<p>I have recently received a "decision" letter from a college saying they've put me on a financial aid wait list. The letter says that they are willing to offer a $15000 merit scholarship and $20000 need based aid. The letter also says my contribution would be $17280, but does not state that I've been admitted or accepted. The amount I said I would contribute was less than the amount they expect me to pay. They have asked for a revised Certification of Finances to make a final decision, stating that the closer my contribution is to their offer, the greater the chance is for me to be admitted. Does this mean that if I say I'll pay $17280, it's a guaranteed admission? Are my chances of getting better aid completely gone, or is there something I can do to try and get a better offer? I'm an international student. Thanks. </p>
<p>The school does not have to go by your statement of what you are willing to pay. The school will not accept you if you do not show documentation that you are able to pay the $17280.</p>
<p>It sounds like you are an international student applying to a need aware school for internationals. You need to complete that certification of finances. Then just wait and see what happens.</p>
<p>The only situation I have seen this sort of thing is when international students are involved. And you mention the Certification of Finances which is for foreign students. Basically, you cannot go to this school unless you show that you are willing and ABLE on the Certification to pay what the school is offering. You probably will be accepted if you say you’ll pay the amount AND show that you can pay it on the Certification. Nothing is ever guaranteed, but I would say this is as close as it gets. </p>
<p>As you know, an acceptance means nothing in terms of an international student if said student cannot get a student visa, and in order to get one, there has to be that certification showing that you can come up with the money and that you will. Schools don’t want to waste an acceptance on a student that cannot meet those terms because it’s 100% not doable if that Certification does not show the money there to pay for the college.</p>
<p>It sounds like IF you play the game and do/pay what they say, they’ll admit you. so, show what you need to show, and agree to pay the stated amount (if that’s affordable) and see what happens.</p>
<p>When you send the Certificate of Finances, it must verity that you HAVE the money to meet your financial obligations while attending college here. If you can’t do so, you will not be issued a visa to study here.</p>
<p>I believe the Certificate of Finances requires direct verification with income and assets certified, because it does go to the Immigration or the State Dept, and the student visa process requires this. The college completes the form with what they are throwing into the equation. !00% of what the student needs to travel, live, study here has to be verified.</p>
<p>In order to get a visa appointment, you will first need to get an I-20. Some schools vet their international applicants first to make sure they can pay if they are accepted. For these schools, students must send the documentation for the I-20 prior to acceptance. The I-20 will not actually be issued unless and until the student is accepted. What they are requesting is what you would send to other schools once accepted & prior to being issued an I-20 … they are just asking sooner in the process.</p>
<p>I issue the I-20’s for my school. I require the certification of finances and the proof of funding (bank statements). Once I receive those, I issue an I-20. I do NOT issue the visa, though … that is the job of the U.S. Embassy. The fact that I issued an I-20 does not guarantee that the student will get the visa. Some students are turned down for a visa because although they provided me with proof of funding, the U.S. Embassy officer who interviewed them did not consider what they presented at the interview to be satisfactory. In other words, you must be able to provide clear and convincing evidence of the ability to pay the difference between the cost of attendance and the aid offered to you. </p>
<p>Thanks everyone for your replies. Really cleared things up. Unfortunately the college didn’t take my offer, and I was denied admission.</p>