<p>Should I still apply to schools that financially I know my parents can't afford? I don't think I can show that my parents can pay for the full costs (especially on the financial form international students have to fill up) but I also want to see if I can get any scholarships that might make it possible to go to these schools. </p>
<p>These schools that I'm considering are just my dream schools and of course, I will also be applying to more realistic schools. Any advice? Thanks! :)</p>
<p>Ask if your application would be considered without the Certification of Finances. Explain that you could only attend with a scholarship and see what they say.</p>
<p>No point in applying if your application will get tagged as incomplete and automatically go to the trashcan. </p>
<p>If your application would be considered AND you could afford the university with scholarships or financial aid that’s being offered to some admitted students, by all means apply. However, if your need exceeds the maximum amount of aid available, don’t waste your time. </p>
<p>Sorry if I sound patronizing. Just follow common sense. :)</p>
<p>If the school offers financial aid (need-based on merit-based) for internationals and you’re in the top 20% (or, better, top 10%) applicants, don’t look at the “sticker price”.
If the school does NOT offer financial aid of any kind and you can’t afford the school, no use wasting time.
There are enough schools that offer partial merit scholarships, plus some that cover full need or partial need, that you should target the schools you could afford (with scholarships), not the schools that you’re sure you couldn’t afford.</p>
<p>Now, if your question is “should I look at potential net price or only at sticker price”, the answer is “potential net price”.</p>
<p>@ b@r!um, not too worry you don’t sound patronizing at all. on the contrary your advice was very helpful! I just followed your advice ^^ Hopefully I can come to a decision on what schools to apply to really soon because I’m starting to panic. It seems like there’s so little time left! :(</p>
<p>@MYOS1634 Can I ask what exactly is “potential net price”? Never heard of the term before. But the schools I’m considering do offer aid to internationals only thing is that the only offer aid in the form of scholarships and no need based aid. :(</p>
<p>@moneyp I’ve already checked the school out, it doesn’t have the major I’m interested in but thanks anyway for trying to help! Really appreciate your suggestion ^^</p>
<p>By “potential net price” I mean that the NPCs (net price calculators) typically don’t work for internationals, so that they’re quite accurate for American students but may even refuse to run if you’re international. Therefore you need to estimate whether you’d qualify for financial aid and how much you’d potentially receive, creating a range of potential net costs.
If the aid is merit and not need-based, either you got the stats and general resumes (at least the “minimum” or “typical” scores), or you don’t. If you do, apply. If you’re below the minimum, don’t waste your time applying.</p>
only thing is that the only offer aid in the form of scholarships and no need based aid. :(</p>
but thanks anyway for trying to help! Really appreciate your suggestion ^^</p>