<p>Hi all,</p>
<p>Some posts I've read on these boards seem to imply that paying internationals enjoy slight advantages during the college admission process. How true is this? Do colleges actually lower their admission criteria for internationals who are able to foot the entire 3/4-year bill?</p>
<p>Depends on which unis... For example, the Ivies are ridiculously rich that they can sit comfortably and choose who they want, regardless of economic condition and natinality. But im sure there are some that welcome your money</p>
<p>Yes, it depends on the school. Private selective schools generally admit by categories, where internationals can have a hook, but the number of seats is also limited. At schools with limited endowments (most of them), there may be separate categories for paying and needy internationals. For national and international applicants to need-aware schools (again, most of them), paying applicants generally have at least a small advantage.</p>
<p>As others have said, it depends a lot on the college we are talking about but at most colleges, even very selective ones, financial need is an extremely important factor. Here is a rather extreme example from the Colby forum:</p>
<p>
[quote]
Financial aid for international students is <em>extremely</em> limited, especially given the number of applications (for admission and aid) that we receive from abroad. Roughly 1,000 students with international backgrounds applied for admission to the class of 2011 (a figure not uncommon for us nowadays), and in most years close to 90% of them apply for financial aid. We are able to fund a <em>total</em> of 8-10 students per year out of this group...
<p>Btw, Colby accepts about 120 international students annually. Do the math...</p>
<p>Well, it depends on college..
And, the good point is that a self-financed student has a greater number of colleges to select....:)..</p>
<p>^ more like all</p>
<p>Well, if what you say is true, then life's good ;)</p>