<p>My friend (an international student) has a yearly family income of 12000-13000 $. Yearly Medical expenses and her sisters education costs sum-up to 2000 $. She will be applying to a lot of schools and the total application-fee costs are reaching to as high as 1400 $. Her school-list is made up of both need-blind and non need-blind schools.</p>
<p>In this case, should she apply for fee-waivers? She doubts that applying for fee-waives might put her at a disadvantage of sorts. So, considering the total scenario, what should she do?</p>
<p>$1400 in application fees! o.O Maybe she should start by paring down her list!</p>
<p>Yes, applying for fee waivers is fine and shouldn't put her at a disadvantage, but she should also be aware that most colleges aren't as generous with need-based aid for international students. Not because they're stingy, but because of restrictions on the federal grants that actually pay for the bulk of need-based aid. Given her financial situation, maybe a more targeted approach would be better -- schools that would offer her significant merit aid based on stats, for example. Just a thought.</p>
Eligibility
To be eligible for SAT Program fee waivers (and thus for up to four college application fee waivers), a student must be either an American citizen or a foreign national who is testing in the United States, Puerto Rico, or U.S. territories. Eligibility is determined by family income or by participation in a public assistance program or other program for economically disadvantaged families. The income guidelines are based on those of the federal free and reduced-price lunch program. </p>
<p>Since the overwhelming majority of colleges in the U.S. are not need blind to international studentssending in a fee waiver literally screams "I NEED $$" and places the student at an disadvantage at most U.S. schools.</p>
<p>If paying the fee is going to be a problem, she may have to trim her list and only apply to the number of schools that she and her family can pay for or schools where the application fee will be waived if one applies on line.</p>
<p>I am a little confused. Family income is twelve to thirteen thousand? (Not 120k)
So why worry that a need sensitive admission policy might reject the applicant? Will a school that practices need sensitive admission meet 100% of need? If I am reading those numbers correctly, 12 - 13k family income and $2k medical/education expenses, how can you spend $1400 on application fees and NOT ask for help?</p>
<p>If you left off a zero.... then never mind :D</p>
<p>The answer is that Op's friend doesn't spend $1400 on application fees, the same way a middle class family who is not eligible for fee waivers is probably going to tell their child to reign it in and not spend $1400 on application fees. (Lets say each school cost ~ $70 a pop. For $1400 we are talking about 20 schools)</p>
<p>Just remember that the application fee is just the tip of the iceberg. Even with fee waivers, you can only receive a maximum of 8 score reports so all of those $9.50 per report once you get past 8 reports start to add up ($9.50 *12 = $114). With the college board there is no such thing as a free lunch, for schools that use the profile, the first copy is $23 with $18 for each additional school. ($18 *19 = $342)</p>
<p>IF this were a middle class U.S. citizen or permanent resident applying to college they would need $1879 unless they got in somewhere EA or rolling and could then cut some schools off their list. (We won't start to talk about the cost of the deposit to hold a spot at the school, the cost of getting from home to school and the start of cost in going to college- computer, linen, sundry items, etc.)</p>
<p>Op is referring to an international student wants to attend college in the U.S. (maybe does not need to and it is certainly not mandatory that she attends college in the U.S.). OP's friend may just have to stay home and attend college there.</p>
<p>Thanks for your replies! But ... I don't get it. There is a thing called need-based financial aid for international students, which colleges offer to them regardless of whether the institution is need-blind or need-aware. So, why in the world would my friend NOT be able to attend college in the US if the nice institution offers her financial assistance based on need? To me, fee-waivers are an open option ... as MIT's Matt says "You need the 65$ more than we do" And to go by the rule-book, one CAN apply for fee-waivers if one's family income is reflective of the fact that paying application fees would present a hardship on the student's family. Moreover, for international fee-waiver requests are letters from the Principal/Counselor of their school certifying their financial condition and requesting a fee-waiver for them.</p>
<p>OK ... I get the "If you ain't got the dough, why apply?" logic playing here ... but when the colleges ARE ready to give out financial assistance to worthy international candidates, why not take it? Also, she is applying to schools only which have a history of providing full-funding to international students and state that all admitted international students' full demonstrated need would be covered.</p>
<p>Yes ... the other costs through Collegeboard and DHL mail can't be avoided, but fee-waivers can. So ... what does she do?</p>
<p>PS: It's 12000 $ only. So, that's lower-middle class. What? Lower-middle class people aren't supposed to dream of going to to an US university?</p>