Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:At first instinct I wanted to criticize OP, but why shouldn't OP get a leg up on a full-pay international student? I'm starting to get really conservative on my views on this....

Foreigner here. But are you xenophobic, is the real question.

My kids are US citizens and we are ready to pay full price. My oldest got merit aid. My second is still in high school, so we'll see.

Please don't dump on international families, thank you. They bring a diverse cultural viewpoint to American universities and a lot of them pay full price whether it's US tuition or international tuition.

NP. Your kids are not international applicants.

Anonymous wrote:At first instinct I wanted to criticize OP, but why shouldn't OP get a leg up on a full-pay international student? I'm starting to get really conservative on my views on this....

+1
- Indian American 2nd gen

Anonymous wrote:At first instinct I wanted to criticize OP, but why shouldn't OP get a leg up on a full-pay international student? I'm starting to get really conservative on my views on this....

Foreigner here. But are you xenophobic, is the real question.

My kids are US citizens and we are ready to pay full price. My oldest got merit aid. My second is still in high school, so we'll see.

Please don't dump on international families, thank you. They bring a diverse cultural viewpoint to American universities and a lot of them pay full price whether it's US tuition or international tuition.

At first instinct I wanted to criticize OP, but why shouldn't OP get a leg up on a full-pay international student? I'm starting to get really conservative on my views on this....

Anonymous wrote:There is a question asking whether you are seeking financial aid. You just say no. I think that is it. We filled out Fafsa because DD applied to some merit scholarships, but she said no to financial aid.

Did some schools indicate you should do fafsa for merit? We didn’t do fafsa and DS still got merit at a few schools last year but wondering if we should do some thing differently for DD next year. Our income is high and we don’t need aid but getting merit is still nice.

There is a question asking whether you are seeking financial aid. You just say no. I think that is it. We filled out Fafsa because DD applied to some merit scholarships, but she said no to financial aid.

For my oldest, I didn't know what to do, so I filled out everything. Our income is actually on the low end of middle class, but we have major assets. In the asset line, I realized we didn't fit the range, and the instructions were to type in 99999999 or something like that if we were above it.

My son ended up getting into all his targets and safeties and none of his reaches. He got decent merit aid at some privates, and chose one of those over publics that were the same price or cheaper. No financial aid, which in retrospect I entirely understand.

In conclusion, I don't think our financial situation changed the admissions outcome very much.

Write your essay about vacations on the family yacht and the inspiration you have derived from being a Rockefeller.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No SSN
No financial aid forms completed
Don’t check applying for aid

Think carefully how you describe parents titles/professions

+1

Yup this is correct. 👍

Anonymous wrote:No SSN
No financial aid forms completed
Don’t check applying for aid

Think carefully how you describe parents titles/professions

+1

Do not complete the CSS if the school uses it.

No SSN
No financial aid forms completed
Don’t check applying for aid

Think carefully how you describe parents titles/professions

Some people leave the SSN blank, because the SSN is only needed if you’re applying for aid.

Totally depends on the school whether that’s important or not.

But yeah, not filling out the FAFSA is one. They will make an educated guess based on the school district too.

But it’s not the criteria that will get you in.

What is the best way to signal that you are full pay on college application? Friend’s DD applied this cycle - got into UPenn ED - they did not fill out any financial forms to show they are full pay (for this year anyway, not sure if they can or will fill out in the future or if that is even allowed). Is that the best way to do it? Or if you have assets should you fill out all the forms to show them ‘we have the savings / assets to cover all 4 years at full pay’? What is the best strategy here? Thanks for all advice !