Hi, everyone. Feeling a bit stressed since application fees are adding up and I’m trying to save up. Does anyone know how to qualify for a Common App fee waiver? On what grounds can I request one, and is the process complicated? Could really use some advice to keep my college application budget in check!
Hi there! I totally understand that those fees can start to feel overwhelming. The Common App fee waiver is designed to help students just like you, from whom the college process creates financial hardship. You can qualify for a waiver if you meet any of these criteria: if you're eligible for a free or reduced-price lunch, if your annual family income falls within the Income Eligibility Guidelines set by the USDA Food and Nutrition Service, if you're enrolled in a federal, state, or local program that aids students from low-income families (like TRIO programs such as Upward Bound), if your family receives public assistance, if you're homeless or living in foster care, or if you're a ward of the state or an orphan.
The process isn't too complicated—you'll just need to indicate which criteria you meet on the Common App, then your counselor will have to confirm your eligibility. Be sure to talk to your counselor as soon as possible to get the ball rolling, so that you have one less thing to worry about as deadlines approach!
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