- I know this question can be can be a repetition and can be boring. With ACT score of 34 (with 36 in Science and Math) and all three 800s in SAT Subject, what are the chances in Stanford, Caltech Berkeley. 2.As part of the regular decision, I find that schools release admission info first to arts and social sciences before getting into engineering school decisions. Is this my experience alone?
- Applying for financial aid - Is it a Deterrent and works against the admission for these colleges for a qualified candidate?
- Do we have a chance to opt for majors beyond 2 disciplines that is generally given to students to opt, considering competition in areas like computer science.
UC Berkeley does not give any financial aid to out of state or international students. You would be full pay there if admitted.
Forget Berkeley if you need financial aid.
Your chances are like everyone else’s who applies to Stanford: very low. With a 5% admission rate, and lower than that for international candidates, you should have some exceptional ECs in addition to your high stats to increase your chances.
Needing a lot of FA isn’t a deterrent – but it may mean that you won’t get enough to attend, especially at Cal Tech, which isn’t known for great FA.
You will have to check with each university about the requirements to change majors after admission. In some cases, it’s no big deal. In other cases, nearly impossible.
Berkeley specifically warns that it is very difficult to change college into the school of engineering after admission: https://engineering.berkeley.edu/admissions/undergrad-admissions/change-college
Berkeley’s FAQs on how to change major to computer science or electrical engineering: https://eecs.berkeley.edu/academics/undergraduate/cs-ba/faq#cs_3
Thank you for taking time to provide your inputs. But for the financial aid, are you saying there is a chance in these schools with these scores? If the chances are better, is it better to withdraw the financial aid request?
Stanford is need-blind meaning that your ability to pay or not pay will not be a deterrent to your admission chances.
Financial Aid for Stanford:
Regardless of citizenship, applicants are reviewed in the context and country where they attend high school. In addition, Stanford is committed to meeting demonstrated financial need for all admitted students (regardless of citizenship) who have requested financial aid during the application process.
If you are not a US citizen, legal permanent resident or an undocumented student, your request for financial aid will be a factor in our admission evaluation. While financial aid resources are limited for international citizens, Stanford does offer admission to a number of these applicants each year. International citizens who indicate on their applications that they will not be applying for financial aid and subsequently are admitted are not eligible to apply for financial aid at any time during their four years at Stanford. However, if your citizenship status changes during the time you are enrolled as an undergraduate, and you become eligible for federal student aid, you may also be considered for need-based scholarship funds starting in the quarter during which your citizenship status changes.
For Cal Tech::::::::::::::::
Cal Tech is need aware or need sensitive, meaning that needing FA will be considered in your admission decision.
Are international students eligible for financial aid?
You can receive financial aid as a new international undergraduate applicant if you complete the financial aid application and you have some financial need. If you do not apply or are not accepted for financial aid during your first year, you will not be eligible for financial aid during any other academic year, unless you are a citizen or permanent resident of Canada or Mexico.
So if you are in need of financial aid, you need to apply.
For UCB::::::::
UCB is need-blind also so the ability to pay or not pay is not considered in your admission decisions however, as an International applicant, you should expect to pay full fees regardless since UCB offers little to no FA for International applicants.
Caltech is need-blind for US citizens and permanent residents, but not for international applicants. Financial aid to international students is available, however.
@Gumbymom don’t you mean Stanford is need-AWARE for international students? That’s how it was when I applied there 4 years ago.
Stanford is not need-blind for international students. Only HYPM are need-blind and meeting full need for international applicants.
Sorry, yes need aware for International applicants. My mistake.
Wow, Friends, I can’t thank you enough for the advice. My understanding after reading your responses:
If I can afford or if I expect a change in the immigrant status (like becoming a permanent resident in the second year of academics at least), then it makes sense to withdraw from financial aid request and increase the chances of selection for the first year, is’nt? This will also entitle me for applying for financial aid in the second year, in case I become a permanent resident.
If so, can I go ahead and make a change in the application, saying I don’t need financial aid? I just had a good interview with stanford alumni and hence I am asking. Like everyone, I do not want to reduce the chances of getting into caltech or stanford by asking for financial aid. Kindly advice. Once again thank you, I never had this kind of clarity ever before. Look forward to hearing from you so that I can take a game changing decision on this.
Second question that I need your comment is this: I opted for Computer science and electrical engineering as first and second options in the application. I know these areas are highly competitive. Is there a way to increase the chances by being flexible and opt for other majors. Do we have a way to have a dialogue with schools on this?
A change in your immigration status won’t help you get financial aid at Berkeley, since you will be considered an out-of-state applicant (there are very strict rules about that).
However, being able to pay the full $60,000 per year expenses WOULD help your chances of admission to Berkeley, which likes full-pay out-of-state/international applicants.
Also, keep in mind, that you would be considered an out of state student ALL FOUR YEARS and would be expected to pay the full $60,000 per year (it goes up almost every year, BTW) during your entire undergraduate experience.
Being full-pay at Stanford and Caltech would give you a small boost in your admission chances… but keep in mind it’s a SMALL boost, and your odds of getting in are still in the single digits for Stanford at least. Both schools get plenty of extraordinary applicants who can afford the schools.
You have to decide what’s most important to you. If gaining acceptance is your first priority and you can afford paying the full load, then you should apply without asking for financial aid, which would increase your chance of acceptance (especially at Berkeley). If you gain immigrant status later, you can apply for financial aid then but you have to demonstrate your financial situation has changed since your admission. On the other hand, if you can’t attend without financial aid, you should apply for financial aid at the same time as your application. In that case, you should consider HYPM also since they’re need-blind for international students and applying for financial aid won’t affect your chances of admission.