Reproduced from a discussion forum (answers my own)
A: The international need-blind schools are truly need-blind. There the admissions department and financial aid department are completely separate. International students are allowed to apply for aid at any time in the process (including after being admitted) Hence, those schools are equally competitive for internationals-with-aid and internationals-without-aid.
Stanford, on the other hand, is much more competitive for international students who need aid. Those who need aid are considered separately, and decisions are made depending on how much Stanford wants the student vs. how much money Stanford has.
A: International students who don’t apply for aid are held to equally high standards as American students. They do not cut slack. All the internationals accepted to Stanford that I know are excellent students. I would describe the situation as ”much more difficult for internationals who need aid” NOT as ”easier for international who don’t need aid”.
Appendix. List of US unis that are need-blind to internationals
Amherst C, Dartmouth C, Harvard U, MIT, Princeton U, Williams C, Yale U, [edit] Cornell U offers international need-blind for Cornell’s class of 2014 onwards![/edit]