3
3 years ago
Admissions Advice

Application Waivers/ Free
Answered

I'm a rising senior whose applying to 11-14 schools. I heard you can get waivers, and there's even a free college application day! How do I get waivers, and is this free application depend what your county/city/state or school is?

collegeadmissions
feewaiver
applications
3
3

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3 answers

1
Accepted Answer
3 years ago[edited]

Fee waivers are only granted to those applicants whose families meet the following criteria:

1. Your annual family income falls within the Income Eligibility Guidelines for the Federal Free and Reduced Lunch Program.

2.You have received a College Board fee waiver.

3.You have received an ACT fee waiver.

4.You have received a NACAC fee waiver.

5. You are eligible for a Pell Grant based on your FAFSA Profile

6. You have participated (or am participating) in TRIO programs (such as Upward Bound).

If you meet any of these thresholds, then you can get a fee waiver from the college you are applying to.

If you are low-income, then I would suggest that you use the Coalition App because once you complete the "FEE WAIVER" questionnaire, they will automatically give you a fee waiver on any of the 140 colleges that use the Coalition App. If you use the common app, you have to apply for Fee Waivers one at a time. So if you want to apply to 25 Coalition colleges, no problem.

To answer your Free College App Day question, many states have week-long programs in October and November of the application cycle. I think only 16 States offer these events so check your State on the list in this article.

https://www.collegiateparent.com/high-school/october-is-college-application-month/

1
0
3 years ago

Fee waivers are for students who get free/reduced-price lunch or are a part of other programs for financially struggling students. Unless you specifically contact the school and they accept, I don't think there is a way to get the application waiver. Also, the free college application day/week is only in certain states (I've heard Colorado and North Carolina) for whichever schools choose to participate. Good luck on applying to schools :)

0
-1
3 years ago

I have never heard of a free app day but if there is one it will likely depend per school. Info for the waivers is on the school websites and again might require different things. In general I think to qualify you would have to prove you have a need for the waiver. So no, it depends on need for a waivered fee due to financial difficulty.

Another side note is that unless you know you would 100% consider attending those schools I would recommend you cut down on some. Usually around ten is recommended on the higher end. 2 reach, 5 target, and 3 safety but you really only need 2-3 target dream schools and a couple of safeties unless you would 100% attend an ivy if accepted.

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