So if you get accepted ED but FA isn’t enough and they can’t do anything to fix the aid amount, you’re released from the binding right?
This might be a stupid question but can you still appeal if EFC is 0? Some NPC’s seem to have a quite low EFC which is good but the student contribution seems quite high and idk how I’m supposed to make that much money being a full time student…
While it is possible to “get out of” an ED contract if you can’t afford to attend, I would suggest taking the EA/RD route instead. If you need money, don’t put yourself through that. I’m sure rescinding an ED contract isn’t the most pleasant experience.
Also, how much is the student contribution? Perhaps you can get an on-campus/work study job and/or work over the summer.
Also, according to College Board:
https://professionals.collegeboard.org/guidance/applications/early
If you withdraw all other applications, you will have slim pickings by the time you get out of your contract.
@WeLoveLyman But apparently I don’t have to withdraw other applications until I get the FA offer (and until I get it fixed, if it isn’t enough).
If financial aid isn’t enough you decline the ED offer and see what your other acceptances are.
@austinmshauri So if the financial aid isn’t enough I don’t have to withdraw other applications right?
And how “immediately” do I have to withdraw other applications anyway? Apparently the reply date for ED is January and decisions come in during December so is there a few weeks gap?
You can appeal finaid even if it’s zero. But the colleges expect something in your financial picture to have changed or not been covered by the original forms.
BUT, what NPCs? You’ve previously mentioned MIT, Cornell, and Michigan- all three say their Net Price Calculators are intended for US students, not internationals.
Cornell is need aware for intls and may provide very little aid to them. Michigan states, “International students on temporary visas are not eligible for financial aid, and are expected to pay the full cost of attendance.”
So what college is your ED target?
In any case, it is common for a college to expect a ‘student contribution from earnings.’ It can be thousands of dollars.
@lookingforward I actually went to Cornell yesterday for campus visit/ and I asked one of the admissions/financial aid people about the NPC thing. They just told me to pretend I was a US student and to enter the numbers converted in USD. They told me it would work the same for US students and international students when it comes down to calculating actual FA anyway so I’m gonna trust what they said.
@geekgurl when you get the ED acceptance, you will be given a VERY short window to accept or decline it. You know…if there is a high likelihood that the school is NOT going to be affordable, maybe ED isn’t good choice.
Have you run the net price calculators? You can try it like Cornell suggests. BUT keep in mind…it will be an estimate only…
I hear what you are saying… but unless the NPC specifically asks if the student is an international student, there will be assumptions made about federally funded need based aid, and even some state grants in some places…that will NOT be applicable to an international student…at all.
As noted…many schools have a different “view” when it comes to international student financial aid. Don’t assume that the NPCs will be accurate for you as an international student.
Also…you ask about appealing when your EFC is $0. If the school gives limited financial aid to international students…you can ask…but don’t be surprised if the answer is no.
I’ve seen stats in which ~98% of ED1 accepted students enroll. At colleges with this success rate, it seems that solid matches have been created with respect to finances.
Well, OP, that’s confusing as they state on their site, “The calculator is intended for undergraduate applicants living and working in the U.S.” They have a separate policy for long time Green Card holders and undocumenteds. And they state, “Cornell has a limited amount of funding available for international undergraduates.”
Please be careful. Need Aware means your need affects your admissions chances.
@thumper1 You have ay idea how Cornell actually works for this?
How much was the student contribution??
@mom2collegekids Over $3000. Also since I’ll be on student visa I’m not sure how I’m supposed to “work” at all
Earning $3k per year is NOTHING. Not much at all for a college student. Most can earn that over the summer.
However, if you’re here on a student visa, then you might not be permitted to work to work in the US…so the expectation may be that during the summer, when you’re in your home country, you’re supposed to earn/save for a student contribution…
Have you contacted the school and ask if the expected student contribution is the same for int’l students?
Really, even domestic students who have a high financial need are expected earn $3-5k per year. The difference for domestic students is that they can borrow it in a subsidized loan if they need to, or get a good internship during the summer. With minimum wage in many areas going to $15/hr, making $3000 over the summer is just not that hard anymore. $15/hr x 30 hrs per week x 10 weeks = $4500
International students usually can earn some money. It’s something you really have to ask about and plan on.
https://isso.cornell.edu/financial/financial-aid
My reading of this is that Cornell is need aware for international students. This means your ability to pay WILL be considered when your application for admission is reviewed. Cornell has limited funds for international students…so the school will only accept students until the college feels it has used its funds…because IF you are accepted, they will meet your need.
So in your case, a $0 family contribution is not going to work in your favor. Cornell would know that you would require full funding to attend. And yes, the do expect a student contribution.
Do you have something special that would make Cornell want to accept you as a student AND therefore provide you with full funding? This could include not only top stats (most applicants have those), but maybe from a very under represented country? Or do you have some special something that makes you more appealing than another student who also needs full funding?
Honestly…it sounds like you MUST have excellent financial aid to attend college in the U.S. If you apply ED, you will have ONE offer if you get accepted. You will need to decide rather quickly whether that is sufficient…or not. The trouble is…you won’t really know if Cornell or any other ED school has THE best offer…or not…because you won’t have any others.
Perhaps you need to consider casting a broader net…applying RD to a number of colleges. Hope for multiple acceptances, and hope for several great financial aid and net costs to consider.
Worth thinking about.
I’m confused why people say that applying ED won’t be a good idea, especially with the system that allows students to be released if the FA package isn’t sufficient. If it’s good enough (which according to @merc81’s stat about 98% yield, is most likely) I attend, and if it’s really not enough than I’m out of the ED contract and I can continue applying to other schools. I don’t see the problem here…am I missing something?
What if you apply ED to your top choice school and they admit you with a financial aid package that is pretty good, but even so it’s not as much as you were hoping for or think you need, so you request to be released from your agreement. Unfortunately when your acceptances and FA packages come in from the other schools, it turns out that the lowest net price after offered FA was from the school you applied to ED, but you can’t go back there and ask for a do-over.
ED takes away the opportunity to compare and choose from all the schools that you are interested in.
Yes. You are missing a few things.
- If you are REALLY a competitive applicant for a full ride at a competitive ED school...because you are SOOO low income...you might also be competitive for a very good merit award where international students can get these.
These applications are typically due BEFORE the start of December. So…do you plan to submit all of your regular decision applications as well?
- Again...IF you get accepted, you will have ONE (read that again...ONE) financial aid offer to consider. It might be the very best of the best...and it just might not be. You will have no way to know if other colleges might have a lower net cost if you accept this offer. OTOH, if you decline this ED offer...you could be declining the best offer.
You won’t have any way to compare.
- You mentioned appealing if your aid is not sufficient for the ED school. You need to understand...the vast majority of colleges won’t consider an appeal of their aid awards unless you have some substantial change to your family finances. Simply saying “gee...that’s not enough aid for me to attend” probably will net you nothing.
Now…if you are accepted to three Ivy League schools and your top school offers you $3000 less in aid than the others, you have some thing you can use as a basis for discussion…a peer school award. You won’t have that with ONE ED offer.
- Once more...there are only a handful of colleges that are both need blind for admissions and meet full need for ALL admitted international students. So...it’s likely your ability to pay WILL be considered when you apply.
Certainly, you can apply ED, and it seems like you have made up your mind to do so. But please understand…for kids who need significant aid…it’s nice to be able to compare multiple offers. It just is. I mean really…maybe some school won’t have a big student contribution.