Hey folks, I'm curious about need-blind scholarships offered to international students in the USA. What are some universities that provide these, and how do they determine the need without prior financial info? Any tips would be appreciated!
Absolutely, happy to share ideas and insights about need-blind scholarships for international students in the USA.
A bit about need-blind admissions policies – certain universities adhere to a policy wherein they accept students without any consideration of their ability to pay. These universities can fall into two categories: those that are both need-blind and meet 100% of demonstrated need (which means they will provide financial aid to cover the full cost of attendance, minus what the family is expected to contribute), and those that are need-blind but don't guarantee to meet 100% of demonstrated need.
Universities like Harvard, MIT, Princeton, and Yale follow a need-blind admissions policy and meet full demonstrated need for international students. Up until recently, Amherst College and MIT were the only other schools that had similar policies, but both have moved away from this in recent years.
Bear in mind that being a need-blind institution doesn't necessarily mean the college will cover 100% of the demonstrated need for international students. Also, while the term “need-blind” may suggest that financial circumstances are entirely disregarded in the admissions process, keep in mind that these schools may still be aware of a student’s financial need due to context clues in the application.
To determine your need, you'll be asked to submit documents similar to those required when you apply for financial aid: tax return documents, wage slips etc, of your parents. They use this info to decide how much your family can afford to contribute towards your college education and cover the rest. Note that this amount has to be renewed every year and could change based on new information or changes in your financial situation.
My advice would be to research thoroughly about each university's financial aid policies and study the fine print. While need-blind schools may admit you irrespective of your financial situation, they might not provide enough aid to make attendance feasible. Finally, apply to a variety of schools to keep your options open. Accessing education in the US can be financially challenging, but with careful planning and realistic expectations, it's definitely achievable!
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