<p>I'm an international student. I have a friend, who can give me a loan for any amount of tuition. I don't know if i should write on application that i will pursue need-based ? i read in many threads that need-based scholarship hurts the chances of being admitted for many international students?</p>
<p>If a friend will give you a loan to cover up to full tuition and the school offers merit scholarships for tuition, then you could take up your friend on his/her offer to pay for room&board, etc. Then you’d only apply for merit and would indeed not be at a disadvantage.
Yes, applying to need-based scholarships hurts your chances of admission.</p>
<p>thanks, MYOS! so it means that admission committee look at the ability to pay and then make a decision about admitting the student ?</p>
<p>not exactly. They have a bunch of students whom they can admit, then financial aid decides how much they can give in international scholarships and students who don’t apply for financial aid and have been admitted are in, the others are the ones who get through another level of selection.
Even among those requesting financial aid, ability to pay is a key factor at most colleges. Between a student who has a 3.8 and needs $15,000 in financial aid, and a student who has a 4.0 and needs 55,000, they pick the student with the 3.8 because that student can do the work and succeed, and “costs” less to the university. </p>
<p>oh, got it … thank u </p>