International student financial aid

<p>Hi. I am a Tunisian girl. I start senior year in two weeks. I am interested in going to Stanford for my undergrad studies. I could really use some information about the financial aid for international students, cause all the website says is that they have limited financial aid. So it's limited, but there's a chance right ? Also, are the admissions need blind or will I be disadvantaged if I apply for full scolarship ? I am really lost because even applying for financial aid seems complicated you have to get either a Social Security number (SSN) or an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN). I don't even know what that is, and my parents kinda suck at english (only our third language) so they havent been of any help... Thanks for your time, if any of you is an international student who got a scolarship, let me know!</p>

<p>Well,I’m a Chiense boy,and now I’ve become a freshman in a university in Beijing.I also want to go to Stanford as an international student,which make me get some information about its scolarship.Here are my suggestions:
1)Your schoolwork must be very good,especially mathmatics.You should join the SAT or ACT and get good grades.
2)You’re supposed to improve your English level and prepare for a language test named TOEFL.Only in this way can you have a chance to be admitted by Standford.
3)If you can do the things I mentioned above,you can apply for a scolarship and get it definitely.
Keep excited and motivated!
Hope both you and me can achieve our dreams in the future!I’m looking forward to meet you in Stanford!!!</p>

<p>Hello Samchet!
I, like you, am an international student. I was born in Albania.
I study at the University of Bridgeport, CT. My University has awarded me the Trustee Scholarship which is the max they can give to an international student. You may want to ask for that (or something like that) at your future university. I must tell you though that such was issued under “special circumstances” - it is because I wrote an appeal to the financial aid office (since they gave me no financial assistance to begin with). I was issued the help based on my GPA and financial difficulties my mom and I were encountering.
I want to highlight this: an International Student is expected to provide for his or her own education, financially speaking. That is why an F-1 visa is issued in the first place - because you have been able to show that you and your family or your sponsor are able to afford the expense. Other than that, you can say I was begging to my school’s financial aid. And i did a good begging otherwise forget about it. They seldom do such things.
Also, I have recently been awarded the 2011 Albanian American National Organization Scholarship. To the tell you the truth, I was disappointed in the amount awarded because it was a long and time-consuming application worth at least couple of thousand. But it is a privilege, and you want to look for that.</p>

<p>And about the Social Security # - no need to worry. You can get that once you work on campus. Make sure you look for a position on campus. As for me, I have been a teaching and legal research assistant for almost 3 years and that will count as my very first job in the USA. So will yours. And I am not sure how are you going to pay for the school, but make sure you do take advantage of third-party monthly plans to pay for it. It gives you time to pay for the school otherwise you have to pay all at once at the Cashier.</p>

<p>So, dear tunisian girl… get really good grades, get a job on campus, search for scholarships based if you are an international student, on your ethnicity, on your field of study etc, and apply for a green card through the lottery each and every year. You might get lucky!</p>