<p>I know I have another thread down there, but I thought this needed a new thread on its own, since it's a completely different topic. </p>
<p>After spending about ten consecutive hours at the local library, crazily googling anything to do with Cornell, I fell in love with the place - and will be EDing to it this year. I'm an international kid though, and without a full ride, I won't be able to go. </p>
<p>The Cornell website states that they look at your need, as well as your academics, essays etc to determine who gets aid for internationals. Is there anyone on CC who is an international and has gotten a full ride? </p>
<p>My mother is a single parent, and we have a total income of <15k/year. Poor as hell, yadda yadda. Do I have a good shot at receiving full aid, especially when coupled with strong SATs and a counselor's letter that explains my financial troubles?</p>
<p>Basically that. I applied in 2008 from Canada. The crash happened and Cornell tightened up aid for 2/3 years. The current situation I’m not so sure.</p>
<p>So for me actually I had no clue that there was a “selection” process (that sounds new to me). Not really sure I can comment on this part…</p>
<p>All I know is that the CSS profile thing and the supplements asked for my parents’ assets (mortgage, stocks, savings etc) and income. Assets were on the low side and income was ~70k family. My brother was entering college as well.</p>
<p>The generous grant that I received stayed consistent (increased along with the tuition) throughout my years (as did my family income/situation for the most part). The grant covered tuition completely and a bit more so our responsibility was for the rest of Housing/Food and insurance and a section known as “student contribution” (expected me to work during summer and/or school year). They also expected me to receive ~3000/yr IN LOANS from the Canadian gov (actually received ~4200/yr in loans)</p>
<p>Overall I think our expenses per year was ~8k out of pocket (student contribution included) excluding the canadian gov. loans. </p>
<p>I should note that in my year, Canadians and Mexicans were in a more lenient pool of candidates for finaid. I know students from China and Korea from my year whom received 0 aid. Not sure how Aussies work into the policies.</p>
<p>Not exactly a full ride, but I would have paid more if I went to an out-of-town university in Canada. Also, I don’t know any intl peers with your situation. </p>
<p>As for whether or not you have a shot… I’d say that’s irrelevant at this point for you since it doesnt sound like you’re not going to apply unless you know you will get aid. Finaid seems to differ year to year (which makes sense) so it’s hard to say based on past experiences. Your best bet is to ask Finaid directly if you really need to know whether you can get aid before you apply. Applications are relatively expensive…</p>
<p>The best students, the ones with the highest test scores, grades, most difficult subjects and what the university has on its wish list that year which they don’t tell anyone. Also, all things equal, those with less need. When you are looking at need aware admissions that means you have limited funds to give out, so taking 5 students with $4k fo need is preferable to one with $20K when you are looking at numbers and could use those students. So it will also depend on who else is applying that year.</p>
<p>It depends on whether I have a real shot at a full ride beforeapplying, because otherwise I’ll have to ED to Dartmouth, which offers full aid. I’ll try emailing the fin aid people then.</p>
<p>The cream of the crop of international applicants get financial aid. I believe about 40-50 accepted internationals end up receiving some sort of aid. I would say you should at least be at the top of your class and have well above average test scores (1500+ Cr/M SAT) to have a shot, not to mention make the rest of your application shine.</p>
<p>Well if you want options of financial aid you should apply RD. I’m international and I applied ED and I got fin-aid though not 100%, but enough for me to attend another int’l on CC got ~100%. It depends on if they really want you to attend, although its ED so they’ll want most of their accepted students to attend. It won’t be wise to apply ED to Cornell if it isn’t your first choice.</p>
<p>cortana431 is right. 73 internationals were offered packages averaging $38500. But I wouldn’t say that a 1500+ score is something that matters all that much; it will surely help your cause but it doesn’t guarantee anything. And you could still get aid with a slightly lower but reasonably competitive score(1400+ at least) because a lot of scholarships/alumni grants at Cornell consider community service, ECs, or even your teachers recs.
It can’t hurt to apply. You’ll easily get app fee waivers and CSS profile waivers, so you won’t have to pay. Good luck.</p>
The RD acceptance rates aren’t on my side…</p>