U.S. colleges are expensive, and unlike domestic students, international students don’t qualify for federal financial aid. But that doesn’t mean there aren’t options! Here’s what you need to know about funding your education as an international student. 📌 Do U.S. Colleges Offer Financial Aid to International Students? Yes, some do—but not all, and the policies vary. 1️⃣ Need-Blind & Meets Full Need ✅ Your financial situation isn’t considered in admissions. If accepted, the college guarantees to meet 100% of your demonstrated need through grants and scholarships (no loans for intl students). - Extremely rare for international students. - Example schools: Harvard, Yale, Princeton, MIT, Amherst. 2️⃣ Need-Aware & Meets Full Need ⚠️ Your ability to pay affects admissions decisions—having financial need may lower your chances. However, if accepted, your full need is covered through grants, scholarships, or (sometimes) work-study. - Many top private universities fall into this category. - Example schools: Brown, Columbia, Dartmouth, Duke, Stanford. 3️⃣ Need-Aware & Does NOT Guarantee Full Aid ❗ Your financial need impacts admissions, but even if accepted, you may not receive enough aid to afford tuition. - Many private colleges offer partial aid but expect students to cover the rest. - Example schools: Boston University, NYU, USC. 4️⃣ No Need-Based Aid, Merit Scholarships Only ❌ These schools do not offer need-based aid for international students, but some have highly competitive merit scholarships (often requiring outstanding grades, test scores, and achievements). - Most public universities fall into this category, including University of California schools and other state schools. 💡 Key Takeaway: Most U.S. universities expect international students to self-fund at least part of their education. If applying to need-aware schools, your ability to pay may affect your admissions chances—so research each school's policies carefully. 📋 What Forms Do International Students Need to Submit?

You’ve probably heard Early Action and Early Decision offer better odds. That’s true—but the why is often misunderstood. Here’s what really drives early boosts: ✅ Why Early Acceptance Rates Are Higher 📈 Yield Protection*: Colleges want students who will enroll. Applying early signals commitment, boosting a school’s yield—the % of admitted students who attend. Yield affects rankings. 🧠 Strategic Planning: Officers want to lock in strong students early. If they find great fits in the first round, they don’t need to gamble later. 🎯 Stronger Pool: Early applicants often include athletes, legacies, and highly-aligned students—so the pool tends to be stronger and more prepared. That’s why early acceptance rates can be 2–3x higher than Regular Decision at some schools. But not all early rounds work the same. _____ 📌 Types of Early Applications Early Decision (ED) – Binding → Often significantly higher acceptance rates (known as the "ED Boost"), but you must attend if accepted. Apply October/November, results in December. ✅ Best for a top-choice Reach where you're realistically competitive ⚠️ Risky if unsure—it locks you in Early Decision II (ED II) – Binding → Same as ED I, but with later deadlines (typically January, results in February). ✅ Great second chance if ED I didn’t work out ⚠️ Still binding—must commit Early Action (EA) – Non-Binding → Apply November, results by December. ✅ Low-risk way to apply early and get results in December ⚠️ Not the same boost as ED, often only slightly higher than RD Restrictive Early Action (REA) – Non-Binding but Limiting → Apply November, hear back by December. One private school only. ✅ Ideal for one clear first-choice private school. Not the ED boost, but higher than RD ❌ Can’t apply early to other private schools but CAN apply early to public schools Regular Decision (RD) – Non-Binding → Apply by January/February. Results in March/April. This is when most students apply. ✅ Extra time to polish materials ⚠️ Most competitive round—after many spots are taken

We’ve covered need-based aid from U.S. colleges. But what if your financial need isn’t fully met, or you’re looking for ways to lower costs further? Let’s break down other ways to fund your education: 📌 Merit Scholarships: Awarded for Excellence ✔ Offered by colleges for academics, leadership, sports, or special talents ✔ Competitive—often requires a separate application or early deadlines ✔ Some schools offer automatic merit aid based on GPA & SAT/ACT scores 💡 Example: Vanderbilt, USC, and Tulane have generous merit scholarships 📌 External Scholarships: Free Money from Outside Sources (Important for International Students!) ✔ Private organizations, companies, and foundations offer awards ✔ Some are national, others are local (less competition = higher chance!) ✔ Embassies, government programs, and community orgs may have funding 💡 Where to Find Them: Fastweb.com, Scholarships.com, Bold.org, CollegeVine.com 📌 Work-Study & On-Campus Jobs ✔ U.S. citizens can qualify for federal work-study through FAFSA ✔ International students can work part-time on campus (check visa rules) ✔ Common jobs: Library assistant, tutoring, research assistant, dining hall staff 📌 Cost-Saving Strategies ✔ Start at a community college → Transfer to a top university ✔ Look for in-state tuition waivers (some states allow intl students to qualify) ✔ Consider tuition-free schools like Berea College (for high-need students) 📌 Negotiating Your Aid Package ✔ If you receive multiple offers, some colleges may increase your aid if you ask ✔ If your financial situation changes, you can appeal for more assistance 💡 Pro Tip: Be polite, specific, and provide documentation when requesting more aid 📣 Take Action: ✔ Research merit & external scholarships NOW ✔ Ask colleges about on-campus work options ✔ Compare aid offers carefully—look at net cost, not just total aid 💬 Questions? Drop them below! Next up: Studying in the UK 🇬🇧

The list of my admission strategy posts is growing by the day 🤍 Exciting but overwhelming. To keep things easy to navigate, below is a complete list of my posts so far, linked and organized by category. I’ll keep this updated as new posts are added. Categories covered in this list 👇 🇺🇸 College Applications (Checklists, Timelines & More) 🧩 Application Strategy 📌 CommonApp & Application Platforms 🏆 Extracurriculars (Activities & Honors) 📝 Essays (Personal & Supplemental) 🔎 School Research & Strategy (+ Major/Minor) ✉️ Recommendation Letters 💰 Financial Aid & Scholarships 🎤 Interviews 🔄 Transfer Options 🇬🇧 UK Universities 🩺 Medical Degrees 🎥 Q&A Videos 💫 The Ivy Wizard MasterPath Community 🇺🇸 College Applications (Checklists, Timelines & More) 👉 US Applications 101: WHAT You Need to Submit! 👉 US Applications 102: WHEN To Do What (Timeline & Milestones!) 👉 Why U.S. College Applications Are So Complex (And What It Actually Means for You) 👉 What the U.S. College Academic Year Actually Looks Like 👉 Feeling Behind in 11th Grade? Here’s What to Prioritize 👉 July College App Check-In: 5 Things You Should be Doing NOW 🧩 Application Strategy 👉 Application Strategy 101: What's Your Application Narrative? (and Why it Matters!)

You’ve taken the SAT or ACT. You're proud of your GPA.But your score feels... not amazing. Here’s how to think strategically—and build the right school list. ✍️ Why Test Scores Still Matter At test-required schools, scores help answer: - Can you handle college coursework? - Is your transcript as strong as it looks? - How do you compare across different schools or grading systems? 👉 If both your GPA and score are low, your reaches may not be realistic yet—and it’s time to strengthen your profile. But if your GPA is strong, follow this: 🏫 Build a Strategic School List 1. Reaches + Targets: Focus on Test-Optional Schools These allow your GPA, rigor, essays, and recommendations to shine—even without a score. Examples: NYU, Boston University, Wesleyan, Smith, Wake Forest, USC (test-optional as of 2025) 🎓 Tip: Ask teachers to highlight your intellectual ability in class. Show that your academics hold up—score or not. 2. Safeties: Your Score Might Help You Here At schools where the average SAT for example is 1150–1300, a 1350+ can: - Qualify you for merit aid or honors programs - Strengthen your position for competitive majors Examples: American, UVM, UC Riverside, Chapman 3. Test-Required Schools: Go Beyond the Transcript If you’re applying to test-required schools, double down on academic credibility: - Strong teacher recs that speak to classroom performance - Summer programs or coursework that show college readiness - If you’ve done research or worked with a professor, add a third academic letter—or show it in your activities 💡 Even an upward trend—strong junior year grades, AP classes, or competitions—can build confidence in your academic ability. 🙏 Final Takeaway A lower test score isn’t the end of the road, but your strategy matters. If you don’t submit a score, the rest of your file must prove you’re ready. And if you must submit one, show your readiness in other ways. Last post on testing series tomorrow: School list categorized by SAT/ACT averages 🤍