Yes, private loans is the TYPE of need-based aid you will receive as an international student.
@redpoodles Thanks, I did not know this. I have always thought need-based aid and private loans are different types
of aid.
Anyway, where did you see this? Because WPI’s website is really hard to navigate, could you post the link?
This is true at every school. There are two types of aid: Merit, which is based on how strong a candidate you are (Grades, Scores), and Need-Based, which is based on your income. You already got your merit aid, which is a gift and what WPI could do for you. The rest you will have to pay back, since, as an international, you only qualify for private loans. You should contact the financial aid office itself to ask questions. I’m just a parent going through it for the first time too and don’t want to say something that might be wrong!
I applied Early Action 2. I submitted CSS a while ago, but will probably submit FAFSA sometime today or tomorrow. Will submitting FAFSA late delay or hinder my decision?
Similarly, they requested my first making period grades. According to their website they have already received it and I am missing no documents, but my college counselor told me that it wasn’t sent. If it’s an error on their part, will I just be put into Regular Decision when my first term grades get sent out, or will I be flat out rejected?
@redpoodles Thanks. I’ll contact the financial aid office to ask about this.
somebody2015, I’m guessing you’ll be put in RD. You still have time for midyear grades. They haven’t even come out yet at my D’s school.
This was probably already answered somewhere but when do they start sending out acceptance/rejection letters for Regular Decision? :-/
@nson97dh I’ve tried contacting the WPI International Admissions office regarding the Financial Aid package but there has yet to be any reply. Kinda worried if you tell me 
How many do you receive for the International Scholarship? I receive $23,000/year only which might not be enough for my family to afford the remaining cost…
@BraveHeart1995 Yeah, I’ve tried to contact to contact WPI International Admissions Office as well but there has
been no reply thus far. I’ve also tried the the Admissions Office and the Financial Aid Office but only the Financial Aid Office has replied to my email, telling me to resend my email to the Admissions Office. It seems like something is wrong with their email. I am worried as well.
About my scholarship, I receive $25,000/year which also did not meet my family’s need.
Folks, WPI’s campus was closed to all but most essential services yesterday due to the blizzard - check their website and they are very good about keeping this updated.
WPI’s “financial aid quick reference” brochure says, “Please keep in mind that WPI does not guarantee to meet the full financial need of financial aid applicants. Because of this, your family’s EFC (or actual out-of-pocket expenses) could be higher than the EFC calculated from the FAFSA and the CSS PROFILE application.”
Just got our notice. Disappointed. Merit award and university grant but still 12K higher than our EFC and more loans than I want to take on, no work study.
How did you get notice? Email or in a portal?
Received response from WPI. Unfortunately they indicate this year to be extremely competitive and that a combination of Merit and International Scholarship is not possible for my case.
The price is very expensive for my family, but the potential is high. We are still thinking about it and hope we can come up with something…
got in. EA2
WPI is a great school but it is becoming known for low assistance with financial aid, even for top students. If they keep on in this direction, they will be seen as a school for the wealthy. Very disappointing.
Son was deferred EAII and I am not terribly upset for that ^ reason. Nor very surprised, as WPI admissions process is need-aware.
My son was accepted, but refused to write one last essay to finish the scholarship application. I’m so bummed because the game design major looks amazing. I am almost positive my son can’t afford to attend without winning the full tuition Foisie Scholarship and there’s not a chance it will happen…darn that kid.
Got in EA2… awaiting aid… International student.
@sbjdorlo What scholarship application? Is it open for internationals?
Here it is. I don’t know the restrictions, but you could email them.
https://www.wpi.edu/Images/CMS/AO/WPI_scholarship_supplement_form.pdf