Help with an uncommon problem. Thanks~

<p>Hello, everyone. </p>

<p>I am a student from China. I will apply for American colleges this semester, as an international student, of course. </p>

<p>I know that most of the colleges only offer "need-based" FA for international student, while they provide "need-blind" FA for US students. </p>

<p>However, my identity will change as I will become U.S permanent resident in two years. It means that I can probably get my Permanent Resident Card during my sophomore year. </p>

<p>So, I am wondering whether the college can offer me "need-blind" FA once I become permanent US resident? Or FA policy will not change once I begin my freshman year?</p>

<p>Thank you so much.</p>

<p>I know that most of the colleges only offer “need-based” FA for international student, while they provide “need-blind” FA for US students.</p>

<p>First of all, that statement isn’t correct. </p>

<p>A small number of colleges offer “need-based” FA for int’l students. </p>

<p>Few meet need for int’ls. </p>

<p>Some of those schools are “need aware” for int’ls. </p>

<p>SOME schools are need-blind and meet full need for US residents.</p>

<p>Some schools are need-aware and meet full need for US residents.</p>

<p>Most schools do not meet need for US residents nor int’ls.</p>

<p>Your main problem will be getting accepted to a school that will meet need for int’ls… Once your accepted and getting that aid, it won’t matter at all what your status is. Why would it??? If the school meets your need as an int’l, why would it change once you’re a resident??? </p>

<p>What schools are you applying to???</p>

<p>Ok, here is my situation. </p>

<p>If I apply for Vassar College, it will be extremely hard for an international student to get full Financial Aid because of the highly selective pool and the college’s need-based policy for international students. </p>

<p>Say for example, I apply for Vassar with NO Financial aid in order to increase the chance of getting admitted, and in the end I get accpeted. My family financial is not quite good, but we somehow manage to pay for the first year tuition.</p>

<p>However, in the second year, we become permanet US residents. As Vassar provides “need-blind” FA for US permanet residents, can I get FA in my second year, then?</p>

<p>A couple of things.</p>

<p>First…Need blind has to do with admissions, not financial aid. Schools that are NEED BLIND for admissions do not consider your ability to pay during their admissions process.</p>

<p>Schools that guarantee to MEET FULL NEED are schools that will provide financial aid that is the difference between their Cost of Attendance and what they compute as your Family Contribution (note…the SCHOOL computes your family contribution based on information you provide to them re: income and assets).</p>

<p>Re: getting aid if you do NOT apply as a freshman. SOME schools will not award you institutional aid as an upperclassman if you do not apply as a incoming freshman. In other words…if you don’t apply this year, you cannot apply for their institutional aid in the future. You need to check Vassar’s policy (and any other school that you plan to apply to). </p>

<p>Another important question…how WILL you fund the first two years at Vassar if you don’t receive financial aid from them? To get a Visa to study here, your family will have to sign an affidavit saying that they have all of the funds for a full year of your support. This can include approved loans and awarded financial aid. BUT if you are not applying for financial aid for that first year, do you have a source for funding your college costs? If not, you will not get a Visa to study here.</p>

<p>If you family can pay for the full first year of Vassar (close to $50,000 U.S. dollars), then the school might figure they can do this for upcoming years as well.</p>

<p>Institutional financial aid is based largely on your family’s income and assets in U.S. dollars. </p>

<p>Anyway…bottom line, you need to see if Vassar will even ALLOW you to apply for institutional aid IF you don’t apply as an incoming freshman.</p>

<p>thumper 1:</p>

<p>Thank you for your speedy post. </p>

<p>One last question: </p>

<p>Are there any benefits to be gained from becoming a Permanet US. resident in the second year of college?</p>

<p>

</p>

<p>I believe you would be eligible for federally funded aid which is not available to international students who are not permanent residents. This would include the Stafford loan.</p>

<p>I’m not all that certain about the financial aid policies for international students or green card holders.</p>

<p>A green card holder is a permanent resident. As far as admissions and financial aid (including federal aid) a green card holder/permanent resident is treated exactly the same as a US citizen. Also has the same responsibilities as far as taxes - i.e. has to file a US tax return wherever they live in the world. Can’t vote or serve on a jury.</p>

<p>How are you planning to become a permanent resident? It is not that easy. I had already been married to a US citizen for several years and we had a child (a US citizen) and when we were transferring to the States I still had to go through an intensive process to get a green card.</p>

<p>If you really think that your status will change in a few years, have you considered taking a gap year or two?</p>

<p>Apparently Vassar is need aware for internationals during admissions. So the first hurdle is to get accepted. They do meet 100% of need (as determined by Vassar) for those internationals that are admitted as freshman. So the becoming a US resident would not alter the aid package. </p>

<p>[Vassar</a> College || International Students FAQ](<a href=“http://admissions.vassar.edu/applyinternational_faq.html#aid]Vassar”>http://admissions.vassar.edu/applyinternational_faq.html#aid)</p>

<p>You’re trying to “game” the system by getting admitted by appearing not to need aid, but then applying for aid later. </p>

<p>If you don’t apply for FA for admittance, many schools will not consider you for FA later on (no matter what your residency is) unless some major change occurs…like death of a parent or significant loss of income. </p>

<p>Many schools have such policies because they don’t want kids “gaming” the system by appearing not to need aid in order to gain admittance, then after paying for the first year (or two), applying for aid for later years. You can see how that could get abused.</p>

<p>To the OP…apply to Vassar AND apply for aid. The bottom line…it does you NO GOOD to get accepted to the school if you can’t afford to attend for all four years without aid. As noted above, Vassar is need aware for admissions but IF you get accepted they will meet your need.</p>

<p>Don’t cut your nose to spite your face. The “edge” for admittance for students NOT needing aid is not that big. If you are a competitive admit for Vassar, you have the chance to be accepted whether you request financial aid or not. </p>

<p>If you need the aid ANY TIME IN THE NEXT FOUR YEARS, apply for it as an incoming freshman.</p>