<p>Thanks for all ur replies the last time. I've decided on Yale, but now I'mn facing another dilemma: need-blind school or not? </p>
<p>Yale has need-blind admissions for intl financial aid applicants. columbia and dartmouth don't, but the stats show that they're not too stingy with finaid for internationals, but they're not need blind. i'm adaptable and im happy with any of those schools. so which one do you guys think i should apply to for Early? and oh, Stanford too. </p>
<p>The main issue is just that Columbia and Dartmouth are "easier" (slightly) to get into than Yale in the first place. But being non need-blind they're then more selective, so that may balance out. In the end, could I safely say that that makes it equally hard for us intls to enter any of these 3 great schools?</p>
<p>If Columbia or Dartmouth is still easier than Yale even in this situation (being non need blind to intls), I'd jump at the chance. I need the aid.</p>
<p>Columbia and Dartmouth are not need blind to international students so your ability to pay will be a factor in the admissions process. </p>
<p>Both will be extremely hard for you to be admitted in the ED round because both schools will receive about 10,000 more applications for RD so unless you are truly outstanding and they simply have to scoop you up, I doubt if you would get into either ED.</p>
<p>You took a gap year because you were rejected at
Harvard
Princeton
MIT
Columbia
Cornell
UPenn
U of Chicago
and only accepted at Duke?</p>
<p>You're going to have to tell them that you already applied the previous year (except at Dartmouth and Yale), and they will wonder what you did in that time.</p>
<p>Columbia and Dartmouth are ED, which means that acceptance is binding. Yale is EA, which is non-binding. Generally accepted wisdom is that students (domestic or international) do not apply ED if finances are an issue.</p>
<p>Unless something has radically changed between the time you applied for Columbia and now, your chances of being admitted after previously being rejected are quite low.</p>
<p>I also agree with Gaffe, that what you did during your gap year will be important in this admissions cycle.</p>
<p>Just curious, why did you turn down Duke vs. just deferring for a year?</p>
<p>He said he couldn't afford it in one of his earlier threads.</p>
<p>You were already rejected by all those colleges last year; I believe it's unlikely you will get into them again. You also seem deadset on applying to Ivy League colleges and other brand name/ prestigious colleges.</p>
<p>Perhaps try a lower tier college which would be happy to give you merit aid (although it is still hard for an international).</p>
<p>haha, not much changed - except that i'm now spending four months instead of two weeks on all my essays and applications.</p>
<p>im in national service now, it's conscription in my country. other than that ive done a few community and a government project this year. just hoping that the preparation could make a difference.</p>