Several of the schools that I was previously interested in I found out are not need blind given my status as an international student though I study in the United States. Is it even worth applying to such schools if I am not already a super competitive applicant (These are reach schools for me)? These schools include places like Swarthmore and Vanderbilt.
Just because they are need-aware doesn’t mean you definitely can’t get in. You can apply, but make sure you also have financial safeties on your list that offer need-based aid to international students.
Problem is most places that are need-blind for international students are highly selective schools such as Harvard, Yale, Princeton, etc.
For int’l applicants, GETTING MONEY (either need-based or merit-based) requires being a very competitive applicant for that school. The more selective the school, the more competitive you need to be.
If you don’t need money, then being competitive isn’t as critical.
There are only five or six unis that are both need-blind and provide full nee-based finAid. There were more in the past, but after the 2008 crisis most of them turned need-aware.
Apply to schools that provide good need-based financial aid even if they are need aware. Besides that, you can include some unis that offer good merit aid.