Hello, everyone. This is my first post on CC. I am a Canadian apply to grade 9 at all the HADES schools. My family wants FA, but doesn’t completely require it. I am wondering it being an international student and applying for FA will decrease my chances. I currently have a 99th percentile on SSAT. I am white(not sure it this matters), I play competitive sports(don’t want to specify) and have already done interviews and tours. Please answer my question. Thank you.
please answer ASAP, thanks
Requiring financial aid automatically puts any applicant into a more competitive pool, and VERY few schools offer aid to international students. If you are applying only to a handful of uber-selective schools, it’s risky… there are plenty of kids with top grades and scores applying for a limited number of slots. That’s why many experienced prep school parents on this forum encourage applicants to cast a wide net.
Thanks for the quick reply #cameo43. So that means I am not recommended to apply for financial aid. I heard some schools consider Canadians “domestic”? What schools are these?
I think I read from Exeter website (albeit years ago) that they consider Canadians domestic for FA purpose. Also, Andover is need blind so supposedly your need for FA doesn’t matter. These schools are hard to get in though, but that’s another story.
thanks, I just checked the website. They sort of think of Canadians as their own now.
What do you mean by “my family wants FA, but doesn’t completely require it”? DO you mean they would like FA, but can afford tuition anyway? Or do you mean you don’t need 100% FA?
yes #6teenSearch, thats what I mean
@Muselk: you were asked an either/or question and answered “yes”, which did not actually answer the question.
The bottom line is asking for FA does affect your chances of acceptance. Some more experienced posters have said that it cuts the acceptance rate in half. So, if the school has a 20% acceptance rate, asking for FA cuts it to 10%. Many schools also use a FA rejection approach: you are accepted, but do not get any FA. So, unless you win that Powerball, you are most likely not attending.
Not sure whether Canada is considered international or not. Some schools, like Choate have specific scholarships for students from different geographic areas. Congrats on doing so well on the SSAT. If you really want to go to a BS and need/want FA, I would suggest broadening your list to include some other schools that have an average of 80-85% SSAT scores.
Good luck.
If your family is not qualified for FA, then the chance of your getting much or even any is low. AND for that low chance of getting any aid, you are lowering your chance of admission - possibly significantly. Let me spell it out for you: If your family does not “require” FA as you put in, then don’t apply. This is particularly true for international students.
Thanks