Need Blind Admissions for International Applicants
Posted on Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Category: Applying to College, Paying for College
In the US, only eight colleges and universities extend need-blind admission to international applicants. That’s less than 1% of America’s higher education institutions, but these eight are also among America’s most elite:
- Harvard University
- Princeton University
- Yale University
- Dartmouth College
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology
- Amherst College
- Middlebury College
- Williams College
The correlation is not accidental.
Need-blind admission is possible only when an institution is well-funded enough to support it. But what is need-blind admissions? And why is it so rarely offered to students from other countries?
What is Need-Blind Admission?
If a college has a need-blind admissions policy, then applicants’ financial resources have no impact on their acceptance or rejection. It’s commonly assumed that schools favor students who can afford college tuition without recourse to financial aid. Need-blind admission was instituted (at least in part) to refute that belief.
But why is need-blind admission rarely offered to international students? Part of the reason is simple math: the majority of applicants are US citizens, so they’re typically the prime beneficiaries of college funding.
More complicated factors – endowments, operating budgets, tax regulations – restrict the number and kinds of students eligible for need-blind review.
Some schools offer need-sensitive admission for international students. This means that applicants are accepted blindly until the school meets its budget, at which time remaining applicants are evaluated with financial aid in mind. Examples of institutions practicing need-sensitive admission include:
- Bucknell University
- Brandeis University
- Brown University
- Columbia University
- Cornell University
- Northwestern University
- Stanford University
- Wellesley College
If your college or university doesn’t offer need-blind admission, and you require financial assistance, don’t worry. Most schools still base admission on grades, transcripts, essays and letters of recommendation.
In addition, be sure to search for organizations and foundations that offer scholarships specifically for international students. The international student services office at the school where you are applying may even be able to provide you with a directory of such sources.
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June 14th, 2009 at 4:34 am
Grinnell College also offers Need-Sensitive admission to international students, as well as a commitment to meet 85% of demonstrated financial need. For domestic students, it has a Need-Blind admissions policy and a commitment to meet full demonstrated financial need. We (a group of students) are working to change Grinnell’s policies to extend this policy to all students, not just domestic students, such that international students would also benefit from Need-Blind admission and a commitment to meet all demonstrated financial need.
July 23rd, 2009 at 10:26 am
TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN.
I am called Bahati Satir Omar an African aged 24 and i come from a country called Rwanda in East Africa. i am just inquiring to know whether Africans can also benefit from the Need-blind adnissions in colleges and univesities you considered. and if possible you can direct me the procedures to follow.
thanks.
BAHATI Satir Omar
KIGALI RWANDA
July 23rd, 2009 at 11:50 am
If a school offers need-blind admission to international students, then you would be eligible, too.
I suggest looking into the schools listed in the post as well as colleges that offer need-sensitive admission (such as Grinnell). The school will be able to tell you the exact procedures to follow.
If anyone knows of any others, please share!
January 1st, 2010 at 8:43 am
i wanted to find a list of us colleges that give need based aids for international students.I have searched diffrent websites but i couldnt seem to find it. If anybody knows it could could you please share it
Thanks
January 4th, 2010 at 11:01 am
Trinity College and University of Michigan are a few US colleges that I’ve found that give financial aid for international students.
January 15th, 2010 at 3:11 pm
There are many other colleges that give financial aid to international students, but getting scholarship is obviously more difficult for us than for native students.
Some colleges that I am applying to for aid are:
1. Princeton U
2. MIT
3. U of Pennsylvania
4. Trinity C
5. Grinnell C
6. Wesleyan
7. Lafayette
8. CUNY
January 15th, 2010 at 4:11 pm
# Pramod Kandel Says:
January 15th, 2010 at 3:11 pm
There are many other colleges that give financial aid to international students, but getting scholarship is obviously more difficult for us than for native students.
Some colleges that I am applying to for aid are:
1. Princeton U
2. MIT
3. U of Pennsylvania
4. Trinity C
5. Grinnell C
6. Wesleyan
7. Lafayette
8. CUNY
pramod, are these colleges need blind and provide full tuition for international students as well?
January 15th, 2010 at 4:47 pm
in what college or university can I study communication, advertising or journalism receiving full financial aid as an international student?
January 18th, 2010 at 11:17 am
Natalia, that depends on your grades and the school. Many schools have the programs that you’re interested. US Federal Aid is not usually provided to international students, but certain schools have scholarships available that would cover at least part of your tuition. First, narrow down where in the country you’d like to study. Then, check with the respective schools. Good luck!
January 23rd, 2010 at 7:07 am
i want international full undergraduate scholarship.i need colleges that can offer me such.am a nigerian with high school grade
January 25th, 2010 at 11:15 am
Oladipupo:
Here is a list of some colleges that provide financial aid for international students:
Princeton U
2. MIT
3. U of Pennsylvania
4. Trinity C
5. Grinnell C
6. Wesleyan
7. Lafayette
8. CUNY