<p>I have a huge dilemma, and if you can give me some advice, I'd be most thankful:</p>
<p>I have a fixed amount of money available for my studies. I plan on doing my undergraduate in the U.S. and then going to Medical School there.</p>
<p>I can either choose to apply for financial aid (6/10 of the schools I applied to, however, are NOT need-blind) for my undergrad and then have money available for later.</p>
<p>EDIT: i would need ~50% in aid.
OR</p>
<p>I could not apply for financial aid now, have a better chance at getting into a top school, and then find a means to get scholarships or, if possible, U.S. citizenship, or some external grant once I plan on pursuing my later studies to ease the financial burden.</p>
<p>Unless you lie on your financial aid application and produce some fake bank documents, you won't receive need-based financial aid if you have the money to pay for your college education but prefer to save it. Your best bet would be an academic scholarship.</p>
<p>It is also impossible to acquire US citizenship before you graduate from college, simply because you need to be a permanent resident for 5 years before you may apply for citizenship. Good news is that you don't need citizenship to get financial aid for med school - you only need Permanent Resident status. If you are from India (and hence ineligible for the Green Card Lottery), your only way of becoming a permanent resident at this point is to marry a US citizen. </p>
<p>International students are generally discouraged to attend medical school in the States and there is no money available from US sources to help you pay. If you need extra money, that money would have to come from your home country.</p>
<p>^ Thank you for your answer. It's not a question of lying. It's a question of doing somersaults now and paying for undergrad. or doing them later!</p>