<p>Would it be a huge blow to my application (I’m thinking of ED) if I applied for scholarship? I’m an Asian if that changes anything…</p>
<p>Columbia offers limited financial aid for internationals. There are no merit based scholarships. You should look over the FinAid pages carefully. Columbia is need-aware for international applicants so YES, it’s a negative .</p>
<p>*I am an Asian if that changes anything (for the worse)…
I have indeed checked the aid section and I was just wondering if it would be a SIGNIFICANT blow to my application…</p>
<p>Whether it is a blow or not is irrelevant because if accepted, you’ll need FinAid in order to attend. Why worry about something you can’t change?</p>
<p>Well it’s not like my family is not capable of paying the fees but it is nevertheless a huge burden on my family. That’s why I’m still considering whether I should apply for aid or not. If it IS a huge factor then I may apply without requesting for financial aid.</p>
<p>If your family is capable of paying, then you won’t get any Fin Aid anyway. </p>
<p>I understand that full pay is a huge burden. But then you should look for more affordable schools than Columbia.</p>
<p>The difference could be as huge as an acceptance versus a rejection. Unfortunately for international students, asking for financial aid significantly reduces their admission chances. Columbia indicates this on their website, their finaid for internationals is very very limited. </p>
<p>If your family will have a hard time paying full tuition, see if you can’t have other solutions to complement available funds, like student loans etc. Once you ask for financial aid, you will be in a different pool of applicants. </p>
<p>Already it is very very hard for internationals to get in, even if they are paying their way. So I would recommend that you weigh your options carefully.</p>
<p>That was all I needed to know. Thank you.</p>
<p>I think I’m in the same boat. My family isn’t incapable but it would be a huge burden and I couldn’t attend if I had to pay full tuition. Columbia is my dream school but what other universities are more friendly in financial aid to international applicants.</p>
<p>At the moment I’m narrowing down NYU, Columbia, Cornell, Harvard, UCLA, UCBerkeley, UPenn and UChicago (I have too many Ivys). I know i have a slim chance of getting in as an international applicant, especially if I indicate financial need, which is why I really have to narrow down my choices. Any advice? I’d be very grateful. Thank you.</p>
<p>@alisonx, Cornell ED is probably you’re best chance, or SCEA Harvard if you seriously have the stats for it, since they’ll provide you with some real nice aid, even as an international</p>