<p>I got wait listed at Johns Hopkins and I understand that it is pretty much a death sentence. I really, really want to salvage the situation as I've gotten rejected everywhere I applied to except for a couple of wait lists (which are basically rejections). I suspect that my large financial need (US$40,000) as an international applicant was the primary factor behind my rejections, if not the only factor. Either that or I'm just horribly deluded.</p>
<p>I've learnt that sending in new materials, such as recommendation letters, personal statements, etc. might help my case -- I will do those as soon as possible.</p>
<p>I'm considering another option: withdrawing my financial aid completely. I've contemplated calling up the school and say "I've got other sources of funding now, would you withdraw my application for financial aid?" in hopes that it would dramatically boost my chances of admission. Do you think it will help?</p>
<p>What else can I do?</p>
<p>By the way, congratulations to those who got into their dream schools. It's been a tough year and I'm sure that your acceptances have truly been earned. Be proud of them; I can only shake my head mournfully as I received rejection after rejection.</p>
<p>So how are you going to pay the tuition bill if you do get accepted? Or after you go through that exercise you're going to have to decline anyway?</p>
<p>What you're planning sounds like a bad idea. If it works (unlikely), you'll be stuck with a lot of debt.</p>
<p>Better probably to take a productive gap year and to apply next year with a more balanced list including safeties that you love and can afford. Take the time to look in the archives for the story of Andison, who was in the same situation as you, took a productive gap year, applied to a broader range of schools, and got some nice options. The original thread was called, "We're picking up the pieces what went wrong."</p>
<p>Northstarmom, I've included safeties in my list and I have not heard from them. I'm simply hoping that the best comes out of my safeties. Thanks a lot for your advice. I looked up on Andison; his story was truly inspiring.</p>
<p>Withdrawing your financial aid application is a horribly bad idea. First, it is not worth all the debt you would face. Second, it has about a .01% chance of doing anything whatsoever. (Sorry if that was harsh, but the very thought of you doing that worries me :P )</p>
<p>Admission, even from the wait list, is still need-aware right? I'm seriously tempted to cancel my financial aid application, even if it helps marginally. I'm desperate and I really don't know what to do.</p>
<p>According to your back posts, you are an international, and are awaiting decisions from Michigan and Wisconsin. </p>
<p>Being an international makes things much, much harder. Relatively few colleges give internationals aid, and most of those are among this country's most difficult to gain entrance to. Hard as they are to gain admission for Americans, they are much more competitive for internationals.</p>
<p>It also seems you are awaiting decisions from Michigan and Wisconsin. Those are, I believe, rolling admission schools. The earlier you apply to such universities, the greater your chances. As spaces fill up, their admission requirements increase. It's much harder getting into those universities if you're out of state than if you're in state. They also don't have much financial aid for people from out of state.</p>
<p>Start reading the international board on CC, and also look at the info for internationals that's pinned at the top of the financial aid board.</p>
<p>Usually the best chances for internationals who need aid are by going to schools offering such aid that also are way below the level of school that the international could go to if they were an American citizen.</p>
<p>Oryza: Total costs now -- tuition, room, board, expenses -- at many colleges is $42-exceeding $50 k a year.</p>