<p>anyway this discussion really cleared alot of my doubts about Fin Aid... in a nutshell things are tough for internationals haha ;)</p>
<p>Haru: for these colleges :Oberlin, Colgate, Lafayette, Pomona etc is it hard to enter a top graduate school after that?</p>
<p>No it isnt vitalism. People goto Excellent graduate schools from there.</p>
<p>Williams is not stingy with aid. But the competition is intense.</p>
<p>tetrisfan: That is up for debate, but HYP do a much better job of accepting internationals with a similar rate as domestic students. </p>
<p>Rister_Chutophs: You might want to know that that isn't all that bad. That is only a 3-5% difference compared to normal admissions. The crucial factor here is financial aid. Schools like Princeton are need blind for internationals meaning they can admit many more compared to other schools which are not. It is not uncommon for a school with a domestic accept rate of 15-30% (about the average for a top LAC) to only accept 8-9% of the internationals or less. </p>
<p>vitalism: Every school is stingy when it comes to internationals and especially aid for internationals. Those LACs all produce graduates who go to gradschool in places like HYPSM and other top universities. Don't worry..</p>
<p>In all honesty, vitalism, just apply and hope for the best. We really can't predict anything here!</p>
<p>Tetris, we can actually predict but can't confirm...:)..
LACs a bit generous, but the competition is intense because of the number of students (to be admitted) is quite less...</p>
<p>So when an int'l applicant doesn't need aid, still, admissions is tougher compared to that of a US Citizen or permanent resident right? Is there a reason why?</p>
<p>kevster1001: I don't know, some schools may like internationals paying full more than domestics getting aid. In the case that they are tougher the main reason probably is the fact that some schools place limits on the # of internationals applying. But from my experience, those internationals paying full got into many of the colleges they applied to and the internationals paying partial got into only 1-2 schools (this includes me.) Paying or not paying makes a huge difference.</p>
<p>Yes, that's the sad truth - everything (usually) boils down to money for an international :(</p>
<p>So,if you require f.a your chances are very low,except for that universities need-blind for internationals?</p>
<p>My other doubt is,if you apply to a less know college and you have excelent scores,woul they acept you with aid,just because you're so much better than their normal applicants?</p>
<p>Thanks</p>
<p>brazilian:</p>
<p>it really depends on how much money you need. I think getting a full ride to any college is extremely hard, but getting 15k is not so tough.</p>
<p>"My other doubt is,if you apply to a less know college and you have excelent scores,woul they acept you with aid,just because you're so much better than their normal applicants?"</p>
<p>yes, I think so. But again, it really depends on the amount of aid ur asking for.</p>
<p>Thanks andriuxs!</p>
<p>The reason it's tougher for an int'l needing aid to get in than it is for an American in a similar position is that the financial aid money used to fund Americans and int'ls is usually separated: i.e. there is one pool of money for Americans and one for int'ls... and guess which pool is smaller?</p>
<p>Also, I think that being int'l is a disadvantage when a) one needs significant aid, or b) when one is from a huge country like India and China. Colleges really like to show geographic diversity meaning that if you come from some obscure country with a couple of hundred thousand inhabitants you will have a huge advantage in the adm process.</p>
<p>Nice post K J.</p>
<p>I have another question. I am an "international" student and I live in California (2 years now) and hold a student visa, hence the international status. However, I lived in my Korea (where I was born) for about a year and lived most of my life in Central America (Guatemala). When I apply to colleges and let them now this situation (essays, additional information), will adcoms view me as an international student from Central America (since I lived there for a long time) or like another international applicant from the US? I know it would be a great advantage if I were to apply from Guatemala, but what is my situation now? Again, am I just another international applying in the US, or would adcoms carefully go over the fact that I lived in Guatemala (and actually, a country unbeknownst to many) and consider my diverse background?</p>
<p>kevstar : They would absolutely consider your diverse background. But you are still an International applicant. Though traveling to different countries might of slight advantage if you have excellent scores,ECs and recommendations.</p>
<p>brazilian : Applying to a third tier and fourth tier universities can get you full ride but I would say its not worth attending them. Why dont you try for Colleges in your country if you cant get into any good colleges in the US? And the lower universities can waive off your tuition fees (North Dakota will waive straight 50% for me) but they wont reduce your Boarding and other fees which in the end would cost a lot.</p>
<p>Oh yes, asking for a bit of aid doesn't put you out of the running. Again, stats are everything, and I guess luck factors into the equation as well :)</p>
<p>I sometimes feel college app process is like throwing a Dart :D</p>
<p>a Dart as in Dartmouth? (:</p>
<p>lol Dart as in pointed Darts :p</p>
<p>@ajayc:</p>
<p>
[quote]
Applying to a third tier and fourth tier universities can get you full ride but I would say its not worth attending them.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>hmm, why don't you think so? personally, if i'd be happy in that school, i'd be perfectly fine with the fact that it's only third/fourth tier. better than being miserable in a top school.</p>
<p>then again, other stuff such as job placement after graduation could very well make some schools less worth attending. quality of education too (aha!), but i daresay you could get a quality education in so many of the US colleges anyway no matter what the rankings are.</p>
<p>I didnt mean to say that the third tier and fourth tier universities are bad :) But the education that you are going to receive there will probably be equal to what you will get in your home country. So why waste that extra cash? :p</p>
<p>But yeah there are some really wonderful 3rd and 4th tier colleges.</p>