<p>Yes, you’d have better odds if you don’t apply for FINANCIAL AID (ie., need-based aid). Applying for merit aid has the opposite effect - if you’re qualified for merit scholarships and apply, it means you’re serious about attending, so it helps!
The problem is that, if you don’t apply for financial aid and don’t have the money 1° you can’t get a visa and 2° you’re not eligible to ever apply for financial aid, even at colleges that offer financial aid to internationals.
A<em>BB on the British scale doesn’t translate into a 3.32 but into a 3.8. The British scale has A</em> and A= American A, then B= American A-, C= American B/B+, etc.</p>