<p>I am not sure if I will need financial aid or not. I know most colleges are not need blind to international students. On the common applicaion question about whether I'm applying for financial aid should I check yes or no? Does financial aid include merit-based scholarships?</p>
<p>As far as I know, if you don't apply for aid in the freshman year, you will not eligible for aid in any subsequent (for international students). So, it's always a safe bet to apply for aid.</p>
<p>uhhhh but what if aero56 doesnt get in, because he needs aid? The majority of colleges are not needblind.. many intels could be applying for aid at a particular school and you could get pushed off.</p>
<p>aero, I think this :: if you think you are a strong candidate for that school, check yes. If you don't think you are..maybe an average/low candidate, check no.</p>
<p>I dont know about the merit based scholarships.</p>
<p>Yeah but what if he gets in but cannot join or has to withdraw the next year for financial reasons?</p>
<p>lol well.... that's next year's problem</p>
<p>if i plan on applying for merit based scholarships do i check yes?</p>
<p>If you plan on applying for merit based scholarships (which are handled through the financial aid office) then you need to check yes.</p>
<p>what if i check yes to financial aid on the common app. but check no on a school's supplement when it asks if i am applying for NEED-BASED financial aid?</p>
<p>You may have knocked your self out of the box as some merit money is also need based. Depending on where you are going, even with Merit money there is still going to be a gap which will hinder your being able to attend once admitted.</p>
<p>I understand that funds are very limited for international students and that the applicant pool is extremely competitive. Granted in schools that are not need blind the person who can pay full freight will have the advantage but colleges are also interested in builidng communities. That is why it is so important to let the colleges see who you are in terms of your essays instead of a laundry list of achievements. </p>
<p>It would be sad to be so close to achieving your dream and not being able to pay for it. if you need the money, don't be afriad to ask for it for in most cases if you get in the money will come. While my D is not an international student, we made no qualms about the fact that she needed money. She was accepted to Williams which gave her a really generous package. Even though Daartmouth was her first choice (and is where she is now attending, they ended up meeting the Williams financial aid package)</p>
<p>All the best to you</p>
<p>I am doing the online common app. should i check yes for the less selective schools and no for the more selective ones? Can I send out two different forms of the common app. to do this? or do i have to send it to all the schools at the same time?</p>
<p>check yes for all of them.. While you will automatically be in consideration for merit money, even at some of the less selective schools merit money (even non -need based merit) comes through the financial aid office so if you don't apply you will not be eligible. In addiiton at some schools if you don;t apply for financial aid durig your freshman year they will not allow you to apply subsequent years.</p>
<p>thank you so much!</p>