Applicants may need to provide documentation, such as tax returns, W-2 forms, and other financial records, to support the information provided on the CSS PROFILE.
  7. Institutional Aid: The CSS PROFILE is primarily used to determine eligibility for institutional (college-specific) financial aid. Colleges may use the information provided on the PROFILE to make decisions about need-based grants and scholarships, as well as other forms of financial assistance.
  8. Supplemental Information: Some colleges may also use the CSS PROFILE to collect additional information about special circumstances or unusual expenses that could affect a student’s financial need.

It’s important for prospective college students to research the financial aid requirements of the colleges they plan to apply to, as not all schools require the CSS PROFILE. Some colleges may also have their own financial aid applications in addition to or instead of the CSS PROFILE. Students should be aware of deadlines and application requirements to ensure they are considered for all available financial aid opportunities at their chosen institutions.

Institutional Methodology
The Institutional Methodology (IM) is a financial aid calculation formula used by some colleges and universities in the United States to determine a student’s eligibility for institutional (college-specific) financial aid programs. Unlike the Federal Methodology (FM), which is used to calculate eligibility for federal financial aid, the IM is specific to the institution itself (often created with the help of data collected in the CSS PROFILE) and is used to distribute the college’s own financial aid funds.

Here are some key points about the Institutional Methodology (IM):

  1. College-Specific Formula: Each college or university that uses the IM may have its own unique formula or set of criteria for calculating a student’s financial need. This means that the IM can vary from one institution to another, and the way financial need is determined may differ.
  2. Additional Information: In addition to the information provided on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), colleges using the IM may request additional financial information from the student and their family. This can include details about assets, expenses, and other factors that may be relevant to determining financial need.
  3. Institutional Aid Programs: The results of the IM calculation are typically used by the college to award its own institutional financial aid, such as scholarships, grants, and work-study opportunities. These awards are often based on factors like academic merit, athletic talent, or other criteria set by the college.
  4. Variable Award Amounts: Because the IM can vary from one institution to another, the amount of institutional aid a student is eligible for can also vary significantly depending on the college they attend. Different colleges may have different resources available for financial aid, and they may prioritize certain types of students or circumstances.
  5. Transparency: Colleges that use the IM are generally required to disclose their financial aid policies and methodologies to prospective students. This allows students and their families to understand how their financial need will be determined and how much institutional aid they may qualify for.

It’s important for students and their families to carefully review the financial aid policies and requirements of each college they are considering applying to, as these policies can have a significant impact on the affordability of attending a particular institution. Some colleges may use only the federal FM to determine financial need, while others may use both the FM and their own IM, or they may rely solely on the IM.

Pell Grants
Pell Grants are need-based federal financial aid awards provided to eligible undergraduate students in the United States to help them pay for their college education. These grants are administered by the U.S. Department of Education and are a crucial source of financial assistance for many low-income and some middle-income students pursuing higher education.

Here are some key features of Pell Grants:

  1. Need-Based Aid: Pell Grants are awarded based on financial need, as determined by the Student Aid Index (SAI) calculated from the student’s Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
  2. Eligibility Criteria: Eligibility for Pell Grants is primarily determined by factors such as the student’s SAI, enrollment status (full-time or part-time), the cost of attendance at their chosen college, and their plans to attend college for a full academic year or less. Students must also meet certain citizenship and educational requirements.
  3. Award Amounts: The maximum Pell Grant award amount is set annually by the U.S. Congress. The actual amount a student receives depends on their financial need, as well as the cost of attending their college. Students with higher financial need may receive a larger Pell Grant.
  4. Annual Limits: Pell Grants have an annual limit, and students can receive these grants for a maximum of 12 semesters (or the equivalent). The number of semesters a student can receive a Pell Grant depends on factors such as enrollment status and the number of semesters they attend college each year.
  5. Non-Repayable: Pell Grants are considered gift aid, which means they do not have to be repaid by the student. This makes them a valuable source of financial assistance, as they reduce the student’s out-of-pocket expenses for tuition, fees, books, and other educational costs.
  6. Application: To be considered for a Pell Grant, students must complete the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid). The FAFSA is used to determine eligibility not only for Pell Grants but also for other federal, state, and institutional financial aid programs.
  7. Additional Aid: Pell Grants are often part of a student’s overall financial aid package, which may include other forms of aid such as scholarships, work-study opportunities, and federal student loans.

Pell Grants are intended to help make higher education more accessible to students with financial need, allowing them to pursue their educational goals without the burden of significant debt. The specific award amounts and eligibility criteria can change from year to year, so it’s important for students to stay informed about the latest information regarding Pell Grants and other financial aid opportunities. With the new FAFSA, Pell Grant eligiblity is expanding to more students.

Other Tuition Grants
Pell Grants are just one type of grant. A tuition grant is a form of financial aid provided by a college, university, or other educational institution to help offset the cost of tuition for students. Tuition grants are a type of financial assistance that does not need to be repaid, making them a valuable resource for students seeking to make higher education more affordable.

Here are some key points to understand about tuition grants:

  1. Source: Tuition grants are typically offered and funded directly by the educational institution itself. Some colleges and universities have their own grant programs to provide financial assistance to students, while others may receive funding from external sources, such as private donors or foundations, to offer grants to eligible students.
  2. Eligibility: Eligibility criteria for tuition grants can vary widely from one institution to another. Common factors considered may include financial need, academic merit, specific talents or skills, demographic characteristics, or a combination of these factors.
  3. Financial Need: Some tuition grants are need-based, meaning they are awarded to students who demonstrate financial need based on the institution’s assessment of their family’s financial resources. These grants are often intended to make education more accessible to students from low-income backgrounds.
  4. Merit-Based: Other tuition grants are merit-based, awarded to students who have achieved outstanding academic, athletic, artistic, or other accomplishments. Merit-based grants are often used to attract talented and high-achieving students to the institution.
  5. Specific Programs: In some cases, institutions offer tuition grants for students pursuing specific programs or fields of study. For example, a college may offer grants to students majoring in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) disciplines to encourage enrollment in these fields.
  6. Application Process: To be considered for a tuition grant, students typically need to complete the institution’s financial aid application or scholarship application. This may include providing information about their academic achievements, extracurricular involvement, financial circumstances, or other relevant factors.
  7. Award Amounts: The amount of a tuition grant can vary widely. Some grants may cover a significant portion of tuition expenses, while others may be smaller and provide partial assistance.
  8. Renewability: Some tuition grants are renewable for multiple years, provided that the student continues to meet specific criteria, such as maintaining a certain GPA or making satisfactory academic progress.
  9. Impact on Financial Aid Package: Students should be aware that receiving a tuition grant may affect their overall financial aid package, including other forms of financial aid such as federal or state grants, work-study opportunities, and loans.

Tuition grants are an important tool that colleges and universities use to make education more accessible and to attract and retain talented students. Students interested in tuition grants should research the specific grant opportunities offered by the institutions they are considering and follow the application procedures and deadlines provided by those institutions.

Subsidized Student Loans
Subsidized student loans are a type of federal student loan available to undergraduate students in the United States with demonstrated financial need. These loans are known as “subsidized” because the federal government pays the interest that accrues on the loan while the borrower is in school and during certain other periods of deferment.

Here are some key features of subsidized student loans:

  1. Financial Need: To qualify for a subsidized student loan, students must demonstrate financial need through the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
  2. Interest Subsidy: The unique feature of subsidized loans is that the federal government pays the interest that accrues on the loan while the borrower is enrolled at least half-time in college, during the six-month grace period after leaving school, and during deferment periods (such as if the borrower returns to school or experiences economic hardship). This interest subsidy means that the loan balance does not grow while the borrower is in school or during eligible deferment periods.
  3. Loan Limits: Subsidized student loans have annual and aggregate (lifetime) loan limits. These limits depend on the student’s year in school (e.g., freshman, sophomore) and whether they are considered a dependent or independent student. The limits can change annually based on federal regulations.
  4. Repayment: Repayment of subsidized loans typically begins six months after the borrower graduates, leaves school, or drops below half-time enrollment. During the in-school and grace periods, as well as during deferment, the borrower is not required to make interest payments, and the interest that accrues is paid by the federal government.
  5. Fixed Interest Rate: Subsidized loans have a fixed interest rate set by Congress. The rate may change annually for new loans, but once a loan is disbursed, the interest rate remains fixed for the life of the loan.
  6. Loan Forgiveness: Subsidized loans are eligible for various federal loan forgiveness and income-driven repayment programs that can help borrowers manage their loan debt if they qualify based on their income and employment status.

Subsidized student loans are considered one of the more favorable options for financing a college education because of the interest subsidy, which reduces the overall cost of borrowing. However, eligibility for subsidized loans is based on financial need, and there are annual and lifetime limits on the amount a student can borrow. It’s important for students to be aware of their borrowing limits, understand the terms of their loans, and explore other forms of financial aid (such as grants and scholarships) before taking out loans to pay for college expenses.

Unsubsidized Student Loans
Unsubsidized student loans are a type of federal student loan available to both undergraduate and graduate students in the United States. Unlike subsidized loans, unsubsidized loans are not based on financial need, and interest begins accruing on these loans as soon as they are disbursed.

Here are some key features of unsubsidized student loans:

  1. No Financial Need Requirement: Unlike subsidized loans, which are need-based, unsubsidized loans are available to all eligible students regardless of their financial need. This means that students do not have to demonstrate financial need to qualify for these loans.
  2. Interest Accrual: The major distinction of unsubsidized loans is that interest begins accruing on the loan from the moment it is disbursed to the borrower. This is in contrast to subsidized loans, where the federal government pays the interest while the borrower is in school and during certain other deferment periods.
  3. Interest Capitalization: While borrowers are not required to make interest payments while they are in school, during their grace period, or during certain deferment periods, the accruing interest is capitalized or added to the loan’s principal balance when repayment begins. This means that the borrower ends up paying interest on the interest that has accrued.
  4. Loan Limits: Unsubsidized loans have annual and aggregate (lifetime) loan limits that vary depending on the student’s year in school and whether they are a dependent or independent student. These limits are set by federal regulations and can change over time.
  5. Fixed Interest Rate: Unsubsidized loans have a fixed interest rate set by Congress. While the rate may change for new loans each year, once a loan is disbursed, the interest rate remains fixed for the life of the loan.
  6. Repayment: Repayment of unsubsidized loans typically begins six months after the borrower graduates, leaves school, or drops below half-time enrollment. Borrowers are responsible for repaying both the principal amount borrowed and the accrued interest.
  7. Loan Forgiveness and Repayment Plans: Unsubsidized loans are eligible for various federal loan forgiveness programs and income-driven repayment plans. These programs can help borrowers manage their loan debt based on their income and employment status.

It’s important for students to be aware of the terms and conditions of their unsubsidized loans, including the interest that will accrue over time. While these loans provide important access to funding for education, borrowers should consider their overall financial situation and explore other sources of financial aid, such as grants and scholarships, before taking out loans to pay for college expenses.

Private Student Loans
Private student loans, or alternative student loans, are educational loans offered by private financial institutions such as banks, credit unions, and online lenders to help students and their families cover the cost of higher education. These loans are distinct from federal student loans, which are offered by the U.S. Department of Education.

Here are some key features of private college loans:

  1. Lender Variety: Private college loans can be obtained from a variety of private financial institutions. This includes banks, credit unions, online lenders, and some state-based lending programs. Each lender may have its own terms and conditions, interest rates, and eligibility criteria.
  2. Credit-Based: Private student loans are typically credit-based, which means that the borrower’s creditworthiness plays a significant role in the approval process. A good credit history may lead to lower interest rates, while those with limited credit or poor credit may require a co-signer to qualify.
  3. Interest Rates: The interest rates on private college loans can be variable or fixed, depending on the lender and loan product. Variable rates can change over time, potentially leading to higher or lower monthly payments, while fixed rates remain constant for the life of the loan.
  4. Loan Limits: Private college loans may have higher borrowing limits compared to federal student loans, allowing students to borrow more to cover their educational expenses. However, borrowers should exercise caution when taking on excessive debt.
  5. Loan Terms: Private loan terms vary but are often less flexible than federal loans. Borrowers may have fewer options for repayment plans and may not be eligible for federal loan forgiveness or income-driven repayment programs.
  6. Cosigners: Many private lenders require a creditworthy cosigner, especially for undergraduate students and borrowers with limited credit history. A cosigner is legally responsible for the loan if the primary borrower cannot make payments.
  7. Application Process: Applying for private college loans typically involves submitting an application to the lender, providing financial information, and consenting to a credit check. The approval process can vary in length.
  8. Use of Funds: Private loans can be used to cover a wide range of educational expenses, including tuition, fees, room and board, textbooks, and other related costs.
  9. Less Generous Repayment Options: Private loans often have less generous repayment terms than federal loans. Borrowers may need to start making payments while still in school, and they may not have access to income-driven repayment plans or loan forgiveness options.
  10. Interest Capitalization: Some private loans may capitalize interest during periods of deferment or forbearance, adding accrued interest to the loan balance.

Private college loans can be a valuable resource for students who have exhausted federal loan options or have specific needs not met by federal aid programs. Yet, it’s essential for borrowers to carefully compare private loan terms, interest rates, and repayment options before taking out these loans, as they may not offer the same protections and benefits as federal student loans.

Third Party Scholarships
Third-party college scholarships are financial awards given to students by organizations, institutions, companies, or individuals other than the college or university the student plans to attend. These scholarships are typically offered to help students cover the costs of their education, including tuition, fees, books, and living expenses. Here are some key points to understand about third-party college scholarships:

  1. Source of Funding: Third-party scholarships can come from a variety of sources, including private foundations, nonprofit organizations, corporations, community groups, and even individuals who want to support students’ educational goals.
  2. Selection Criteria: Scholarships often have specific eligibility criteria, such as academic achievement, leadership qualities, community involvement, or specific career goals. Some scholarships may also be based on financial need.
  3. Application Process: To apply for third-party scholarships, students typically need to complete an application that includes personal information, academic records, essays, letters of recommendation, and other required documents. Some scholarships may require interviews or additional steps.
  4. Competition: Many scholarships are highly competitive, as they attract applicants from a wide pool of students. It’s important for students to carefully review the requirements and tailor their applications to stand out.
  5. Award Amounts: The amount of money awarded through third-party scholarships can vary widely. Some scholarships may cover a significant portion of a student’s expenses, while others may provide smaller awards.
  6. Use of Funds: Scholarship funds are typically intended to be used for educational expenses, such as tuition, fees, books, and living costs. Some scholarships may have restrictions on how the money can be used.
  7. Renewability: Some scholarships are one-time awards, while others are renewable for multiple years as long as the recipient continues to meet the specified criteria.
  8. Deadline: Each scholarship will have its own application deadline, which may vary depending on the organization offering the scholarship. It’s important for students to pay attention to these deadlines to ensure they don’t miss out on opportunities.
  9. Impact on Financial Aid: It’s important for students to inform their college or university’s financial aid office if they receive a third-party scholarship, as it can affect the overall financial aid package. In some cases, the college may adjust other forms of financial aid to avoid over-awarding.
  10. Search Resources: Students can search for third-party scholarships through various resources, including scholarship search websites, their high school guidance counselor, college financial aid offices, and community organizations.

Overall, third-party college scholarships can be a valuable source of financial support for students pursuing higher education, as they can help alleviate the financial burden of attending college and make education more accessible to a wider range of students. Yet, the amount of time and energy needed to apply for and ultimately secure such scholarships may not be worth it relative to the often larger pots of money students can access elsewhere through other sources of aid.

Need-Blind vs. Need-Aware
“Need-aware” and “need-blind” are terms used in the college admissions process to describe how an institution considers a student’s financial need when making admission decisions. These policies can have a significant impact on a student’s chances of being admitted and the level of financial aid they may receive.

Here’s what each term means:

  1. Need-Aware Admissions:
    • Definition: Under a need-aware admission policy, the college or university takes into consideration a student’s financial need when making admission decisions. In other words, the institution is aware of the applicant’s financial situation and may consider their ability to pay tuition and related expenses as a factor in the admissions process.
    • Impact: Need-aware institutions may admit some students without considering their financial need, especially those who are exceptionally qualified or meet other specific criteria. However, when it comes to students whose qualifications are on the borderline or are not as strong, financial need can play a role in the decision-making process. In some cases, this means that students with high financial need may have a more challenging time gaining admission, particularly if the institution has limited financial aid resources.
  2. Need-Blind Admissions:
    • Definition: Under a need-blind admission policy, the college or university does not take an applicant’s financial need into account when making admission decisions. The institution makes admission decisions solely based on the applicant’s academic achievements, extracurricular activities, recommendations, essays, and other non-financial factors.
    • Impact: Need-blind institutions admit students without regard to their financial circumstances. This policy often means that the admissions process is more focused on the student’s qualifications and potential contributions to the academic community. Once a student is admitted, the institution commits to meeting their demonstrated financial need through a combination of grants, scholarships, work-study programs, and loans.

It’s important to note that not all colleges and universities have a strict need-aware or need-blind policy. Some institutions may adopt a hybrid approach, where they are need-blind for domestic applicants but need-aware for international applicants, or vice versa. Additionally, an institution’s financial resources and endowment can play a role in whether they can afford to be need-blind in their admissions process. Students and their families should research the specific admission and financial aid policies of the colleges they are interested in to understand how these policies may affect their chances of admission and the level of financial aid they can expect to receive if admitted.

So, What About Aid Available At Colleges On My List?
As you could probably tell by reading up to this point, the types and amount of aid students can expect varies a great deal based on both the student and the colleges the student is applying to. While no article can become fully personalized to tens of thousands of readers’ unique economic and demographic backgrounds, there are only so many colleges out there, which makes honing in on and better understanding individual college aid statistics so valuable. My favorite sources of such powerful financial aid data are Jennie Kent and Jeff Levy who publish amazing Domestic Undergraduate Need-Based Aid and Merit Aid Stats and Financial Aid for Nonresident Alien Undergraduates Stats each year. Otherwise, it can’t be emphasized often enough, if you have any questions about how a particular college on your list administers or handles financial aid, I strongly encourage you to call or email that college’s financial aid office; nearly all colleges have financial aid officers working Monday through Friday whose job it is to answer prospective and current families’ questions. Take advantage of these expert sources of information at the colleges on your (or your student’s) list so you are able to navigate the the college and financial aid application processes with eyes wide open. Good luck!

Additional Federal Resources
StudentAid.gov
Information, resources, and guidance for students, contributors, and borrowers

Financial Aid Toolkit
Find outreach tools to help guide others through changes to the FAFSA process

FAFSA® Changes: An Overview
A webinar that discusses contributors, the StudentAid.gov account requirement, and providing consent and approval to transfer federal tax information from the IRS via direct data exchange.

2024 –25 FAFSA Preview Presentation
An overview designed to help you understand the 2024-2025 FAFSA form and prepare for FAFSA outreach and events. This presentation includes detailed screenshots of the 2024 –2025 FAFSA online form and new user experience.

YouTube.com/@FederalStudentAid
Review the FAFSA video playlists that will be posted the FAFSA’s YouTube channel, which are helpful resources for students and families.

Princeton wants to learn about applicants’ “lived experiences”

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Princeton University has released its 2023-2024 supplemental essay prompts for first-year applicants, making it the final Ivy League institution to do so.

The most notable change in Princeton’s supplement from last year is the addition of a new essay of up to 500 words responding to a prompt inquiring about the applicant’s life so far and how it has shaped the applicant in a manner that will allow the applicant to contribute to Princeton’s campus.

2023-2024 Princeton Supplemental Prompts

A.B. and Undecided Applicants Only

1. As a research institution that also prides itself on its liberal arts curriculum, Princeton allows students to explore areas across the humanities and the arts, the natural sciences, and the social sciences. What academic areas most pique your curiosity, and how do the programs offered at Princeton suit your particular interests? (Please respond in 250 words or fewer)

B.S.E. Applicants Only

1. Please describe why you are interested in studying engineering at Princeton. Include any of your experiences in, or exposure to engineering, and how you think the programs offered at the University suit your particular interests. (Please respond in 250 words or fewer)

Your Voice

2. Princeton values community and encourages students, faculty, staff and leadership to engage in respectful conversations that can expand their perspectives and challenge their ideas and beliefs. As a prospective member of this community, reflect on how your lived experiences will impact the conversations you will have in the classroom, the dining hall or other campus spaces. What lessons have you learned in life thus far? What will your classmates learn from you? In short, how has your lived experience shaped you? (500 words or fewer; new prompt and expanded word count length this year)

3. Princeton has a longstanding commitment to understanding our responsibility to society through service and civic engagement. How does your own story intersect with these ideals? (250 words or fewer; reworded from last year)

Please respond to each question in 50 words or fewer. There are no right or wrong answers. Be yourself!

4. What is a new skill you would like to learn in college?

5. What brings you joy?

6. What song represents the soundtrack of your life at this moment?

—

Since The Supreme Court of the United States ruled in June 2023 that colleges can no longer admit students on the on the basis of race, a number of selective colleges, now including Princeton, have added new essay prompts to their 2023-2024 first-year applications to inspire applicants to write about how their backgrounds – inclusive of race – have and/or will continue to inform their behaviors, perspectives, and priorities.

What remains uncertain is how such essays will be assessed by colleges’ application review committees. If keeping within the letter and spirit of The Supreme Court majority opinion, application review committees will not give applicants’ essays a higher or lower number of points based on the background or backgrounds applicants choose to write about in their essays.

The number of words students have in order to respond to Princeton’s new “lived experience” essay is also notably higher than any essay has been afforded on Princeton’s supplement in recent years when the highest number of words students could write in order to respond to any Princeton prompt topped out at 350 words.

As most high school seniors applying to Princeton do so through the Common Application, most Princeton applicants will also need to respond – and respond well – to one of the Common App’s main essay prompts in order to be considered for admission at Princeton.

Good luck to all those students applying to join Princeton’s Class of 2028. Start drafting!

Meanwhile, the 2023-2024 supplemental essay prompts for students applying to be first-year students at fellow Ivy League institutions Brown, Columbia, Cornell, Dartmouth, Harvard, Penn, and Yale were all released in July or early August.

Northwestern University adds six new essay prompts to its application supplement

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Northwestern University Deering Library

Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois has added six new essay prompts to its 2023-2024 supplement to the Common Application for first-year applicants.

At the same time, Northwestern becomes the most selective Common App college to no longer require submission of the Common Application main essay in order to be considered for admission. Yet, if a student applying for first-year admission to Northwestern wants the university’s admissions committee to review his or her Common App essay, he or she can still include it when submitting the Common App to Northwestern.

Regarding Northwestern’s supplement, students applying via the Common App or Coalition App must respond to only one of the six new supplemental essay prompts, and applicants can only respond to up to two of the others. This means that smart applicants who want to make their case through their words will be writing three Northwestern-specific short essays (up to 700 words total) in their attempt to earn admission into Northwestern’s Class of 2028.

2023-2024 Northwestern University Supplemental Essay Prompts

The following question is required for all Common Application and Coalition with Scoir applicants (optional for QuestBridge applicants). Please respond in 300 words or fewer:

  • We want to be sure we’re considering your application in the context of your personal experiences: What aspects of your background, your identity, or your school, community, and/or household settings have most shaped how you see yourself engaging in Northwestern’s community, be it academically, extracurricularly, culturally, politically, socially, or otherwise?

The following questions are optional, but we encourage you to answer at least one and no more than two. Please respond in fewer than 200 words per question:

  • Painting “The Rock” is a tradition at Northwestern that invites all forms of expression—students promote campus events or extracurricular groups, support social or activist causes, show their Wildcat spirit (what we call “Purple Pride”), celebrate their culture, and more. What would you paint on The Rock, and why?
  • Northwestern fosters a distinctively interdisciplinary culture. We believe discovery and innovation thrive at the intersection of diverse ideas, perspectives, and academic interests. Within this setting, if you could dream up an undergraduate class, research project, or creative effort (a start-up, a design prototype, a performance, etc.), what would it be? Who might be some ideal classmates or collaborators?
  • Community and belonging matter at Northwestern. Tell us about one or more communities, networks, or student groups you see yourself connecting with on campus.
  • Northwestern’s location is special: on the shore of Lake Michigan, steps from downtown Evanston, just a few miles from Chicago. What aspects of our location are most compelling to you, and why?
  • Northwestern is a place where people with diverse backgrounds from all over the world can study, live, and talk with one another. This range of experiences and viewpoints immeasurably enriches learning. How might your individual background contribute to this diversity of perspectives in Northwestern’s classrooms and around our campus?

—

As most high school seniors applying to Northwestern do so through the Common Application, and most are applying to other highly selective private colleges that require the Common App essay, it’s likely that most first-year applicants to Northwestern will still want Northwestern admissions officers to read their Common App essay.

Since The Supreme Court of the United States ruled in June 2023 that colleges can no longer admit students on the on the basis of race, a number of selective colleges, now including Northwestern, have added new essay prompts to their 2023-2024 first-year applications to inspire applicants to write about how their backgrounds – inclusive of race – have and/or will continue to inform their behaviors, perspectives, and priorities.

What is not yet clear is how such essays will be assessed by colleges’ application review committees. If keeping within the letter and spirit of The Supreme Court majority opinion, application review committees will not give applicants’ essays a higher or lower number of points based on the background or backgrounds applicants choose to write about in their essays. Northwestern’s new essay prompts use the words “diverse” or “diversity” three times, “background(s)” three times, and “community” or “communities” four times.

Previously, Northwestern’s one and only – and now retired – supplemental essay prompt read as follows:

In 300 words or less, help us understand how you might engage specific resources, opportunities, and/or communities here. We are curious about what these specifics are, as well as how they may enrich your time at Northwestern and beyond.

Good luck to all those students applying to join Northwestern’s Class of 2028.

Wake Forest Introduces Exclusive Early Action (EEA)

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Considering how much the word “inclusive” is bandied about these days, Wake Forest University would, at first glance, appear to be taking a big risk by creating a new Early Action admissions option that will be the exclusive domain of only certain applicants based on their demographics alone. Yet, that’s exactly what Wake Forest is doing while promoting its new Early Action admissions option as a tool to promote inclusivity.

On June 29, the day when The Supreme Court of the United States ruled that race can’t be a factor in admissions decisions, Wake Forest University’s President Susan R. Wente wrote, “We write to affirm that Wake Forest University will not waver in its commitment to creating and sustaining inclusive, diverse learning communities; our mission and values have not and will not change. We will continue to recruit and enroll academically qualified students of diverse backgrounds who seek an intellectual home at Wake Forest where they belong and thrive, and in compliance with the Court’s ruling.”

Just a few weeks later, Wake introduced a new essay prompt for first-year applicants to complete during the 2023-2024 admissions cycle that invites students to explain how their identity or lived experience will help them contribute to the Wake Forest community.

Now, Wake Forest has announced a new Early Action admissions option “specifically for first-generation students to provide an additional pathway of opportunity.” Those who are not considered by Wake to be first-generation college students may not apply to Wake using this new Early Action option, thus making it the very definition of exclusive, which is why for the remainder of this article, and in order to differentiate it from traditional Early Action options that do not prevent certain students from taking advantage of them, Wake’s new admissions option will be referred to as Exclusive Early Action, or EEA. Wake’s new Exclusive Early Action applicants must apply by November 15 and will receive their admissions decisions by January 15.

For years, Wake Forest has met 100% of the demonstrated financial need of eligible admitted undergraduate students while also offering Early Decision I (students apply by November 15 and get their decisions by December) and Early Decision II (students apply by January 1 and get their decisions by February 15) application options, both of which are officially binding in nature (meaning a student must attend – in most cases – if admitted), and Regular Decision (students apply by January 1 and get their decisions in late March/Early April), which, just like its new EEA option, doesn’t require admitted students to accept or reject their offers of admission until May 1. Yet, three pathways to opportunity, all of which are open to any and all potential applicants, were deemed insufficient to those making executive level decisions at Wake Forest. Why?

From Wake’s perspective, offering Exclusive Early Action is a way to get “first dibs” on in-demand first-generation students and avoid having to directly compare a cohort of such applicants to applicants with the perceived advantages associated with being born to one or two parents with degrees from four-year colleges.

A critical paragraph of the June Supreme Court majority opinion, written by Chief Justice John Roberts, included this line:

“…universities may not simply establish through application essays or other means the regime we hold unlawful today…'[W]hat cannot be done directly cannot be done indirectly. The Constitution deals with substance, not shadows,’ and the prohibition against racial discrimination is ‘levelled at the thing, not the name.’ Cummings v. Missouri, 4 Wall. 277, 325 (1867).”

US Census data from 2022 indicate that the percentage of adults age 25 and older with a bachelor’s degree or more was 41.8% for the non-Hispanic White population, 27.6% for the Black population, 59.3% for the Asian population, and 20.9% for the Hispanic population. Thus, being a first-generation college student is a real, though imperfect, proxy for race.

Presumably, the upshot for students of applying EEA to Wake will not be learning of their decisions early, as many, though not all, first-generation students will want to wait to compare all of their offers of admission and financial aid. Rather, the upshot for students is that it is likely that the acceptance rate for EEA applicants will be higher than the acceptance rate for those applying in the competitive Regular Decision cycle, as most colleges that offer Early Action and/or Early Decision have higher acceptance rates for such options relative to their Regular Decision options.

Thus, for someone who really wants to go to Wake Forest but who doesn’t want to commit to attending Wake Forest until he or she receives all of his or her admissions and aid decisions, Wake’s new EEA option seems like a great chance to keep one’s options open and increase one’s chances of admission to Wake – and potentially elsewhere since it allows such students to apply to an Early Decision college or two and unlimited traditional Early Action (EA) colleges concurrently – all in one fell swoop. Of course, a lot of high school seniors would like to get in on this. But only some will be allowed to: those considered by Wake Forest to be first-generation college students.

Which brings us to who exactly Wake Forest considers a “first-generation college student.” Colleges have not agreed upon a standard definition of the term, especially since two parents of a child may have very different backgrounds and not all children live with or have relationships with both parents.

Wake, in a statement announcing the new admissions option, and on its admissions site, defines first-generation as follows:

“First-generation students are those whose parents did not graduate from a four-year accredited college or university. First generation can also include the children of parents who earned a degree in another country, immigrated to the United States, and are underemployed in the U.S. Whether domestic or international, if the student resides with and receives support from only one parent, the ‘first generation’ classification is based on that parent’s education.”

Eric Maguire, Wake Forest’s Vice-President for Enrollment Management, in response to an inquiry from the author of this article, further clarified that, “an international student can be considered first generation if their parents did not graduate from an accredited university or if they meet all three of the following criteria: earned a degree in another country, immigrated to the United States, and are underemployed. We would determine ‘underemployment’ based on the accepted definition as found in Merriam-Webster: ‘having less than full-time, regular, or adequate employment.'”

In 2007, right before Wake Forest became ACT- and SAT-optional in its admissions process, first-year student enrollment at Wake was 84% White, 6% Asian, 6% Black, 3% Hispanic, and 1% Native American. In Fall 2022, first-year student enrollment at Wake was approximately 63% White, 11% Asian, 11% Hispanic, 7% two or more races, 6% Black, 2% unknown, and less than 1% Native American. Only time will tell if the latest adjustments to Wake Forest’s first-year admissions process alters the racial or ethnic composition of its future entering classes or inspires other institutions to offer their own versions of EEA.

Wake Forest’s new supplemental essay prompt builds on a trend and guest stars Maya Angelou

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Since The Supreme Court of the United States ruled in June 2023 that colleges can no longer admit students on the on the basis of race, a number of selective colleges have added new essay prompts to their 2023-2024 first-year applications to inspire applicants to write about how their backgrounds – inclusive of race – have and/or will continue to inform their behaviors, perspectives, and priorities.

What is not yet clear is how such essays will be assessed by colleges’ application review committees.

If keeping within the letter and spirit of The Supreme Court majority opinion, application review committees will not give applicants’ essays a higher or lower number of points based on the background or backgrounds applicants choose to write about in their essays.

Yet, if an essay demonstrates certain personal attributes such as grit, perseverance, fortitude, superficiality, immaturity, or poor writing skills – all of which can be demonstrated by applicants of all backgrounds – such attributes can be cause to give applicants’ essays a higher or lower number of points.

The key, of course, will be for review committees not to assign certain attributes on the basis of race, but on the basis of reality, as in what the details included in the application demonstrate about the real character and disposition of an individual applicant. Any such attribute considered can’t simply be a proxy for race.

Enter Wake Forest University, which introduced test-optional admissions into its application process fifteen years ago. At the time, Martha Allman, then director of admissions at Wake Forest, said, “By making the SAT and ACT optional, we hope to broaden the applicant pool and increase access at Wake Forest for groups of students who are currently underrepresented at selective universities.”

On June 29, 2023 the day when The Supreme Court of the United States ruled that race can’t be a factor in admissions decisions, Wake Forest University’s President Susan R. Wente wrote, “We write to affirm that Wake Forest University will not waver in its commitment to creating and sustaining inclusive, diverse learning communities; our mission and values have not and will not change. We will continue to recruit and enroll academically qualified students of diverse backgrounds who seek an intellectual home at Wake Forest where they belong and thrive, and in compliance with the Court’s ruling.”

Just a couple weeks later, Wake revealed its 2023-2024 supplemental short response/essay prompts for first-year applicants, which includes a brand new prompt that guest stars famed American poet Maya Angelou:

1. Why have you decided to apply to Wake Forest? Share with us anything that has made you interested in our institution. (limit 150 words)

2. List five books you’ve read that have intrigued you.

3. Tell us what piques your intellectual curiosity or has helped you understand the world’s complexity. This can include a work you’ve read, a project you’ve completed for a class, and even co-curricular activities in which you have been involved. (limit 150 words)

4. Dr. Maya Angelou, renowned author, poet, civil-rights activist, and former Wake Forest University Reynolds Professor of American Studies, inspired others to celebrate their identities and to honor each person’s dignity. Choose one of Dr. Angelou’s powerful quotes. How does this quote relate to your lived experience or reflect how you plan to contribute to the Wake Forest community? (brand new prompt; limit 300 words)

5. Give us your Top Ten List. (The choice of theme is yours.) (limit 100 characters per line)

Of particular note is the new essay prompt built around a Maya Angelou quote that invites students to explain how their identity or lived experience will help them contribute to the Wake Forest community.

A relatively straight-forward approach many students may take when responding to this prompt will be for them to point to how their expression of their race, religion, or some other identity, experience, or value system will add new dimension or vitality to Wake’s campus; yet, by doing so, this has the potential (in cases where race is the focus of students’ responses) to come perilously close to students making an argument for Wake to do something Wake as an institution can no longer legally do – namely to admit someone on the basis of race.

In response to this prompt, I would encourage students write about attributes they’ve demonstrated that are not race-based, such as persistence, patience, and positivity so that they can be judged on these non-race dependent metrics. This doesn’t mean they can’t focus on these metrics or attributes in the context of discussing their race; race simply shouldn’t be the attribute at the center of students’ responses.

I wish Wake Forest admissions officers good luck with adhering to the law and internal directives when assessing these essay responses as part of their holistic review process, and I hope Wake reveals to the public how responses to this essay prompt will be assessed.

In related news, last week the university has announced a new exclusive Early Action admissions option “specifically for first-generation students to provide an additional pathway of opportunity.” To learn more click here.

Now Open: Application for New UC Berkeley 4-Year Haas Business Program

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The time has finally come.

For years high school students interested in engaging in a traditional four-year undergraduate business program leading to a BS in Business Administration have had to look beyond University of California, Berkeley and its world-renowned Haas School of Business. Well those days are over.

The Fall 2023 admissions cycle is the first admissions cycle when UC Berkeley will be considering first-year applicants for Haas’ new Spieker Undergraduate Business Program for which the first four-year cohort of students will enroll in August of 2024. It’s named in recognition of a $30 million gift from Haas alumnus Warren “Ned” Spieker, and his wife, Carol, and its launch will give future Haas undergrads an additional two years of deeper learning, including career development, study abroad opportunities, entrepreneurship programs, capstone projects, mentorship engagements, and internships.

Previously, the only ways a first-year student could enter Haas earlier than junior year was through the school’s specialized Global Management Program (GMP), a direct-admit program leading to a concentration in global management for students interested in learning about business from a global perspective, and its M.E.T. program, for students who want to learn at the intersection of engineering and business and in the process earn degrees from both the College of Engineering and the Haas School of Business.

“A four-year undergraduate business experience will provide remarkable new opportunities for students,” said Ned Spieker, who is also a Haas School Board member and founder and former Chairman and CEO of Spieker Properties, one of the largest owner-operators of commercial property in the U.S. “My hope is that this gift will help build a program that’s second-to-none in the world, cementing Haas as the top undergraduate business school for generations to come.”

“This is a historic, game-changing investment in undergraduate business education,” said Berkeley Haas Dean Ann E. Harrison. “We are so thrilled that Ned and Carol have made a commitment to Haas toward building the next generation of business leaders.”

Up until this year, students have exclusively applied to the Haas Undergraduate Program as sophomores and enrolled as juniors. While most Haas undergraduates will enter as freshmen in the future, those students already at UC Berkeley and transfer students may continue to apply for acceptance to the program as sophomores for the time being.

Now, let’s get into the mechanics of how applying to Haas’ Spieker Program will work for first-year (mostly high school senior) applicants.

First, such applicants can begin working on the UC application now (it opened on August 1) and must submit the application during the unique two-month window between October 1 and November 30. For the uninitiated, the UCs do things their own way with their own application (no Common App accepted here) and an application submission window that ends at the end of November. UC Berkeley is generally considered the most selective of all the UCs, though UCLA, which has different undergraduate strengths and often attracts different types of undergraduate students, is quite selective as well.

Second, and only after submitting the UC application, applicants must also complete and submit the Haas supplemental application (back in the day many more selective colleges had two-part phased applications). Applicants will receive an email from the UC Berkeley Office of Undergraduate Admissions within five to seven business days after submitting their UC application with information regarding how to start their Haas supplemental application, which includes an essay question and a video interview upload. If prospective students don’t submit a complete the Haas supplemental application by January 5, 2024, their admission to Haas and UC Berkeley will be automatically denied.

Finally, admissions decisions will be released by the end of March and admitted students will have until May 1 to accept offers of admission.

The Berkeley Haas Undergraduate Program was founded in 1898, the same year the business school (then called the College of Commerce) was established. Haas is the second-oldest business school in the United States behind University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School of Business, which American entrepreneur and industrialist Joseph Wharton established as the world’s first collegiate school of business in 1881.

The launch of Spieker at Haas will surely put Wharton (Penn), Mendoza (Notre Dame), McDonough (Georgetown), Marshall (USC), and Ross (University of Michigan), among others, on notice while attracting some of these same universities’ applicants to take more seriously the Bay Area of California as a strong-fit undergraduate destination.

Lafayette College Elevates Equity Over Extracurricular Achievements

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Lafayette College, a small private college in Easton, Pennsylvania with a reputation for solid undergraduate engineering and liberal arts programs, used the launch of the 2023-2024 Common Application as an occasion to get media attention for its decision – taken in partnership with the Common App itself – to review the common portion of the Common App in a unique way for those high school students applying to join Lafayette’s Class of 2028.

In an effort “to create a more equitable admissions process,” Lafayette President Nicole Hurd declared that her college, “will now only consider up to six activities rather than the 10 available through the application form.”

The common portion of the Common App, when initially conceived and launched, and for years thereafter, was common (in this context, meaning “the same” or “equal”) for all colleges that accepted it. Yet, in an equity-prioritizing environment, even standard English definitions (SAT and ACT analogy questions were earlier victims of the same ideology) are fair game for reconsideration. What, after all, does SAT stand for anymore? It once stood for “Standardized Aptitude Test.” Now it stands for literally nothing other than “SAT.” The powers that be at the Common App must have determined that the word “common” needed a rebrand. Maybe the word “common” was just exhausted from years of emotional labor trying to be something that it really wasn’t?

The clues, after all, where there. Several years ago certain colleges started opting out of reading the Common App’s formerly required essay. This change allowed Common App to bring on big additional members that were financially and strategically beneficial to have on board. Though the common portion of the Common App was showing cracks, at least when certain Common App colleges don’t require or review the essay with students’ overall applications, the writing page of the application explicitly names these colleges at the top of the section where students copy and paste or type in the essay if such colleges have been added to students’ Common App.

President Hurd, on her college’s extracurricular activities decision, went on to add, “We want to let students shine and not send them a message that holds them back or creates unneeded anxiety…The current application, which allows for up to 10 activities, can suggest to our students and families that quantity matters more than quality, that getting into college is about filling in blanks. Suggesting that students should pursue 10 activities while in high school and producing a great academic record does not make good sense to us. We want to make it clear to students that what matters to us are the activities and passions in which they are deeply invested.”

Setting aside the implication that a high school senior is unable to have been deeply invested in more than six activities from the summer before ninth grade through the beginning of twelfth grade, nobody completing the Common App’s activities page in recent years has been under the impression that anyone at the Common App or the majority of colleges that accept the Common App cares much about the actual quantity or quality of applicants’ extracurricular activities.

If the Common App did care about such matters, it would give applicants more space within the activities page of the Common App to list all of their activities (beyond ten for those who have more) and elaborate on the nature of their unique responsibilities or achievements within each individual activity entry. Yet, the Common App activities page limits applicants to a paltry 300 characters (not words, but characters) to describe each of their up to ten activities.

A significant number of students engage in more than ten extracurricular activities during the course of their years in high school. Many others could write far more than 300 characters about their various responsibilities, roles, accomplishments, and achievements within however many activities they choose to report in the Common App. Years ago, the Common App did allow students to upload a full resume to the common portion of the application, but since that option was eliminated only a small minority of colleges have continued to invite students to upload full resumes to their Common App supplements. Lafayette was once included in that small group of colleges.

Jenny Rickard, President and CEO of Common App, hailed the decision by Lafayette: “While the ‘activities’ section of the Common App is a great place for students to show colleges how they contribute to their families, school, and community, the focus should always be on the substance of the activities rather than the number…Common App data show that there are stark and substantial differences in the total number of activities applicants report across nearly every measure of race and income level.”

The Common App does allow all applicants to utilize an additional information section within the Common App’s writing page – a page best known for also being the location into which students copy and paste or type their essays in the personal essay section – to share additional details about whatever they like in up to 650 words. Most applicants do not take advantage of this opportunity and share nothing in this often-overlook field of the application.

Yet, as of August 4, 2023, nowhere on the current Common App or Lafayette supplement is there any mention that Lafayette will only be considering the first six activities listed on the activities page of the Common App. In fact, Lafayette College still has instructions on its supplement to the Common App that read as follows:

Share More: If you wish to provide details about your identity, background, experiences, and/or qualifications not reflected already in your application, please use the Additional Information short response option in the Writing portion of the Common Application.

The Common App went live for first-year applicants on August 1. Over 1.2 million first-year applicants used the Common App to apply to college last admissions cycle. This included a 31 percent increase by what the Common App refers to as underrepresented minority students and a 36 increase by what the Common App refers to as first-generation applicants over the 2019-2020 admissions cycle. Lafayette accepts applications for Early Decision (11/15/23), Regular (1/15/24), and Early Decision II (2/1/24) deadlines. The latest public statistics from the college’s website indicate that 11% of incoming students were first-generation college students, 25% were domestic students of color, and 8% were international in fall of 2022.

In promoting the college’s extracurricular activity-free (beyond six) decision on the news section of the college’s website but not on the application to the college itself, Forrest Stuart, Lafayette’s Vice President for Enrollment Management, added, “We believe that access and opportunity are about more than a strong financial aid and scholarship program…When we evaluate a student’s readiness for Lafayette, the depth of activities is more helpful than the raw number. For example, some students have ample opportunities to be involved in a number of activities. This is great. However, more and more students find their ability to spread themselves across a number of activities to be limited due to family, economic, and other obligations. As a college dedicated to helping students find affirmation and agency through this stressful application process, we are excited for students to share with us what matters most to them.”

Over twenty-four hours before the publication of this article, an email was sent by the author of this article to Stuart and his colleague, Lafayette Dean of Admission, Krista Evans, in search of responses to specific follow up questions. So far, that email remains unacknowledged. Should responses be forthcoming after publication of this article, they will be added here.

Taken to its logical conclusion, Lafayette’s decision to disregard students’ extracurricular achievements beyond the first six mentioned in the activities section of the Common App, if actually implemented, will certainly bolster the college’s “commitment to making college more accessible and the process more inclusive for students” if one interprets such a statement to mean a commitment to lowering the ceiling of how impressive certain applicants can appear while simultaneously suspending the concepts of evaluating holistically individual applicants and being able to accurately compare applicants to each other. Nothing was stopping Lafayette in previous years from putting a student’s stated extracurricular output into the overall context of what opportunities the student may or may not have had at his or her disposal, but apparently now that task should not fall on Lafayette’s admissions officers as it relates to extracurricular activities. Instead, simply no student will be allowed to share too much.

In the meantime, many high school seniors around the world are drafting their college applications now. It would be wonderful if Lafayette College became more proactive about communicating its new application parameters to prospective applicants who are currently filling out the Common App so these prospective applicants would be able to make informed choices about how best to proceed with their applications.

Rice University adds new 500-word required essay to its application

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Rice University in Houston, Texas has decided to add a new essay requirement to its first-year application that explicitly mentions race just weeks after The Supreme Court of the United States ruled that colleges can no longer admit students on the on the basis of race.

Previously, Rice only had two 150-word short answer response requirements on its supplement to the Common Application. Now, it also gives students a choice between responding to one of two new prompts in up to 500 words.

2023-2024 Rice Supplemental Essay Prompts

1. Please explain why you wish to study in the academic areas you selected above.

2. Based upon your exploration of Rice University, what elements of the Rice experience appeal to you? Required (150 words max)

3. Please respond to one of the following prompts to explore how you will contribute to the Rice community:

—

The two prompt options from which first-year applicants have to choose are interestingly phrased. The first requires the respondent to show himself or herself sharing traditions, experiences, or perspectives with fellow future Rice students, while the second only requires that respondents share perspectives shaped by their background, experiences, upbringing, and/or racial identity that inspires them to join a future community of change agents at Rice. The reason this distinction is important is that it could be read as meaning Rice will be assessing respondents to the first option based on what they choose to share with future fellow students while assessing respondents to the second option based only on their choice of

“At the same time, as all parties agree, nothing in this opinion should be construed as prohibiting universities from considering an applicant’s discussion of how race affected his or her life, be it through discrimination, inspiration, or otherwise. See, e.g., 4 App. in No. 21–707, at 1725–1726, 1741; Tr. of Oral Arg. in No. 20–1199, at 10. But, despite the dissent’s assertion to the contrary, universities may not simply establish through application essays or other means the regime we hold unlawful today. (A dissenting opinion is generally not the best source of legal advice on how to comply with the majority opinion.) “[W]hat cannot be done directly cannot be done indirectly. The Constitution deals with substance, not shadows,” and the prohibition against racial discrimination is “levelled at the thing, not the name.” Cummings v. Missouri, 4 Wall. 277, 325 (1867). A benefit to a student who overcame racial discrimination, for example, must be tied to that student’s courage and determination. Or a benefit to a student whose heritage or culture motivated him or her to assume a leadership role or attain a particular goal must be tied to that student’s unique ability to contribute to the university. In other words, the student must be treated based on his or her experiences as an individual—not on the basis of race. Many universities have for too long done just the opposite. And in doing so, they have concluded, wrongly, that the touchstone of an individual’s identity is not challenges bested, skills built, or lessons learned but the color of their skin. Our constitutional history does not tolerate that choice.”

I wish students good luck as they draft their responses, and I also wish Rice admissions officers good luck with adhering to the law, internal directives, and their consciences when assessing these essay responses as part of their holistic review process.

As the vast majority of high school seniors applying to Rice do so through the Common Application, most Rice applicants will also need to respond – and respond well – to one of the Common App’s main essay prompts in order to be considered for admission at Rice.

Johns Hopkins Introduces New Supplemental Essay Prompt for 2023-2024

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Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland has released a new supplemental essay prompt for students applying during the 2023-2024 admissions cycle.

All first-year applicants to Johns Hopkins (JHU) will now have respond to a prompt that explicitly references race even after The Supreme Court of the United States ruled in June that colleges can no longer admit students on the on the basis of race.

2023-2024 JHU Supplemental Prompt

Tell us about an aspect of your identity (eg. race, gender, sexuality, religion, community, etc…) or a life experience that has shaped you as an individual and how that influenced what you’d like to pursue in college at Hopkins.  (This can be a future goal or experience that is either academic, extracurricular or social).  300 word limit (though currently the Common App provides 350 words for students to respond to this prompt).

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Last year’s Johns Hopkins’ first-year applicant essay prompt read as follows:

Founded in the spirit of exploration and discovery, Johns Hopkins University encourages students to share their perspectives, develop their interests, and pursue new experiences. Use this space to share something you’d like the admissions committee to know about you (your interests, your background, your identity, or your community), and how it has shaped what you want to get out of your college experience at Hopkins. (300-400 words)

A new year, and new JHU! As most high school seniors applying to JHU do so through the Common Application, most JHU applicants will also need to respond – and respond well – to one of the Common App’s main essay prompts in order to be considered for admission at JHU.

Good luck to all those students applying to join Johns Hopkins’ Class of 2028. Start drafting!

WashU unveils new supplemental essay prompts for 2023-2024 admissions cycle

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Washington University in St. Louis (WashU) has released new supplemental essay prompt options for students applying during the 2023-2024 admissions cycle.

In addition being required to respond to the first prompt, which is a returns from last year, all first-year applicants to WashU will now have the opportunity to respond in 250 words or fewer to one of the additional three optional prompts.

2023-2024 WashU Supplemental Prompts

REQUIRED: 1. Please tell us what you are interested in studying at college and why. Undecided about your academic interest(s)? Don’t worry—tell us what excites you about the academic division you selected. Remember that all of our first-year students enter officially “undeclared” and work closely with their team of academic advisors to discover their academic passions. You can explore all of our majors and programs on our website. (200 words max)

OPTIONAL: 2. WashU is a place that values diversity of perspectives. We believe those perspectives come from a variety of experiences and identities. Respond to one of the following prompts to help us understand “Who are you?”: Optional (250 words max)

Option 1: Discuss a fresh perspective or opinion you brought to a collaborative setting or project.

Option 2: Describe a community you are a part of and your place within it.

Option 3: Tell us how your identity has impacted the way you view or interact with your community.

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This is the first time that WashU has asked applicants about their identity in an essay prompt, which is ironic considering The Supreme Court of the United States ruled in June that colleges can no longer admit students on the on the basis of race.

WashU also gives students the chance to upload a short video on the WashU Pathway portal after they submit their application, and within its supplemental instructions WashU notes, “If you prefer, you may focus your optional 90-second video submitted through the WashU Pathway on addressing one of these three questions.” Students who choose to submit a written response to one of the optional prompts may still opt in to sharing an optional video.

As most high school seniors applying to WashU do so through the Common Application, most WashU applicants will also need to respond – and respond well – to one of the Common App’s main essay prompts in order to be considered for admission at WashU.

Good luck to all those students applying to join Washington University in St. Louis’ Class of 2028. Start drafting engines!