domestic v. international

<p>ust wondering... is it harder to get into top tier schools as a domestic applicant or international? in other words, which poll is more competitive?</p>

<p>Depends on from where you are applying. Application pool of Korea, China, India, Singapore is definitely more competitive. </p>

<p>On the other hand, for an applicant from a country from which few people apply, application pool would be less competitive than domestic.</p>

<p>But schools quite rarely accept students from non-competitive countries..since there are very very limited funds, and students from these countries will very likely need full rides. I don't think any college no matter how big will throw away 200.000$ unless the student is really good.
Also keep in mind that from most other countries only the very top students apply. In my country, if you're not an international olympian, you don't apply. And even if you are, chances are still very slim. (to get into at least 1 out of 20 schools, that's the average number).</p>

<p>so it is harder to get into a top tier college as an international applicant even if one resides in the US?</p>

<p>Yes and No.</p>

<p>Yes it is harder if you are applying for financial aid, if your school is need-blind to internationals (you're stuck with the other internationals who want aid even if you don't), or if the applicant pool is overrepresented by people from the country you hold citizenship with.</p>

<p>If none of these are true, then it won't be much harder or easier.</p>

<p>Well, if you're an international, the way I see it works, is they first compare you with your peers, and then check if you are good enough to be one of the 50-100 international students they accept. (that's about the average number top schools accept).
And it also matters a lot if you need fin aid. If you don't, in most places you'll be put in along with the domestic applicant pool, and that will help a lot.</p>

<p>For short, unless you're a really excellent student from a newly discovered island, being an intl will hurt your chances. With the hurt growing exponentially the closer you get to the overrepresented countries in Asia.</p>

<p>if you have US citizenship but live in asia, are you considered international?
will you be in the same international pool with all those amazing students from Asia?</p>

<p>You will be a domestic applicant if you have US citizenship or permanent residence, no matter where you currently live.</p>

<p>really? will than regional officer for example for asia separate their pool for internationl and domestic living outside US? and regard than differently?</p>