Not asking for financial aid (International student in need-aware colleges)

Paying for College
1

<p>Hi, I'm an international student applying to some need-aware colleges (for international students only) like Stanford, Columbia, UChicago, NYU and Northwestern.
On the websites, they specify that for international students, the ability to fully pay for the 4 college years is a factor in the admission process.
Do you know more or less if it really helps a lot not to be asking for financial aid or is just a minor factor when they consider applications?</p>

<p>Many thanks and good luck with your college applications</p>

2

<p>It might help you…but only IF you can actually pay $60,000 plus every year for four years. Northwestern has VERY limited need based aid for international students anyway.</p>

<p>Check all the websites…a couple are pretty specific that if you anticipate needing financial aid at any time, you must apply for it when you apply for admission (as an international student).</p>

<p>An acceptance to any of these schools will do you no good if you don’t have the funds to attend.</p>

3

<p>Thanks for the answer! No, I won’t be needing financial aid for the four years so the problem is just getting accepted in the first place :D</p>

4

<p>Yes it’s a huge advantage because you’re not competing for a limited pool of money. Your admission doesn’t depend on a double set of factors (Financial need as well as credentials) but only credentials. If you’re competitive along the competitive American applicants, then you have a shot, whereas for FA seekers, all bets are off.
But make sure your parents have enough money for all 4 years: you can’t apply for financial aid later (unless something changes drastically changes in your parents’ situation, on a catastrophic scale such as company burning down, death, typhoon…) </p>

5

<p>Thank you for the answer</p>

6

<p>Will you be more likely to be admitted than a student who is exactly like you but needs some financial aid? Yes.</p>

<p>Will that make a significant difference in the likelihood of your overall admissions? No.</p>

<p>All of those are hard to get into.</p>

<p>If you are hell-bent on studying in the US, find some places that are less selective than the ones currently on your list.</p>

7

<p>It will definitely be a big boost as long as your averages are in line with the school’s average accepted student.</p>

8

<p>As long as you’re a qualified student, it’s a big boost. they want to accept some int’l full-pay and they’re aren’t a big pool of them.</p>

9

<p>Yes, it helps, to varying degrees, depending upon the schools, and what quotas they have for what countries and how much need a student has. Be aware that the highly selective schools are still lottery tickets With some of those accepts rates, even a 50% boost is a tough go.</p>