<p>iamthinking – if you need substantial financial aid, I seriously suggest that you move on. I know that you love Barnard, but colleges generally are not need-blind when it comes to their waitlist. Given financial realities and the fact that Barnard only offers financial aid to a handful of international applicants, I don’t think that it is realistic for you. </p>
<p>The economic downturn in the US really hits financial aid departments at small college like Barnard hard (and at larger colleges as well). Not only is their own endowment and donor base reduced, but both incoming and continuing students are showing up with higher need. Since Barnard does commit to meeting full need of its domestic students, the financial aid budget is probably stretched to the max.</p>
<p>I don’t want to be the bearer of bad news – but this is the reality. The waitlist is not a good place for students who need a lot of financial aid to be. Before going to the waitlist, the ad com will get a report back from financial aid as to the budget – if they are told that there is no more money left, then they will look to fill spots with full pay students.</p>