<p>Hey guys!
So I'm an International student from Argentina. My dad has a good job with a nice salary (however when you turn that into dollars, its nothing) and my mom is unemployed and has been for four years now.</p>
<p>So far, I would be in a good shape in terms of financial aid. However, my mom inherited an apartment (and she gave it to me so techincally is mine but it's also hers... weird stuff :P) worth around 80.000 and, the real problem, my parents built a house in 1994.</p>
<p>This house was pretty cheap for them because they received help from my family (the are both only children so my grandparents plus other people helped). Because inflation here is a big deal, the house is worth more or less 450.000</p>
<p>Just by looking at those two numbers, I'm toasted. But, all of that backround info shows that my parents had (and have) no money to afford all that. However, there is no way to prove it (expect for the apartment, my mom has the will).</p>
<p>So, where do I put all of this in the CSS profile? And do you guys think I can get a full ride with these numbers? Otherwise I will be stuck here in Argentina :(</p>
<p>You will be REQUIRED to report the current value of your parents’ home and any mortgage they have on that property. In addition, you will be REQUIRED to report the value of that apartment as one of you assets. Not doing so would be mighty dishonest. </p>
<p>Where are you planning to apply to college in the U.S.? What is your family annual income in U.S. dollars? </p>
<p>Regarding getting a full ride…well you DO have assets. These will be tapped by most colleges in this country.MOST students do not get a free ride.</p>
<p>But again, my parent’s income is around 20.000 on a good day (dollars and argentinian pesos change everyday so I cant give you a certain number) and that’s barely enough for us to live so how do they think I’m going to pay 20.000 every year? Even if I have those 2 assets, bricks can’t give you dollars, you know?</p>
<p>I’m going to apply to Harvard, Yale, Dartmouth and others and I think I have a good shot at them. I read multiple times these schools have great financial aid packages</p>
<p>And another thing, we don’t file taxes here, so there is no way for them to know I have these assets or how much they are worth</p>
<p>Kili, you are asking us here to tell you it is OK to lie on your financial aid application forms. It is NOT. Schools like Harvard, Yale and Dartmouth have great financial aid.
BUT they also expect their students to be ethical and honest. Put down the necessary HONEST information on your Profile. If the aid ends up coming your way, it will be because you were honest. </p>
<p>You should also look at colleges in YOUR country as an option.</p>
<p>Actually in a number of posts both on this thread and another one, you DO keep saying there is no way for the schools to KNOW about the assets. You need to TELL them. That is the honest thing to do.</p>
<p>There is a place for your income, and ALL of the assets both you and your parents hold. The Profile has a place for additional information but I’m not really sure what you would have that is additional. </p>
<p>It sounds like you want to add something that says that your family cannot afford to pay out of pocket for your college expenses. That will be clear from the income you put on the Profile.</p>
<p>Re: not being able to get money from your real estate, these generous schools will not consider your primary residence equity or at least not all of it. With regard to the apartment…it’s an asset your family could sell to help finance your college costs.</p>
<p>You will convert the value if your properties to dollars at the exchange rate of the day if filing, and you will record those values on the appropriate lines of the Profile. You will convert your parents annual salary at the exchange if the day, and you will record that on the line for salaries. Likewise with other types of income and investments. Since you own one apartment jointly with your mom, you will split its value between yourself and your mom based on the percentage that each of you own.</p>
<p>And yes, colleges can expect you to sell or borrow against your property in order to pay your cost of attendance. Remember, you will need to be able to demonstrate that you can pay the full cost if attendance or you will not get your student visa.</p>
<p>@happymomof1 Thank you for the detailed explanation, that was more or less what I was looking for.</p>
<p>@thumper1 If I can give my opinion, asking your parents to sell something they inherited is one of the stupidest things I’ve heard in a long time but that’s how it is I guess.
About that additional info, I want to add the background of these two assets but apparently they don’t care where they come from as long as you have them.</p>
<p>Thank you both for the info, it looks like I’m more or less in trouble xD</p>
<p>Kili, apply and see. The money might just come through for you. Justt be honest… And have a plan
B just in case these schools either do not accept you (admissions for international students is VERY competitive) or the financial aid is not enough.</p>
<p>Of course I’ll try! I’ve been preparing for this for quite some time now
We never know, some guys with stats like mine (international of course) got in at yale I believe but I know sometimes admissions are random</p>
<p>Kili, there is room at the end of the PROFILE for you to add comments and you can also write a letter to the FA offices. You might want to include the comments, then wait to see re admission/award and if necessary, write a letter as an FA appeal of sorts. Good luck.</p>
I’ve been preparing for this for quite some time now