Question about Fee Waivers?

[meghnasridhar]

<p>Alright. I'm an international student applying to around 9-10 schools, each of which will cost me around 70$ each. Plus there's the CSS profile to fill out and send, some stuff that has to be snail mailed and of course, the cost of sending my SAT scores. All of this will cost my family a LOT of money, even though it won't 'cause significant financial hardship'. It would be equivalent of approximately 1/3 of my monthly household income-- maybe slightly lesser, but not less than 25%. Would I still be eligible for a fee waiver? And who deems me eligible, anyway?</p>

[sybbie719]

<p>SAT Fee waivers and CSS profile Fee waivers are given through the college board and they determine fee waiver eligibility.</p>

<p>

SAT fee waivers are available for high school students in the United States, U.S. territories, and U.S. commonwealths, who cannot afford to pay the test fees. They are also available to eligible U.S. citizens testing in international locations.</p>

<p>Eligibility
You are eligible for consideration for fee waivers if you are a high school student who meets the financial eligibility guidelines (such as participating in the Federal Free and Reduced Lunch/National School Lunch Program at your school). Your guidance counselor can share any additional eligibility guidelines with you. </p>

<p>You must also fall into one of these two categories:</p>

<p>An American citizen or a foreign national testing in the United States, U.S. territories, or U.S. commonwealths. </p>

<p>An American citizen living outside the United States </p>

<p>If you are a homeschooled student in the United States or U.S. territories, including Puerto Rico, who cannot afford to pay the test fees, you must provide proof of eligibility to your local high school or agency fee-waiver administrator or counselor. Only a school or agency counselor can provide you with an SAT fee waiver. If you qualify for an SAT fee waiver, you can also receive up to four Request for Waiver of College Application Fee forms to request application waivers from higher education institutions.</p>

<p>Waiving College Application Fees
If you use SAT or SAT Subject Test fee waivers and plan to enter college in fall of 2010, you are eligible to receive up to four Request for Waiver of College Application Fee forms from your counselor. These forms notify participating colleges that you have used the SAT Program Fee-Waiver Service and request that they consider waiving their application fees. To use a form, first make sure the college accepts it, and then mail the completed, signed form with your college application.</p>

<p>[SAT</a> Fee Waivers](<a href=“College Board - SAT, AP, College Search and Admission Tools”>SAT Fee Waivers – SAT Suite | College Board)

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<p>Eligibility</p>

<p>To be eligible for SAT Program fee waivers (and thus for up to four college application fee waivers), a student must be either an American citizen or a foreign national who is testing in the United States, Puerto Rico, or U.S. territories. Eligibility is determined by family income or by participation in a public assistance program or other program for economically disadvantaged families. The income guidelines are based on those of the federal free and reduced-price lunch program. </p>

<p>[College</a> Application Fee Waivers](<a href=“http://professionals.collegeboard.com/guidance/applications/fee-waivers]College”>College Application Process – Counselors | College Board)

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<p>

PROFILE Fees and Fee Waivers</p>

<p>The PROFILE service provides fee waivers automatically to domestic (U.S. citizens or eligible noncitizens)
first-time students from families with low incomes and limited assets.<a href=“Fee%20waivers%20are%20not%20available%20to%20international%20students.”>b</a>**</p>

<p><a href=“http://professionals.collegeboard.com/profdownload/PROFILE_fees.pdf[/url]”>http://professionals.collegeboard.com/profdownload/PROFILE_fees.pdf&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

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[meghnasridhar]

<p>Thanks a lot for the above information! However, I am not eligible for a PROFILE fee waiver. However, how can I determine fee waiver eligibility for the common application?</p>

[mom2collegekids]

<p>If money was that tight in my family, there is no way I’d let my kid apply to 9-10 schools at $70 each plus costs to send scores and do CSS. That would be about $1000 total. I would tell my child to pick 5 schools that you’ll likely get accepted and get the best aid.</p>

<p>What are your 9-10 schools and your stats? Maybe some here on CC can tell you which ones won’t either likely accept you or won’t give good aid. Then you’ll save on applications.</p>

[_rentof2]

<p>Thanks for all that info, Sybbie. I volunteer to help kids at the local high school with their apps, and I have a couple this year who will probably need this. I wasn’t sure how it worked, but now I know!</p>

[meghnasridhar]

<p>My parents have told me that they don’t mind paying the application fees, and my dad’s really paranoid about me getting into college. He was the one who encouraged me to chose nine schools, and if it comes down to it, he doesn’t mind paying the application fees. That is why I’m not confident of being eligible for a fee waiver since it’s not that much of a financial hit for us. It would still make it a lot more comfortable a process though, if some of the expenses were eased.</p>

<p>My stats, though, along with the schools, are here:<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/813397-how-about-chancing-international-ridiculously-big-dreams.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/813397-how-about-chancing-international-ridiculously-big-dreams.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

[Ravenbelle]

<p>yea I get what you mean. I’m in the same boat except with 7 schools</p>