I’m a pretty poor (relatively speaking, I think?) international applicant with a huge FA need. I also absolutely love Williams. I’m applying ED to Williams.
Does Williams provide generous aid (preferably full) to international students applying ED with EFC of less than $15k annually? Since they have a huge endowment, I was hoping for a full ride, if I got in. Would it be better if I keep my EFC $0 explicitly stating that I’m asking for full aid or would it be better if I put in something like $4-6k annually since there are some savings my family said we could use.
You don’t get to decide your EFC; the college does that. If you get admitted to Williams, they will give you the difference between the cost of attendance and whatever EFC they determine for you. The hard part is getting admitted, especially as an international applicant with a huge FA need.
Williams is not need-blind for international students, but Williams also recently was listed as one of the ten most generous colleges when it comes to aid for international students.
So, you may not be admitted, but if you are, you may get good aid.
Be honest with your financial info. Williams will determine your family contribution.
Good luck!
Agreed, also, the school covers other hidden costs related to study abroad, books, travel, etc. Overall, Williams provides a comprehensive package of aid so you should not be deterred from applying, many international students with limited resources do very well at Williams and become very active, high profile alums.
While it’s a shame that Williams isn’t need-blind for internationals, I’ve known many over the years who have received very generous aid, so don’t get discouraged!