sunny750

Guys, I was just wondering how much does "not" applying for Financial Aid increase the chance of admission at private universities. I have excellent grades (3.95 GPA), average SATs (2050, 1340(math and reading)), good ACTs (31), but don't have great ec's at all.

Ecs-- member of interact club (4 years)
member of NHS (2 years)
Volunteer at hospital (213 hours)

I am applying as an international student. So, how does not applying for financial aid increase or change my chances at the following universities?

UPenn
Johns Hopkins
Case Western
Wash. U. in St. Louis

Please let me know

nervousashell

Honestly, I thought about that for a split second, too, but then I realized, if my chances of getting admitted by a school are lowered because I need to apply for financial aid, then I don't want to go there anyway.

Don't screw yourself out of financial aid under any circumstances.

Most schools are need-blind anyway, but if they aren't, it's not worth the debt at the end of your schooling to apply without financial aid.

oldfort

No, most schools are not need-blind, even need-blind finance stills come into play. Many schools do not offer financial aide to international students.

niceshrp

none of them are need-blind for international students.. .and if you apply for aid, you chance of acceptance goes down by A LOT.

Upsilamba

I'm not certain, but I think that an international not applying for aid would be considered in the same pool as American applicants. The international status could be an advantage depending on where you're from, but seeing as I'm a white girl from the American midwest, I don't really know much about this.

Chedva

No, international applicants are considered part of a separate pool for admissions, regardless of financial need.

The question you need to ask yourself, though, is "OK, I get in without applying for financial aid. Can I now afford to go?" If the answer is no, then getting in isn't worth much.

Also remember that "need aware" or "consider need" doesn't mean that all students applying for aid are considered the same. Rather, how much need you have and how much financial aid would be necessary are the important factors. All other things being equal, if Student A needed $1000 and Student B needed $10,000, Student A would be preferred. If Student A filed for FA, but the calculations showed $0 need, then Student A would be considered the same as a student who didn't apply for aid. The effect on the bottom line of the FA budget is the same.

yaxley

You're put into a whole new (more competitive) pool for financial aid the moment you ask for it. What my friend did was apply for aid at all but her top two colleges. She got into her top two but not into the rest (not even her safeties), and she was a very qualified applicant. Another friend only got into (the need-blind) Harvard, and nothing else, probably because he asked for aid. So I decided not to apply for aid, because I don't need it enough for it to jepoardise my application. And I know it will.

sunny750

Ok, so I should not apply for Financial Aid?? right?? as they don't even offer that much too international students, and would lower my chances..Correct??

So, if I don't want to apply for financial aid, what do I do with the financial aid forms that I received in mail. Just not send them? or do I need to call them and let them know cuz in the application process, I stated that I would apply for financial aid..Please let me know guys

JewCrew08

IF you choose not to apply for financial aid, you simply check that you are not applying for financial aid in your applications (presumably you already turned these in) and you need do nothing else.

BUT with your stats, you may want to consider applying with financial aid to Case Western. Your chances of admission are quite high, and you'll want the opportunity to receive MERIT aid more than anything else. You'll want to check with the school whether they supply merit aid to those who don't submit a financial aid request. I know for a fact Case Western gives merit aid automatically for those apply for financial assistance.

The other schools will be a reach for you, especially as an international student. Still, make sure you're positive you can comfortably afford these $45,000+ a year (consider other expenses like flying) colleges before making the decision to waive your right to aid.

WashU is NOT need blind for anyone. But WashU offers merit aid as well (supplemental application required). I'm not sure about JHU; I believe UPenn offers no merit aid.

Everything else that I can think of was covered in the above posts.

oldfort

If you decide not to apply for FA after you have checked off for FA, you should email the FA office AND admission office because not asking for aide may impact your admission.

tokenadult

Apply for financial aid if you think there is any chance that you will need it or that you will get it.

sunny750

guys, is there anyway I can apply to one college for financial aid, and not for others. If I want to apply for financial aid to Case Western, for instance, can I just apply for financial aid to this college, and not apply to others??

Chedva

Yes, you can do that. Just make sure that you can really afford to go to the others without receiving financial aid. And make sure that the schools have no policies that state that if you don't apply as a freshman you can't apply until you're a junior, or other limitations imposed if you don't apply as a freshman.

Newjack88

i realized, after submitting all my apps, that i wouldn't be able to get any FA. i called all the schools about unchecking FA and they all told me to not send in FAFSA. so it seems to me that need-blind schools really are need-blind?

Tsenguun

Pity thing is that Case does not offer FA to internationals. That is why I did not include it in my list.