<p>Please help me understand this. I've read the official collegeboard.com instructions, but I'm still dumbfounded.</p>
<p>What is the purpose of this? To prove you can afford college for first year? or do they need proof that you can afford all 4 years of college?</p>
<p>so... if I told the truth that I only have $50 in my bank account (A HYPOTHETICAL EXAMPLE), is that a signal to colleges that I am high financial need? Or is that a warning bell to toss out my application?</p>
<p>Finally, why only some colleges require this form, and not others? I've read it's supposed to be 'US government regulation'</p>
<p>You need to certify that you can afford to pay whatever amount you have stated/are required to.</p>
<p>For schools with no need-based financial aid for internationals, this means proving you can afford to pay the whole amount.</p>
<p>For schools with need-based aid, you need to calculate how much you can realistically afford, and then prove you can pay that.</p>
<p>The form will need to be signed by a bank or attached to a bank letter verifying that you (and your parents) have the funds available. They will also need to say that they honestly think that you can continue paying that money for 4 years (although you dont have to HAVE the money for 3 more years in the account, the bank should identify you incomes and say whether you can afford it.)</p>
<p>I’m not 100% sure about that, but I do believe that you need to prove you can afford to attend (regardless of scholarships) because they don’t want to offer admission to students who can’t realistically attend.</p>
<p>I have the same problem - I can only go if I get a merit schoalrship, but before I could even apply, I had to prove I could afford to go, so we scraped the finances together and (with a bit of leneancy from the bank manager!) I could prove we had the finances.</p>
<p>I think most schools require a Financial Certification Form of some sort. I know however, that some only require it after acceptance letters and scholarship decisions have been released (so you know how much you’ll actually be needing)</p>
<p>No, as long as your main application was submitted on time, the supplemental documents can be sent later (just not too later).</p>
<p>Also check with the university in question because each one has a different policy on Fin Cert forms - some want it when you submit, some want it before they tell you their decision, some want it when you enrol and some don’t want it at all! (you’ll still need it for a visa though).</p>
<p>hey thanks…but now i’m hearing i don’t need to submit it?
it’s only for international students from foreign countries?
i’m an international student because of my status but i have attended all four years of high school in america. and i’m applying to american schools.</p>
<p>Do you want or need a student visa? If so, you will definitely need the Certification of Finances. (Applying for an F-1 student visa might be beneficial even if you don’t absolutely need it. For example, F-1 students are allowed to pursue limited employment while H-4 dependents are not. Useful for internships and such.)</p>
<p>If you are not applying for a student visa, it is up to the discretion of the college whether or not to ask for evidence of financial resources. They might still want it.</p>