<p>Knowing Stanford's and Caltech's not-so-generous financial aid policy for internationals, is it even advisable to apply when you are dead sure that you wouldn't be able to go without a full ride?</p>
<p>If you consider your stats are extraordinary and/or your essays and recs amazing, it is possible to get in.</p>
<p>*If you try, you might lose, but if you don't try, you already lost. *</p>
<p>You can only get in if you apply, and you don't want to wonder for the rest of your life where you would be today had you spent $70 more in application fees.</p>
<p>Good luck!</p>
<p>I know Barium, I totally follow that philosophy ... but I was wondering .. but anyhow you are right. Even so, I qualify for fee waivers ... so why not apply!</p>
<p>I do not think Stanford or Caltech are any more difficult to get in as an international needing full financial aid as compared to schools of similar caliber (i.e. HYPM).</p>
<p>Is it really impossible to get into schools like Stanford or Caltech with a full ride if you are an international student?</p>
<p>^^At least how much financial contribution would be required for the schools I mentioned above??</p>
<p>It's DIFFICULT ... because we are pushed into a VERY competitive pool! I guess as much as u pay, ur bet becomes safer ...</p>
<p>Cal Tech is VERY generous Scholarship wise with a 1.8 Billion Dollar Endowment and 800 Students ,they better be.</p>
<p>Are you sure? Do you know of many international students getting full aid there??</p>
<p>I know of a couple internationals at Caltech who had exceptional stats and got very little aid. I don't want to discourage you...just giving you what I know from personal experience. Getting a full-ride (based on merit of course) to any of the top schools is so extraordinarily difficult it pains me to think about it...and for internationals...you better be the best of the best.</p>
<p>I know of at least one guy who got into Stanford from my school this year (i.e. Class of 2012) with full financial aid (i.e. everything - US$2.5k work-study).</p>
<p>Caltech offer merit aid? I guess I knew everything at top colleges was need-based ....</p>
<p>CWalker, given that the OP qualifies for fee-waivers I assume we are talking about need-based free rides...</p>
<p>Does our financial status effect our chances of getting into Stanford or Caltech if our essays and STATs are excellent??</p>
<p>Yes it does ... pretty HEAVILY as far as I gather ... and you can never deem what essays are excellent or which stats are ... so it becomes more difficult!</p>
<p>Any more opinions?</p>