frustrated with financial aid

<p>I hate to seem unsympathetic, but for every school my son applied to, the financial and admission information was very clear that international students are not given the same aid, are not admitted need-blind, and should not expect to get aid. It was really clear and obvious, and a couple of the schools expected students to sign statements to that effect. My understanding is that in other countries, there are state/national university systems that can educate those nation's citizens. So I guess my thought is, if you couldn't afford it, but you just hoped you might get aid, well, you had to understand that "might" meant you might not, too, right? </p>

<p>I'm not an aggressive patriot, but I do think that a country should not have an obligation to provide university level education to students of other countries, and there isn't some mandate that schools must or "should" give aid to those students. I mean, I guess it's unfortunate for you, but well, that's just the way it is.</p>

<p>By the way, do German universities welcome applications from foreign students and charge them the same $1000 per year? Somehow I doubt it. </p>

<p>It seems to me that the original poster should write a few letters to lobby for equal treatment (by German universities) of foreign students.</p>

<p>lskinner you are wrong. Same fees apply to all students. Please don't make unqualified post based on your biased assumptions. BTW this is not the right thread to discuss foreign education systems.</p>

<p>are you sure that internationals pay the same amount as German citizens?</p>

<p>Yes they do. The only difference is that they are not eligible for a federal loan. However, fees for int. students can be waived for outstanding academic achievments.</p>

<p>Simba, I second sulipro. Internationals pay exactly the same $1000 as German citizens. (Actually it's €1000 which is about $1300) As Sulipro pointed out, the only difference is that intls are not eligible for federal loans to cover living expenses.</p>

<p>Sulipro, what do you mean with that: "However, fees for int. students can be waived for outstanding academic achievments."</p>

<p>Universities do have to right to waive the fees for students with exceptional talents and extraordinary academic achievements. This applies to German as well as int. students.</p>

<p>It seems that German education would a bargain for internationals. I wonder why not that many are going there. Germany has some very fine institutions. Is the medium of instruction German or English?</p>

<p>Auf Deutsch naturlich.</p>

<p>I think Cornell was very upfront regarding aid when they stated</p>

<p>
[quote]
Cornell University maintains only a very limited program of financial assistance for international students who are not citizens or permanent residents of the United States, Canada, or Mexico. Those who do receive funds have exceptional credentials and demonstrate financial need. This information is not intended to discourage you from applying, but to give you a realistic understanding of the nuances for receiving financial aid to attend Cornell.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Whether you chose to beleive that this statement pertains to other people and not you is a different issue. I guess they proved you wrong by admitting you and saying that if you really want to come find a way to pay for it (sounds like a classic admit-deny where you have the qualifications to attend, but you won't be coming because you don't have the $$ and we are not giving it to you)</p>

<p>My take on this is when you apply to cornell you do so with the mind set that there is not going to be money attached to your admissions.</p>

<p>Penn, Columbia, and Dartmouth while are not need blind to international students in the admissions process, if they admitted you they would have met 100% of your demonstrated need. You are right in that these schools would have been kinder in the fact if they could not give you the $$ based on what they think your demonstrated need is they would have rejected you.</p>

<p>For all intents & purposes I think that the tribal counsel has spoken and you should not expect to get any $$ out of cornell.</p>

<p>Sorry sybbie719 you must have get me wrong, but I neither said they I didn't read the information on the website nor did I say that I EXPECTED to get aid nor did i say that I didn't apply to other schools than Cornell.</p>

<p>simba, the medium of instruction is German. I guess there are simply not too many intl students who are proficient in German.</p>

<p>
[quote]
Sorry sybbie719 you must have get me wrong, but I neither said they I didn't read the information on the website nor did I say that I EXPECTED to get aid

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Excuse me, but was it not you who started this thread with the following comments</p>

<p>
[quote]
I think it is very unfair that - although decision are NOT need-blind - they raise someones hopes just to tell him some time later that he won't be able to afford it. I think that everyone should have the possibilty to go to his/her dream school irrespective of financial issues.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>
[quote]
Well, I knew that Cornell is not that generous but I think it's just unfair to accept applicants that definitely need financial support just to tell them that they won't be funded in any way

[/quote]
</p>

<p>sounds like some sort of expectation to me (one would even say entitlement).</p>

<p>I am not questioning what you read or did not read or the other schools that you applied to. </p>

<p>I am simply stating the facts, Cornell is very up front that they offer very little money to international students. Therefore, unless you know that you can comfortably write your check or if you need a large amount of aid to attend, you should have had a more balanced list of schools including schools where you would have stood a good chance of getting merit money and one that would have been a financially feasible option for your family.</p>

<p>Excuse me, but hope =! expectation or entitlement.</p>

<p>You can debate this all day and response to each and every post if makes you feel better .</p>

<p>However, still does not change the facts that you knew going in or should have known that if you got admitted to Cornell your chances for $$ from cornell was going to be slim (you said they gave you no $$, so they were indeed true to their word). You also knew going in that you were not at the top of the applicant pool and did not have "excellent credentials" they were looking for it they were going to toss $$ your way.
no matter how you slice it the net-net is</p>

<p>Cornell is not going to give you the money</p>

<p>you are very lucky in the fact that you can still obtain a great education at an affordable price in Germany.</p>

<p>"Cornell is not going to give you the money"</p>

<p>That's what you say. Fortunately, you're not in charge of Cornell's financial aid decisions. You're just replying to a post that asked people for advice. But you're only posting redundant information.
Let's wait what Cornell will reply.</p>

<p>sulipro-
So you filed an appeal for FA at Cornell?
Then, sure, you should wait for their answer.
But if you post in an online forum asking for comments, don't be surprised or unhappy when you receive some not to your liking.</p>

<p>
[quote]
lskinner you are wrong. Same fees apply to all students.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Ummm, please re-read my post. I was skeptical that German universities are welcoming of foreign students AND charge them the same tuition. I would be surprised to learn that the admissions bar is the same for Americans AND they pay the same low tuition.</p>

<p>You will need more than a bare assertion to convince me otherwise, but I'm certainly willing to look at whatever references you offer.</p>

<p>Heck, maybe the next time somebody starts a thread about the high cost of college, I'll advise them to start studying German.</p>

<p>
[quote]
Please don't make unqualified post based on your biased assumptions.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>My assumptions are based on my general knowledge and common sense. </p>

<p>
[quote]
BTW this is not the right thread to discuss foreign education systems.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>I think it's relevant. You yourself claimed earlier that a free education in Germany was better than paying for community college in the U.S.</p>

<p>Just my humble opinion, of course.</p>

<p>Since I'm living in Germany, I assume that my "general knowledge" concerning University admission is a bit wider than yours. Anyway, I don't want to convince YOU in any way. You can think and/or believe whatever you want. I just wanted to make sure that people don't get a wrong impression about University regulations in Germany. </p>

<p>
[quote]
"Heck, maybe the next time somebody starts a thread about the high cost of college, I'll advise them to start studying German."

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Don't forget that German language proficiency is a key requirement for admission.
Internationals from countries within the EU are treated equally to German applicants. Students from countries that signed the "Konventionenvertrag" are also treated equally. Applicants from the US are required to pass a test that measures their ability to study at a University. </p>

<p>Please frequent the following website for more information</p>

<p><a href="http://www.daad.de/deutschland/index.en.html%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.daad.de/deutschland/index.en.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>
[quote]
Since I'm living in Germany, I assume that my "general knowledge" concerning University admission is a bit wider than yours.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Maybe, maybe not. I know a lot about the way people behave and the way institutions operate. One thing I know is that good things do not usually come easily to normal and honest people. </p>

<p>If somebody tells me that banks in Country X give away free gold to any person who happens to show up and ask for it, I am skeptical even though I have never lived in Country X.</p>

<p>Similarly, it's not that hard for a bright person to learn a foreign language. If what you are saying is true, then any bright American student who can't pay for college could take a year off, learn German, and then get a university education for practically nothing.</p>

<p>
[quote]
Internationals from countries within the EU are treated equally to German applicants. Students from countries that signed the "Konventionenvertrag" are also treated equally. Applicants from the US are required to pass a test that measures their ability to study at a University.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Is the bar higher for American applicants? How much higher? Based on what you say, it doesn't appear that they are treated equally.</p>