I’m applying to colleges with need-based financial aid where possible and two of them require the ISCF. (Stanford and HMC) I know that they’re both need-aware for international students, and as far as I know (please correct me if I’m wrong) Stanford meets 100% demonstrated need to all admitted students and HMC gives partial FA to international students.
Does this mean that if I indicate on my ISCF form that I do not have enough funds to pay for my tuition (which is the reason why I’m looking for FA in the first place), they will not admit me just because of that reason? I emailed Stanford about the purpose of ISCF but they didn’t email me back yet. To my understanding, the amount I’d be putting on each section of sources of funds is as following:
Student: ~$900 USD (my current personal savings)
Parents: $0 as in “money available from sources other than savings”
Sponsors: $0, I don’t have any
Your government: $0, don’t have any of this stuff
Could someone please clarify my questions about the ISCF and its importance in the admission decisions?
at schools that are need aware to international students, your ability to pay will be a factor in admissions. Remember that the school has limited funds. They also determine how much you/ your family are able to pay.
The purpose of the International Certification of Finances is to verify your financial situation. With you needing the full cost of attendance, this can be a challenge.
I can’t answer anything about schools specifically. What I can tell you is that you will not be able to attend if you do not have the funds to cover the costs the school does not cover. From what you have posted, you need to have absolutely everything covered. You will not be able to work off campus or in a work study job, like many U.S. students could do. That does put you at a bit of a disadvantage, because most schools expect some sort of contribution from work from students (the school may have on-campus non-work study jobs available for international students, though). It is possible this could result in you not being accepted … but it is also possible that it won’t. You just have to wait to see if you are accepted. If not, it may not actually be due to finances, although you won’t really know that.
At the current moment, my parents’ savings beside everyday living expenses is virtually 0, but if one of their properties get sold I will then have some (not a lot, they have a lot of debt I think) funds. But would not being able to pay for my tuition actually cut down my chances significantly in schools that require ISCF? What about other universities that are need-aware but still meet 100% need like these schools but don’t require the ISCF?
Also I don’t quite understand the purpose of the ISCF since I already submitted my CSS profile…
You can write anything you want on the css profile the certication of finances will usually ask for supporting documentation of your family’s finances. At the en d of the day, the school can ask for whatever they want when it comes down to giving out their money