<p>I dont think I can afford $30000++++++++ tuition.. :(</p>
<p>If I remember correctly, it's only international transfer students that don't qualify for aid. I think international regular applicants are still gaurunteed full need. I don't have clarification that this is necessarily the case, though, so don't take my word for it.</p>
<p>Speaking of financial aid...I'm not sure I understand how does this "Full Need" system work.
Let's say that, according to FAFSA, my family's contribution is 4K a year. Does this mean that Caltech will automatically pay the rest? (Provided, of course, that I'm accepted). But then what would be the point of scholatships?</p>
<p>Thanks in advance</p>
<p>Again, this is only as far as I understand it. Caltech meets full need, based on their own calculation. They use the FAFSA/CSS Profile to help calculate it, but those aren't the only things they consider. In any case, the fin aid is generally extremely good (I'm saying this from personal experience). Also, they won't simply pay what you can't afford. Some goes into grants, some loans, work-study, and expected summer earnings. The loans don't go much above $3k/year from Caltech though, and workstudy/summer earnings amounts are very reasonable.</p>
<p>Edit: I'm not entirely sure about how scholarships, but in the worst case, you ease the amount of money that Caltech has to find, for you.</p>
<p>Hriundeli,
Keep in mind that the family contribution is what a school expects your parents to pay. On top of that, Caltech (and all schools my son received finaid offers from so I'm assuming its true of most schools) will expect a contribution from you, the student. The student's contribution is a combination of money from savings, work study and loans. Any outside scholarships you obtain go to reducing your loans as a student, your work study and/or your contribution from any savings you mgiht have. I think my son's contribution is around $5000. a year and thats on top of the family's contribution calculated by FAFSA/Css Profile. So you, as a student, will save yourself money by getting scholarships.</p>
<p>I may be wrong on this, but I thought that the difference between international and domestic students was that domestic students are guaranteed enough aid to cover Estimated Cost-Expected Contribution, whereas international students are not guaranteed aid.</p>
<p>International student admission is also not need-blind, whereas it is for domestic students. So it may hurt your chances to apply for financial aid. That being said, we set a record this year with the greatest number of internationals in an undergraduate class ever.</p>
<p>er... wasnt the number of international undergrads at caltech only around 20 ish last year?</p>
<p>yep that's a record (7-8%). My year('08) there were about 10 or so.</p>
<p>oh a school record ;-p my bad</p>
<p>but aren't international students aren't allowed to work in US?</p>
<p>I believe international student admissions are also partially need-blind. If I recall correctly, the way it works is that there is a certain pool of aid designated for international students. Until that pool is used up, international students are admitted without regard to need. After it's used up, further international admissions aren't need-blind.</p>
<p>In other words, the most desireable international students do have their need met.</p>