<p>hey guys, I have a dilemma. I'm an international student who would give anything to go to columbia university. it's just that i don't have the money and need to apply for financial aid.
however, if that were to happen my chances of getting into columbia will drop. my stats are up there, so that won't be a problem. If i were to not apply for financial aid, then my chances of getting into columbia will be higher and I would look for other options such as scholarships. What should I do? Should I apply for FA? btw, i'm considering ED.</p>
<p>First of all, I really don’t think your ability to pay effects your admissions chance. Second, for an international student i’m not so sure the financial packages will be as big as someone who is an american citizen, but though you have the “stats” that doesn’t mean you will make it in. They receive thousands upon thousands of people with the same “stats” as you. You have to look at the bigger picture and take everything into account. If you need the money, apply for financial aid and if you seriously think ability to pay makes your chances higher than everyone else then you are sadly mistaken. They don’t care about who can pay and who can’t, they want a unique student body no matter your economical background.</p>
<p>Columbia just inherited $400 Mil from Kluge. The money, as I understand should be only used for FA.</p>
<p>^ I was just about to talk about that. I think Columbia is going to be generous with FA for a few years. R.I.P Kluge</p>
<p>that sounds great! well, if that’s the case, i guess i will apply for FA. Thnx!!</p>
<p>columbia is need sensitive to foreign students. your chance of ad will plummet if you apply for aid.</p>
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<p>False. Columbia is not need-blind to international applicants.</p>
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<p>False again. International students, once admitted, have 100% of their demonstrated financial need met by Columbia.</p>
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<p>^ Columbia is not need-blind for non-American applicants.</p>
<p>^False. Columbia is need-blind for all North American applicants.</p>
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Thanks a lot for that info!</p>
<p>^^pwoods-PrincetonDreams said “NON-american applicants”.Not “north” american applicants.</p>
<p>^Yeah, PDreams said Columbia was not need-blind for non-Americans. But that’s false; Columbia is also need-blind for Canadians and Mexicans: [Our</a> Philosophy | Columbia University Office of Undergraduate Financial Aid and Educational Financing](<a href=“http://www.studentaffairs.columbia.edu/finaid/eligibility/philosophy.php]Our”>How Aid Works | Columbia Financial Aid and Educational Financing)</p>
<p>Ah,well.It’s not need blind for P’Dreams and me.
You’re right about the other part of course :)</p>
<p>do your chances of getting in really “plummet” if an international applys for FA?? exactly how many international students does the college accept??</p>
<p>17% are int’l or schooled in another country… </p>
<p>says the website</p>
<p>Relative to most schools in the US, Columbia accepts a lot of international applicants. But given the astronomical number that apply, international admissions is incredibly competitive, almost to the point of being cut-throat. Of course, it depends on the country from which you apply. A Sudanese applicant will probably have a better shot than your average Chinese applicant.</p>
<p>Are you talking relative to the HYP’s and schools like Brown too pwoods?
So, C is looking favourably at Int’l applicants huh? Nice.</p>
<p>perfectpixie and OP, take everything that is said with a grain of salt. Don’t bet on anything. Don’t apply based on what someone on an online forum tells you.</p>
<p>admissions are more competitive for international students applying for aid, but columbia accepts 70-90 internationals with aid each year, for these students they meet 100% of need so it isn’t that much more competitive</p>
<p>@concoll: do you really think international admissions is not much more competitive than domestic? (that’s not rhetorical, I’m sure you know this better than I do) I just think international admissions is much more competitive since the ratio of applicants/acceptances is so much higher and there are a lot of well-heeled international students coming out of top prep schools.</p>
<p>@perfect: Not Harvard and Yale. Hell, Harvard probably gets more international applicants than Columbia. With the exception of many of the Ivies, top engineering schools, and some schools in the D.C. area, most colleges in the US don’t accept that many international students.</p>