Quick Financial Aid Question

Student Lounge International Students
1

<p>Right, I'm British but I'm looking to defect out to the United States to study :p</p>

<p>Although I've got my head around most things in this process, financial aid is the one thing I'm still struggling with. </p>

<p>Although there is an awful lot of in depth advice out there, can someone give me the idiot proof version? I know it depends a lot on where you want to study, GPA, SAT scores, etc. but aside from knowing that unless you are a certifiable genius or sporting phenomenon you don't get a whole lot, I'm sort of clueless.... </p>

<p>Thanks in advance!</p>

2

<p>Well, there are a few colleges and universities that are need-blind and fully meet your need, you should google that. From the top of my head, they are Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Amherst, Williams, MIT. All you have to worry about is getting in. Then they match your demonstrated need, based on your parents income.</p>

<p>Then, there are need-aware colleges and universities that are not need-blind but still fully meet your need. Like Brown, Columbia, Oberlin, UPenn, ect… you need to check on the schools you are interested in website see. Again, all you have to wory about is getting in, but they won’t admit you if they have no ressources for you so…</p>

<p>In both cases, it’s going to be need-based money.</p>

<p>Then they are all the others. State universities, private and public LACs and universities, … What you can also explore there are the talent-based awards, merit-based and need-based scholarships. Some school have special scholarships for musicians or dancers or drawers, ect… Some tier two, three or four schools give great merit scholarships to attract top students. I also heard that women colleges tend to give good packages to international. There are scholarships based on GPA+SAT scores+rank combination (like at Adelphi University : [Student</a> Financial Services: Adelphi University](<a href=“Tuition & Financial Aid | Student Financial Services | Adelphi University”>Institutional Awards | Scholarships and Grants | Adelphi University)). These things exist in a lot of other schools.</p>

<p>There is this book, Peterson International Student Guide. I got it for free at my local Fulbright Center, but I also saw it at the international school. It lists each accredited universities and colleges in the US, with the number of intl students who applied, and the number who got in, the number who enrolled, the average financial aid package.
Personally, I went through the whole book, selected the universities that offered money to intl and googled pretty much each college financial aid website.</p>

<p>Good luck !</p>

3

<p>If you are not a competitive applicant for the Ivies and other colleges in that league, liberal arts colleges are your best bet for need-based aid. Most of the top 50 or so LACs on the US News ranking list have need-based aid for international students, and many of them are less selective than Harvard & Co: [Liberal</a> Arts Rankings - Best Colleges - Education - US News and World Report](<a href=“http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-colleges/liberal-arts-rankings]Liberal”>http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-colleges/liberal-arts-rankings)</p>

4

<p>I think you actually got it right–unless you are truly spectacular, especially coming from the UK where they can get all the full pays they want–money will be very hard to get.</p>

5

<p>You definitely don’t have to be a genius, just be serious. I’m a normal student and got into some good schools with good FA packages.</p>

6

<p>As ever this forum is ridiculously helpful… thank you! Especially to Bassplayer08, I wasn’t that aware about schools which are need-blind. It’s given me a whole lot to look at hink about.</p>

7

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<p>Actually, Bassplayer08 falls into an expansion of those categories, being a conservatory level musician who applied to some of the most highly competitive options, with excellent results and extremely generous packages. Clearly, this is a case where exceptional musical talent played a significant part in the awards received. </p>

<p>This is not the typical situation for a general academic admit for an international student.</p>

<p>The omission of that information is important in understanding how financial aid will typically work for an international.</p>

<p>Just a clarification.</p>