Urgent!...College Suggestions...

tk21769
Thu, 30 Dec 2010 22:01:56 +0000

I don’t know how some of these smaller schools do aid for int’ls…but it would seem weird that if a domestic student with the same need (say $20k in need) applies for aid, he’s given $5500 in loans and maybe $2500 in work study and a $12k grant, but an int’l student would be given the entire amount in a grant. Does that seem odd?



Unfortunately, the Common Data Set does not break out aid to internationals in full detail. Important missing information includes the number of international applicants and the amount of need they bring to the table.

However, based on the large average size of the aid packages, and the high percentages of enrolled internationals who seem to be getting aid, it does appear to me that some selective LACs are applying a different standard to international students than they apply to domestic students. These schools apparently want the diversity that international students bring.

It sounds like GreekStudent has covered his bases with colleges in his own country. So he can afford to take a little risk in applying to US colleges, in my opinion. Although … if his family really can cover $35K/year, it might be prudent to include a school or two that costs less than that, even without aid.