My opinion…I think you ar overestimating the benefit of NOT applying for financial aid for international students…t colleges that give it. The acceptance rates for international students from some areas is less %age than for general admission in any round anyway. Your student still needs to be in the ball park for accepted students at the school.
But mostly…if you need financial aid…you need financial aid, and should apply for it, unless you are prepared to be a full pay family. Some of these colleges that have generous aid are $70,000 a year. You need to also add in travel costs and health insurance…could be above $70,000 at some of these colleges. Are you really prepared to take almost $300,000 in loans for an undergraduate education? I will say…conventional wisdom here is…that’s too much loans for undergrad school.
If your kiddo is a competitive applicant for these selective schools…she is a competitive applicant. Maybe she will have a teeny edge for being full pay…maybe.
But this could also put your family in a financial bind for four years.