Good morning,
I would like to ask about independent international students. I know that 24-years-old (or older) U.S student is independent by FAFSA, but what about internationals? We can’t fill out FAFSA. If I am a 25-years-old prospectiv international undergraduate student I will be considered as an independent? What conditions must international students meet to get this status? I am preparing my MIT application and need help.
You will have to ask each school. Since it it their money they can decide if they want to see. Just so you know you will likely need a very compelling reason why you are first seeking an undergraduate degree at age 25. In the last common data set I can find, 2018-19, the % of new students 25+ was 0%. For all undergraduates, it was 1%. If you are 25 now, you would be 26 or 27 when you start.
Ok, but MIT application process is the same for traditional and non-traditional students
I want to know what dependency status I have. I am adult person. I live on my own so parental tax returns may be not required in my case.
They will also want a full description of what you have been doing since secondary school.
Ok, I know that my tax returns and income documentation will be required, but parental?
You need to talk to someone in MIT’s financial aid department and ask these questions. What do you mean you are working on your application? This year’s deadlines are past the due dates, will you be applying for class of 2026?
@Mwfan1921, is there any university that expects a 25 yo applying for university to provide parental documentation?
Class of 2026
I don’t think so, but I’m not very familiar with international requirements. It’s easy for OP to reach out to MIT financial aid and ask.
Ok, I will ask. Thanks
Also, the CSS Profile for 2022-23 won’t be released until Oct 1 this year, so you can’t start filling that out yet.
Ok, but in CSS Profile information about parents is required. Can I skip it and send without that?
Probably, but you have to ask the school to confirm. And the current CSS Profile is NOT the one you will be using. The one you will be using is not available until Oct 1, so you won’t be able to send that to MIT until Oct 1 at the earliest.
You need to contact MIT if that is the place where you are applying. They require the CSS Profile for consideration for need based institutional financial aid. Their financial aid office will tell you what they require.
IIRC, the Profile form does not have qualifying questions to become an independent student.
But ask MIT what they want. They will tell you.
As an aside…the acceptance rate for international students at MIT is in the low single digits, so please…make sure you have other schools in mind. 95% or more of international applicants are denied admission.
Last year I tried to help a 25 years old international applicant, and found that in the common data set line f1 of each school, you can know how many students 25 and older they accepted. Most of cases was 0.
Mit had 1 transfer student in academic year 18-19.
Ok, but did you think about that 25-years-olds (in general) rather have finished undergraduate studies and don’t apply for any college?
Sure, there will probably be fewer applicants over 25 to compete with, but I would look in the Common data set for universities that have received at least 1 student.
@International_Dad i don’t think this is a transfer student. I think this is a first time college freshman who is 25 years old.
Hoping the OP clarifies.
@EvyStelss are you a first time college student!
Are you even a competitive applicant for MIT where the vast vast majority of applicants do not get accepted?
Do you plan to apply to other colleges?
What about schools in your home country?
Yes @thumper1 that’s what I mean, Mit 25 years old freshman = 0.
Mit just received 1 transfer older than 25 years in 2018-2019.
The OP must check Common Data Set, of universities that accept 25 years older freshman.
Those universities normally don’t give full financial aid to internationals students.
Us news has a College list forMost Students Age 25 and Older
