<p>Hi everyone,</p>
<p>As an international student, I'm applying to many schools that have a need-aware admissions process that would otherwise be need-blind (domestically) such as the University of Chicago and Columbia University. How much does needing financial aid affect the strength of my application? Do my chances severely decrease (our annual income is approximately $150,000)?</p>
<p>Thanks.</p>
<p>Needing aid DECREASES your chances, not the other way around. Colleges like rich people. </p>
<p>Colleges that are need-aware only make offers when they can address financial need of the applicant. They may choose not to do that if the applicant isnt as competitive and they have exhausted their funds on other applicants. </p>
<p>In some cases being disadvantaged (think foster care) can be a hook and assist you in admission. Even then if they college doesnt have the ability to fund the education they would deny or admit-deny. </p>
<p>For international student, needing financial aid does hurt your application. How much? Don’t know as each school does it differently. There are other issues as well, such as which country you are from and how many are applying from your school to a given college.</p>
<p>You would need to fill out some certification of finances showing what you can pay and how. The school then fills in the gap if they so please. That’ s needed for student visa purposes. That you don’t have high need would help in that most need aware schools want to stretch what funds that they do have. Someone who needs $10K is far more likely to get accepted than a similar student needing a full ride.</p>