How to get a Harvard University undergraduate scholarship as an international student?

I'm an international student aiming to apply to Harvard for undergrad and was wondering about scholarship opportunities. How competitive are these scholarships and what are the criteria or steps involved in applying for them?

Harvard provides need-based aid to all eligible students, including international students. As an international student, if you get admitted, you have the same access to financial aid as U.S. students. Here's what you should know:

1. Need-blind Admission: Harvard's admission process is need-blind, meaning your ability to pay does not impact your admission decision.

2. Applying for Aid: In terms of the process, you follow the same steps as domestic students when applying for aid. You'll include your family’s financial information on your application. This typically involves submitting either the CSS Profile or the FAFSA, and tax returns or other income statements.

3. No Merit Scholarships: There's no separate application for scholarships since Harvard doesn’t offer merit-based scholarships. All scholarships are need-based.

4. Determining Aid: Harvard's financial aid policy guarantees to meet 100% of the demonstrated need for all students. For families earning less than $85,000 annually, parents are expected to contribute nothing towards the cost of attendance. Between $85,000 - $150,000, payments ranging from 0-10% of income are expected.

5. International Students: Even as an international student, you're considered for aid in the exact same way as a domestic student, so your aid package would be based on your family income, assets, and circumstances.

Remember that the financial aid application deadline aligns with the admission application deadline, so be sure to submit all required documentation on time. It's always best to verify all these details from the Harvard financial aid website to make sure you meet all the requirements and deadlines.