<p>… toward intls. I’m filing out the ISFA (international student
FA app) and I was wondering if they’ll reject me if I (& my parents) offer to contribute only 30K a year. For my family, even 30K a year would be cumbersome, but I’m afraid if I say less I may be rejected. I like Amherst, and would be willing to get loans somehow to provide that 30K. Honestly, I don’t get how the FA policy work for intls and when I called the FA office, they were vague about it.</p>
<p>Don't play games. Be honest, and let the chips fall where they may.</p>
<p>(And if Amherst were honest, they'd give up the "need-blind" charade. They accept Questbridge candidates, which means they know precisely the need status of the applicants, and how much it will cost them, and accept or reject accordingly. Pres. Marx wants to increase the number of low-income students - well, you can't increase the number without knowing that they ARE low-income, and acting upon that information. And, every year, slightly over 50% of the student pays full-list price, and it is isn't "an accident".)</p>
<p>The admissions people at Amherst, as at hundreds of other schools, are well-trained professionals, with decades of experience behind them. In many cases, they pretty much know your need status from your zip code. The only question is the degree to which they use the information, and the Pres. of the college has made it clear he wants it used.)</p>
<p>Be honest. Don't strain your family's resources. Pres. Marx is pushing for need-blind admissions for internationals as well as meeting 100% of their demonstrated need, so it isn't as big a problem at Amherst as it may be at other schools. In fact, the last couple years, the statistics have changed with over 50% of the students receiving some form of financial aid. Good luck!</p>
<p>Need-blind versus not need-blind for internationals is irrelevant. Those are just marketing buzz words. What is relevant is the amount of aid awarded to international students. That information is available if you want to look for it.</p>
<p>The issue for an international is the same as for anyone else. Can I get accepted? If I get accepted, can I afford to attend based on the aid package (if any) offered. There is nobody on this forum who can answer either of those questions for you.</p>
<p>
[quote]
The admissions people at Amherst, as at hundreds of other schools, are well-trained professionals, with decades of experience behind them. In many cases, they pretty much know your need status from your zip code. The only question is the degree to which they use the information, and the Pres. of the college has made it clear he wants it used.
[/quote]
Are you suggesting he want this information used to increase low-income student representation, or to maintain the 50% who pay full-freight?</p>
<p>Both. If he is going to increase low-income student representation, he HAS to maintain the 50% full-freighters (as if that were difficult) UNLESS the trustees vote out more funds for the financial aid budget.</p>
<p>What I am saying is that nothing is an accident, and nothing is left to chance.</p>
<p>His plan is to increase the class by 5 each year for a few years, adding more lower income diversity students, but cutting the numbers of current mix.</p>