Application Question Asks If I Will Attend without Financial Assistance

[squidtown]

Hi all,

 

I am working on an application to the University of Texas at Austin, and I just came across the following question: If you are not offered a financial award, do you still plan to enroll if offered admission? (Y/N)

 

Do any of you know what implications an answer either way has? I'm concerned that they'll either be less likely to offer me an award or less likely to offer me admission depending on how I respond.

 

Thanks!

[juilletmercredi]

It's impossible to tell, as each program probably uses the question for different things.  But take it at face value - it literally means that if you are admitted without funding, will you attend?

 

The second concern (are they less likely to offer you admission) is kind of a moot point.  If you indicate that you won't attend without a financial award, and they don't intend to give you one, it doesn't matter whether they choose not to admit you or whether they admit you without a financial award.  You're not going to go, so they might as well offer the spot to someone who might attend without the financial award.

 

The first question is more pressing, but I think that programs mostly offer their aid awards on merit.  A shiny outstanding student is unlikely to get a financial award taken from them because they indicated that they would pay.  Perhaps it's an issue if you are borderline.

 

Either way, I think you should just answer truthfully.