Financial Aid

<p>As an international, i didn't apply for financial aid when i applied to Wellesley last year, so i don't have a very good idea of how generous the college is towards internationals in terms of financial aid. It's not need-blind towards internationals right? </p>

<p>In particular, how does Wellesley's financial aid packages compare to that offered by Smith and Mt. Holyoke?</p>

<p>Any comment is appreciated, cos' I need to get back to my friend on this one (she's an international from China). Thanks!</p>

<p>Wellesley is not need blind towards internationals. Smith is not need blind at all if I recall correctly, but (also if I recall correctly), need factors into only a handful of Smith decisions.</p>

<p>Also, if I recall correctly, finaid packages are either given at the time of the admission letter OR sometime before the decision needs to be made (I remember getting letters amending my package from two schools (with no prompting from me) later in April).</p>

<p>Need based offers are usually similiar within a few thousand dollars.</p>

<p>So I can't tell your friend which school is more generous, but IF she gets into any of the schools AND she is offered financial aid, THEN she will know before she has to decide.</p>

<p>I'm an international student at Wellesley on financial aid... I also applied to Mt Holyoke and Smith, and I got more than twice the amount of aid from Wellesley as compared to Moho, and I pay about 6000 dollars less per year than I would have at Smith. Wellesley's incredibly generous towards internationals. Some of this might have something to do with the Davis familiy... they sponsor a lot of the students coming from United World Colleges, and maybe this means that there is more aid for the rest of us? Anyway, I've been very satisfied with financial aid here, even though it is not need-blind. What Wellesley also does is that they factor the money you are likely to spend on clothing, flights, staying here over winter and summer breaks etc. into your financial aid, so you really end up paying even less for tuition. I can't tell, of course, if my experience has been universal. Hope this helps!</p>

<p>thanks for the info. so far! any more? :)</p>