Some universities abroad differentiate the selection of undergraduate candidates according to financial need, adopting a need-aware policy . This means that a candidate’s eventual request for a scholarship may impact their chances of getting into the school, as the application process becomes more competitive. Deciding whether to apply for financial aid can be challenging in these situations. Below, we indicate some points that you should take into consideration before making this decision.
Unlike need-aware universities, need-blind universities analyze applications without considering financial need. In other words, the process is the same for those who need and those who do not need a scholarship. In general, you can check the institution’s policy for international students on the “International Applicants” page.
The list of need-blind universities for international applicants is short, but it includes some big names: Harvard, MIT, Princeton, Brown (starting in 2025), Dartmouth and Yale are some examples. These universities ensure that all successful applicants will receive financial aid according to their demonstrated need. This is only possible because most of them have large investment funds, which allows them to offer generous and coveted scholarships.
Despite the advantages offered by need-blind institutions, not applying for a scholarship to need-aware universities to increase your chances of being accepted may not be the best choice. “In real terms, most need-aware universities are less competitive than need-blind ones,” explains Keyla Carvalho, Application Advisor for the Prep Program.
When applying to a need-aware university, Keyla says that the general guideline is for the candidate to ask for assistance if needed: “It’s the best chance the student has of getting a scholarship.
According to the expert, it is not worth betting all your chips on the possibility of winning an external scholarship or a merit scholarship with the university itself. “These gifts are continuously exceptionally competitive, and for the most part do not offer full scholarships,” she says.
She recommends that candidates plan ahead to learn more about their financial situation abroad. If the family might be able to afford the university fees and living expenses in another country, that’s definitely something to consider : “In these cases, or in situations where the family is close to being able to pay for everything, it may be better not to apply for aid.”
If your estimated total cost for a year of study at a university in the United States is $100,000, for example, and you have $90,000 available, it is more advantageous not to ask for financial aid and try to cover this amount with extra effort from family members or with smaller grants. For those who really need help to study abroad, Keyla reaffirms: “Asking for financial aid from the university is the best way to get a grant.”
Free preparatory course for studying abroad
The Prep Program, a free preparatory course from aimed at young people who wish to pursue an undergraduate degree abroad, is now accepting pre-registrations. Completely free, the program aims to provide guidance on the application process for universities abroad.
Those selected will receive personalized guidance from experts on the application process used in selection for undergraduate studies abroad, especially by North American institutions. In addition to guidance on need-aware and need-blind universities, topics such as SAT and ACT tests, English proficiency exams such as TOEFL and IELTS , essays, college list , among others, will be covered.