<p>intlstudent2016, I would still really like to know who exactly you were talking to. </p>
<p>The reason I am skeptical about your claim is that I personally know several poor international students from rich countries on need-based financial aid at the tippy top colleges. I assume that the less-generous Ivies (e.g. Cornell) do indeed expect most international students to pay the full bill, but I am somewhat doubtful that the “need-blind & meeting full demonstrated need” Ivies (e.g. Harvard) would make a statement like that.</p>