<p>I think it is wrong to discourage students from applying to need-sensitive colleges. Yes, the chances of a financial aid applicant might be lower than the chances of a full-paying applicant at a need-sensitive college. However, the chances of a financial aid applicant being admitted to #20 liberal arts college are still higher than the chances of the same applicant being admitted to Harvard, so it’s definitely worth to apply.</p>
<p>For example, Mount Holyoke’s international admission rate is 25% compared to Harvard’s estimated 4%. While I don’t know their exact international financial aid admission rate, it must be at least 10% (90 students enrolled on financial aid each year compared to ~900 total applicants). </p>
<p>Suppose for argument’s sake that MHC’s international financial aid admission rate is 15% compared to 4% at Harvard. It also seems safe to assume that Mount Holyoke’s applicant pool is less strong than Harvard’s pool. I would conclude that an international student has a much greater chance of being admitted to and receiving adequate financial aid from Mount Holyoke than from Harvard.</p>