I really don’t mean to come off as mean or rude but I wonder how well you really researched the schools you applied to. There are over 5,000 colleges in the US and it’s a lot to undertake but your list just looks like a list of top schools. It seems like you underestimate the difficulty of gaining admission as an international student who is seeking lots of aid. Additionally, you interpret “hook” how you want to, assume admissions staff don’t understand Swiss education, you assume merit scholarships are available where a simple search shows they aren’t, and you assume you have a better chance at Dartmouth because of an interview when again a simple search shows that they offer them to the majority of applicants.
I hope you get the results you are hoping for. Posters here have tried to show you the realities but I don’t think you are getting it.
On order to get a visa to study here, you will be required to complete a certificate of finances. This documents that you have at the ready the money to fund your full college costs for at least one year. Some colleges require this for multiple years. This can include already awarded college financial aid, and already approved loans. It cannot include things you hope to receive but haven’t yet secured.
I researched extensively the schools I applied to . If you read my post carefully, I said I got 2 full rides with one top school, so there is absolutely no need to apply to safeties that in would never attend. By no means, I underestimate the difficulty of getting in while needing aid, and this is why I applied to 70 schools.
I’m not assuming they don’t know the Swiss education system-they simply don’t. Even top colleges have a very small knowledge of the other countries, otherwise how could one admissions officer know about a whole continent’s school system. I don’t know where you get that idea that they know about all school systems? Do you know that they say crap on their website right? The « we have a global understanding of education across the world » is just a way to reassure international student and to make them apply.
I don’t know where you are getting that info from, but I just said that my chances were higher at Dartmouth. Never mentioned interviews. My chances are higher because it is need blind for international and I very much match with a lot of things there.
I do not know why you are mentioning that here? To which comment do you refer. It is mandatory for several schools, so we need to complete it with what we have. It does not matter if we do not have enough because the CSS shows our financial need.
The Profile shows your financial need. It does not show what colleges have awarded you in need based or merit aid, or your net cost to each college….and your ability to pay that net cost.
You have a full ride someplace…and that will be reflected on your certificate of finances for those schools. But if you don’t have enough aid to cover your need as calculated by the colleges, you will need to demonstrate that you have the money to cover those costs yourself.
I just felt that this should be added to this thread, not only for you, but for other international students who need financial aid to attend college here.
This certification of finances is mandatory to get a US student visa, so there are no schools where this certification of finances would not be required.
Posters are trying to help you, including many who have a great deal of experience in college admissions. I understand this process can be stressful, but please do try and start with the mindset that people here are trying to be helpful, not judgmental. Good luck as you await the rest of your decisions.
That is what I meant, but for example Stanford requires intl students to send in before. I guess it is a way to self report what we can pay? We probably have to fill in another one once we get in!
Self report? Well…sort of. Many require a verification from a banking institution for money not included in your financial aid package. It’s not self reporting. It’s self reporting with documentation.
OP seems to understand the financial verification but to clarify for other international students reading this thread -
US universities REQUIRE verification of finances. You will not be issued a student visa if there is a gap between your financial aid package and what your family can pay.
Unfortunately finances are the biggest hurdle to studying in the US (even for our own domestic students).
That’s why so many knowledgable posters here on the CC community stress that international applicants have an affordable option in their home country (which the OP has).
The vast majority of US colleges are NOT need blind for admission for international students so they do take your ability to pay into consideration. The schools that are need blind are the most competitive entry which means they are a long shot for even the most qualified applicant.
???
Any grants received cannot cover the cost of health insurance.
American Health Insurance is a separate purchase.
It is a huge political issue because many Americans don’t have adequate medical insurance.
The universities don’t run health insurance companies. The schools work with insurance companies to get “student rates” to cover medical emergencies and associated costs.
Stuff happens. Everything has a cost, from the ambulance, to the labs, to the meds, to the lifesaving equipment, the bandages, doctors fees, hospital fees, anesthesiologists, social workers, etc. Yes, some universities have associated hospitals but your student fees don’t cover your emergency care there.
Bottom line is you have to come up with separate money to pay those fees.
Also, the Certificate of Finances is not an option. You’ve already “self reported” your need for financial aid. The schools expect you to have a banking institution confirm that you can cover an institutional year of expenses to meet those strict Visa requirements.
OK, to everybody on this thread, can you please STOP commenting about financial aid and other relaing topics. My post was only a chance me or give me opinion about a specific match, and I am honestly not looking for FA topics right now.
If anybody wants to add to the original post, please do, but otherwise, there are other threads…
At this point….it’s a wait and see for you. No one here has a crystal ball, and can tell you if you will be accepted to the 60 plus schools you haven’t heard from yet.
You have a couple of affordable acceptances. Just sit back and wait until end of March beginning of April, and you will be able to make a matriculation choice from amongst your affordable acceptances.
You have a couple of affordable acceptances already…the rest is a wait and see.
Arghhh, I really hoped someone could tell me, “I am an admissions officer at Harvard and xyou are getting in”, but I guess your wise words are worth a lot!
