<p>As we may know, "Cornell University provides financial aid on a limited basis to students who are not citizens of the United States." However, does anyone know what determines who falls under the "limited basis?" I understand that before only Mexican and Canadian immigrants were given aid like domestic applicants, so are they preferred now? Or, is it entirely merit based? Please...I really need to know. Does anyone have experience with this or know anyone who received full aid?</p>
<p>Quote from my finaid decision:
"Given limited funds, we can make only a few financial aid awards for international students each year and the awards are apportioned among the undergraduate colleges and schools. Criteria for selection include financial need, academic strength, geographic diversity, and potential for contribution to the Cornell community as a whole. "</p>
<p>I heard from somewhere that they only gave out 30-40 awards to international undergrads this year. I know quite a number of internationals who were awarded 0 aid like me. So if you’re going to apply then be aware that there is a great chance you won’t receive aid when admitted. </p>
<p>(I had no idea about that when I applied. Their finaid website seemed very generous, “removing financial barriers” and what not. Plus I had the misconception that all Ivys are generous with aid. My bad, of course.)</p>
<p>Did you appeal your decision? What college were you admitted to and what country are you from? Also, do you know any that were admitted and given financial aid? This sucks!</p>
<p>Tell me about it!</p>
<p>No, I didn’t appeal. I thought about it but I wouldn’t have had any significant arguments about why they should change their decision. I sent some e-mails and they quite confidently said that their decision can’t be changed. I personally don’t know anyone who got in with aid, but I’m sure there are a few. I got into AAP and from Eastern Europe.</p>
<p>Oh, you might perhaps be successful with the appeal if you get into another Ivy with aid. They say on their website that they are glad to match up with the aid package of another Ivy/Duke/Stanford/MIT if their award is higher. Then again, I’m not 100% sure if this applies to intl students who initially got 0 aid :/</p>
<p>I think it’s quite a shame that you can encounter something like that in an Ivy League institution. And yet they claim to have like the most socioeconomically diverse student body?</p>
<p>However, given the limits of financial aid in the current US economy, do you think US colleges should be giving aid to US students or Int’l students? And how is aid in your country for US students?</p>
<p>Cornell’s website states that aid is very limited for Int’l applicants. </p>
<p>despite that, Cornell does have a very diverse student body, including many Int’l students.
Perhaps you could get funding from your country to attend. When I was an undergrad, the guy sitting next to me in Hotel Law class was from the Ivory Coast - his country paid for his attendance and when he returned home he was set to work for the nation developing tourism.</p>
<p>Well, it is obviously natural for every country to support its own citizens. Not condemning the privileges given to domestic students. No one to blame really, in this economic situation. Its just a bit…sad.</p>
<p>Well, if you’re really curious, then there is no need-based system here, so international students have pretty much equal chances of receiving merit aid. Then again, the tuition is literally 10x less than in the US private colleges.</p>
<p>I don’t know about other countries, but here even the biggest scholarships are nothing close to the institutional finaid of US colleges.</p>
<p>I’m sorry for getting a bit off topic here, but does anyone know whether the intl finaid situation was better before the economic crisis or has it always been pretty much like this?</p>
<p>Well…the thing about me is that I’m actually an undocumented students living in the US since age 4. Further, my mom can’t legally work but she is self-employed. So, it’s not like our native country (Mexico) can support my education nor can the US (b/c I’m not a US citizen). So, I’m basically screwed if I don’t get financial aid from Cornell. I think Cornell should be kinds towards undocumented students because they are the ones that truly need aid and they are basically Americans. I’m hoping for the best! Also, before, there wasn’t any aid for international students. It was restricted to Canadian and Mexican immigrants; however, it was full need for these students. If only I had applied a couple years earlier!</p>
<p>hi krlpps,
(I actually replied to your post on another thread on cornell finaid, and found this through your page cause I was curious, hope that’s not weird) I’m a Canadian who got into Cornell CAS ED w/o finaid, though I qualify, and I withdrew because I can’t afford it.
Anyway, the son of a family friend went to Cornell COE (got in RD) 3 years ago (he entered in fall of 2008, around when the economy declined). He was given a very generous finaid package (including work-study), and he had quite a bit of demonstrated need. So I’m guessing the economy might have affected things. It’s only one case, but that’s my theory.</p>
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<p>um—no. you should not receive aid above documented international students and us citizens. that is extremely unfair to students and parents who have come to the US and followed the legal methods to live in the country and attend schools. </p>
<p>i can’t just move to france and live there for the 14 years and claim im “basically a french citizen” and expcet to receive all the benefits i would as if i had applied and been approved for a visa or become a citizen. </p>
<p>how could cornell justify giving you X amount of aid over other students who have no legal issues being in the country? </p>
<p>i think it’s unfortunate you were put in this situation b/c it was out of your control, but please don’t expect or feel entitled to aid b/c you have lived here illegal for so many years. i think if aid was virtually unlimited and all who needed aid were given, then i would have no problem with cornell (or other schools) giving aid to those in your situation. however, given that aid is VERY limited, and ESPECIALLY LIMITED for international students, your plight should be at the bottom of the priority list.</p>
<p>Don’t worry bud. I’m on your same boat and by the grace of God I got a full-ride (165k)to a private liberal arts college. Keep trying and never give up on your educational dream!</p>