<p>My nephew is an international student. Though he is going to HS in USA he is not a green card holder or a citizen. This is a question on which top schools provide financial support for international students.</p>
<p>Some relevant background here. </p>
<p>He came to USA five years ago, when the only English words he knew were "hello" and "good bye". He is a junior now and a straight A+ student at a competitive public HS loaded with all honors and APs. I understand his PSAT came out very high also (I did not get the number) to be consistent with his grades.</p>
<p>He is an Asian. However, here it is getting interesting. He does not fit this mold. He is a performing artist: already winning competitions at a state level - he performs in musicals, dances, and junior operas. He wants to major in performing arts.</p>
<p>His guidance counselor and teachers are "prepping" him for Stanford (he lives in Oregon). They think he has what it takes, and THEY are planning to do whatever necessary to help him get there: I understand every teacher adores him, and he is a very popular kid among his peers as a peer tutor in ENGLISH!!! and math/physics.</p>
<p>However, my brother's finance recently was hit with some business related issues. $55-60K a year expense will be a problem. I understand it's not easy to get merit scholarship as an international student. I also understand the need blind policy does not apply to international students in most cases.</p>
<p>I do know that there are some top schools that provide financial support for international students. </p>
<p>If anybody has any input/insight/experience, I would greatly appreciate it if you share it with me.</p>
<p>(my nephew told me the first day at school in USA, he couldn't summon the courage to go to the classroom since he did not understand a word of what they are saying, so he hid in the bathroom sitting on the toilet bowl all day long. He came a long way. His English does not even have noticeable accent!)</p>
<p>Does Stanford give merit awards? Most of their aid comes in the form of very generous need based aid.</p>
<p>I think your nephew needs to cast a BROAD net in terms of schools. </p>
<p>If he has the stats to be considered competitive for Stanford admissions, he would be a candidate for merit aid at schools that perhaps were not so tippy top that do award aid to international students. If finances are a serious consideration, the family needs to keep an open mind regarding “top schools” many of which provide no merit aid at all…or no merit aid to international students…or that consider need when considering admissions applications for international students.</p>
<p>I’m not sure that I would choose Stanford if I were looking at performing arts as a major.</p>
<p>Another thing…if you know your nephew’s SAT or ACT scores and his GPA, you will be able to get more accurate information about his merit aid prospects at the schools.</p>
<p>There are schools that are need blind for internationals. I believe the list includes Harvard, Yale, Princeton, MIT, Dartmouth, Amherst, Middlebury and Williams. Stanford is NOT need blind for internationals. </p>
<p>I’m not sure from your message though whether your nephew is actually eligible for fin aid. Check out the websites of these schools and/or contact the fin aid office to find out the procedures.</p>
<p>As others have posted, check out merit awards too.</p>
<p>His GPA is average A - A+ all honors and AP other than courses that do not offer any advanced version (like electives, phy ed, etc).</p>
<p>I will find out his PSAT: assume it’s very high (like 230).</p>
<p>It’s not like he is set on Stanford. Somehow, his teachers seem to really advocate it.</p>
<p>He is not saying, only top 10 schools - no such thing.</p>
<p>He is looking for a GOOD school that will provide merit awards or need based fin aids that also have a good program in the performing art side. </p>
<p>thank you so much for your input. I will follow up with all the input provided here.</p>
<p>You are talking about anywhere from a 3.7 to a 4.33. This is a huge range. Is this his weighted or unweighted gpa? I would recommend using the unweighted because for more competitive schools there is already going to be an assumption that he is taking the most rigorous courses that the school offers and is doing well.</p>
<p>Since your nephew will not be eligible for federal or state aid (other than the possibility of in-state tuition), he needs to have a financial safety on the list. Does he have one?</p>
<p>Does he plan to major in some area of the performing arts? Does he plan to major in an area that will require an audition? If so, this puts another “slant” on his admissions to college.</p>
<p>Look at Grinnell College, a top Liberal Arts College, which offers generous merit and financial aid. As an Asian, he is also a URM in the midwest. </p>
<p>“I do know that there are some top schools that provide financial support for international students.”</p>
<p>USC offers merit scholarships for outstanding International students. And if he wants to major in performing arts, there are few Universities with better programs than USC, which has both a college of music[ Thorton] and the USC School of Theater. </p>
<p>International
Freshman Academic • Half tuition scholarship
(approx. $21,000)
Competitive candidates will be at the top of our applicant pool with respect to SAT scores, will typically be in the top 10 percent of their high school classes, and will have extensive experience living and studying outside the United States.
.</p>
<p>Be warned that even if nephew gets a significant merit award at USC (like 1/2 tuition), will he & family be able to come up with the balance (other 1/2 tuition + room & board, books, travel, etc.)? Definitely, he needs a financial safety. Does his in-state public U offer internationals resident tuition? He needs to find an affordable safety that he can attend.</p>
<p>If he’s interested in majoring in one of the performing arts, I’m not sure why his guidance counsellor would be preparing him for Stanford. Is he interested in music, theatre, dance? If so, then his list of schools should reflect this, in addition to the financial aid consideration. There are separate forums for each of these, which I highly recommend you/he explore. </p>
<p>Admission for this type of major is a very different process than regular college admissions. It’s good that you and he are starting early.</p>