How do college application fee waiver codes work?

I've heard you can get fee waivers for college applications, saving a lot of money during application season. Can someone explain how these application fee waiver codes work? Are they easy to get, and do you need to apply for them through your high school counselor or directly from the colleges? Also, do most universities accept these codes, or is it more common at certain schools?

Application fee waivers can indeed ease the financial burden of college applications! To briefly explain how these work: an application fee waiver is essentially a code or a form that you can submit that tells the university that you don't need to pay the application fee. The code or form is kind of like a coupon for your application.

Getting a fee waiver can be done in several ways. You can obtain a waiver through the College Board if you've already been granted one for the SAT, as they automatically qualify you for fee waivers on your college applications too. Typically, you'd receive twelve codes from the College Board for college applications after receiving an SAT fee waiver. You would then enter these codes when completing each college application to have the fees waived. Additionally, you can receive a fee waiver through the ACT if you've taken the test with a fee waiver.

You can also ask your high school counselor about this. Some schools have their specific forms or can provide fee waivers. They'll know your situation best, and they're there to help! It might involve proving your economic need, like showing you’re on free or reduced lunch, or proving the application fee is a hardship on your family.

Moreover, fee waivers can be acquired directly from the universities. Each university's process will be different though, so you might want to check with each school’s admissions office to understand their process.

Interestingly, most universities, especially in the United States, do accept these fee waivers, as they make it more equitable for all students to apply. But you should double-check for each specific school; their websites typically specify whether or not they do, and how to submit the fee waiver.

So while it might be a bit more paperwork and a few more steps in your application process, it's undoubtedly worth it given the cost savings. You might even be able to apply to more colleges than you initially planned, broadening your options. Best of luck with your applications!