<p>Hey everyone,
I've been working on my college applications, and discovered slowly that a lot of the universities I've been considering give no financial aid to int'ls. So out of the following list, which ones are the most generous? And which ones don't give int'ls any aid/scholarship?</p>
<p>"need-blind" institutions (are they really?):
HYPM, Amherst, Dartmouth</p>
<p>PS: My parents said they can't afford paying more than $25k a year. Is any of these schools financially unrealistic given my situation (if the school gives merit-based aid only?)?</p>
<p>Most of the schools you listed do not give merit aid, only need based financial aid.</p>
<p>Cornell, Carnegie Melon, Northwestern, NYU, Penn, Columbia are not need blind to international students. The schools that are need blind are going to be very competitive as there will be a large pool of international students applying for very few spots.</p>
<p>***GPA: ~4.5 (~3.9 unweighted)
Rank: I believe my high school doesn’t rank, but I’m definitely in the top 10 out of 150 or so.
APs: Physics (5), MacroEcon (5), MicroEcon (4) (all in junior year). Taking Psych, Stats, Calc BC and Computer Science this year.</p>
<p>SAT: 2030 (760M, 630CR, 640W). Retook it in October, expecting a ~2200 or more. (If it’s still not satisfying, I’ll be retaking it in December)
SAT II: 760 Physics, 690 Maths (Retaking Maths in November, hoping for a 750+)**</p>
<p>With your current 1390 M+CR SAT, I really don’t think you have much of a chance at the schools that give financial aid to int’ls. I think those schools get toooo many int’l applicants with much higher stats. </p>
<p>But, I think there are some other schools that will work for you. :)</p>
<p>Carnegie offers no aid to internationals.
Brown is not need-blind.
NYU gives terrible aid.</p>
<p>Cornell is need-blind so apply there!
Northwestern also offers aid to internationals thought I’m not sure their need-blind or need-based. And I think the same applies for Columbia and Duke. Middlebury College gives great international aid so maybe you should consider applying there.</p>
<p>at a school that is “need aware” for int’ls, then it might be helpful to be a full pay student.</p>
<p>however, don’t game the system and think that you can just pay for the first year, and then apply for aid later. Need-aware schools know about that strategy and often will only let you apply for aid after the first year if you’ve have a major family crisis…like death of the main bread winner, or similar.</p>
<p>Most people seem to be pointing out my SAT score as a sign that I am not competitive enough for the few int’l spots that are offered. I don’t know if you guys are over-hyping the importance of the SAT, or if colleges actually focus all that much on it, but I’m pretty sure there will be a noticeable increase in my SAT score. I didn’t study much for that 2030 and expect a 200+ increase. And yes, I believe other parts of my application will show that I’m an applicant worth considering.</p>
<p>Also, I’m not searching for a 100% need-blind college. I can’t pay the full tuition, but I can pay parts of it.</p>
<p>So I took NYU and CMU out of my list. Is there anything else I should know about the other colleges?</p>
<p>I didn’t study much for that 2030 and expect a 200+ increase. And yes, I believe other parts of my application will show that I’m an applicant worth considering.</p>
<p>If a 200+ point increase happens, then GREAT. But, we try to deal with what the current scores are because MANY kids predict BIG increases that end up not happening. </p>
<p>However, if you do end up with a 2250+, then your scores will be better for ivies and elites. :)</p>
<p>Yes, test scores aren’t everything, but when it comes to ivies and elites, that and GPA can be the first areas of elimination. THEN, after that, these schools still have a huge number of applicants. At that point, the “other” stuff comes into play…essays, ECs, origin, etc.</p>
<p>It’s hard for that “other” stuff to overcome a lowish SAT for the school UNLESS you have something spectacular to bring to the table or you come from an impoverished environment. However, as a child of privilege (private education and family with good income), that means you’d have to offer something unique to overcome lowish scores for those schools.</p>
<p>*So I took NYU and CMU out of my list. Is there anything else I should know about the other colleges? *</p>
<p>Well, you’ve mentioned that your parents will pay $25k per year. That’s fine. But, schools don’t determine “need” by what FAMILIES say that they will pay. These schools that give need-based aid may look at your parents assets and income and say that they should pay all costs.</p>
<p>What is your likely CSS Profile “family contribution”? Is it possible that it will be higher than $25k?</p>
<p>Cornell is need blind for all applicants and awards need-based aid to international students. But they don’t guarantee to meet need for internationals.</p>
<p>From their instructions for international students (freshmen and transfers):</p>
<p>I haven’t done my CSS Profile yet. But my family’s financial situation is somehow unstable: we live as expatriates in a country that might kick us out (for absolutely no reason) at any time, and a huge chunk of the family’s savings is going towards a house that’s being built in our home country. I also have a sister currently in 10th grade, who is also planning on going to college.</p>
<p>but to answer your question mom2collegekids, I believe there’s a chance that my family will be expected to pay more than $25k. (although after quickly checking some EFC estimators, I’m not sure the number is way bigger than that)</p>
<p>*a huge chunk of the family’s savings is going towards a house that’s being built in our home country. I also have a sister currently in 10th grade, who is also planning on going to college.</p>
<p>but to answer your question mom2collegekids, I believe there’s a chance that my family will be expected to pay more than $25k. (although after quickly checking some EFC estimators, I’m not sure the number is way bigger than that) *</p>
<p>Your sister’s situation won’t count now. </p>
<p>That home that’s being built in France…right? That is an asset - especially since you don’t live in it.</p>
<p>You say that you’ve used some “estimators;” did you include the value of that house that’s being built? Are you including other savings? Or did you mostly only include income?</p>
<p>footskineater, CMU IS indeed awesome, but I can’t afford it. Just like UC Berkeley is awesome, but I had to take it out of my list because it doesn’t give any aid whatsoever.</p>
<p>What mom2collegekids is telling you is very important. Colleges don’t care what your parents think they can pay – they are focused on what their formulas say you should be able to pay.</p>
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