Hello everyone,
I am an International Student and I need to apply for financial aid.
The problem is that they ask for official translations of all the documents but mines are in french and I can’t translate them without paying around $40 A PAGE. This is impossible for me, as it would cost way to much money.
Do you think it will impact my application?
Thank you 
Yes, it will impact your application.
As an international students, your ability to pay will be a factor at all but 5 schools in the US.
If you cannot supply the school with the information that they need, how will they be able to determine what you need?
If the school is asking for official translated documents and you do not supply them, then your application is incomplete and will not be processed.
You want thousands and thousands of dollars in need based aid, right? What documents need to be translated?
It’s also almost the end of January…and these forms have been available since October…hope you aren’t close to the deadlines.
American University doesn’t offer need based aid at all to international students.
University of Chicago, Columbia, Stanford are need aware for admissions.
With the exception of American University (which doesn’t offer need based aid to international students) your list is very top heavy…with schools that accept a very low percentage of students.
How much aid do you need to attend these colleges which cost about $70,000 a year?
@happymomof1 is there some agency that can help with these translations?
The deadlines are mid-february in worst cases so it’s ok
I know that American doesn’t offer need based aid
I need to submit all the tax forms etc…
I am able to pay a maximum of around $20-25K.
I just checked all of your colleges. You missed the American deadline which was January 15. Some of the others are February 1. Some Feb 15…one was March 1.
So your family can pay $25,000 a year…meaning you need about $47,000 a year in aid to attend these other colleges. Am I right?
Your actual family contribution will be calculated by the colleges…and very well could exceed $25,000 a year. This would all depend on parent income and assets.
You are hoping for a LOT of need based aid. A LOT. So…get whatever needs to be translated…translated. You live in France which is not a third world country…so ask around. Maybe your school counselor knows how these documents get translated for submission.
And maybe @happymomof1 has an idea.
Hoping you also have some affordable sure thing option on your application list…
How would you pay for American University??
I already submitted the american documents so it’s not a problem.
I know it’s a lot but considering the average aid provided by these schools and that someone I know only had to pay $16000 a year with a financial situation pretty similar to mine I think it might work.
I am also applying to english universities where it’s more affordable but I would prefer going to the US
I sent a mail a few minutes ago to my school to see if they had any advice.
A situation “similar to” yours is not yours.
But apply and see.
The first hurdle is you have to get accepted and at schools with under a 10% acceptance rate, that is never a sure thing.
Just curious…since American gives no need based aid to international students…why did you even submit to them?
I’ll let you know, thank you
The EducationUSA office at the Fullbright Commission in Paris might have a list of more affordable official translators. You can find that office with a quick Google. I can’t copy and paste the link on this device.
Official translations often are expensive. If only one place is requiring that, cross it off your list.
If you’re able to pay that much, why can’t you pay to have your transcripts translated??
Your posts seem to contradict each other.
How would you pay for American Univ???