Am guessing that an international with family come of $20k does not have a personal or family health insurance plan that will meet criteria for a college in the US.
Have you factored in how much your transportation costs would be? Not sure which country you’re from, but a plane ticket to the US could end up being almost $1,000. That’s really expensive for a family that makes only $20,000 a year
Another thing to consider…some schools close their dorms during the longer vacations. Hopefully you will become friendly with someone and will have a place to go.
DD’s college had a large enough number of international students who could not go home…that they had an arrangement with one of the hotels to house them. This was during the three week December break. But the students did have to pay something (not hotel rate but something) plus had to get their own meals. So check to see about that as well.
How much did they estimate for your work? It’s possible you could earn more than they expect by working a few more hours per week.
This is an international student. I’m not sure what his work limit is…but there is one.
What about working at home now and in the summer? You will need money for books and supplies.
Being close to NYC (1 1/2 hrs away) will do you no good if you can barely afford the school let alone go on trips.
The OPs parents make $20,000 a year. It is very possible that in his country,getting a job now and summer to fill in this gap might not net him a very sizable amount of money.
As an International Student I have restricted working hours and I can only work on campus. Work is not a part of aid at Clark so I can use the money I earn on campus for my personal expenses.
As far as working in summer is concerned there I won’t be able to make much but I plan on using that money towards my airfare. A return ticket costs about $1000.
The $4000 costs at Clark include Health Insurance and Books and personal supplies. I don’t have to pay any tuition fee.
Basically this is what my Clark portal reads:
Awarded:
Tuition: $42800
Traditional Housing: $8450
Students’s Responsibility:
Student Activities Fee: $350
Health Insurance: $1,679
Books (estimated): $800
Personal Supplies (estimated): $700
Orientation Fee (international students only, one time only): $250
Contingency Deposit (one time only): $50
International Student Servicing Fee (one time only): $200
Take it and run.
@jym626 Take what?
I don’t think you are going to get a better offer than Clark’s. Even if you were a domestic student on a ‘full ride’ there are costs that that school just will not cover. Even football players on full scholarship had to pay their own transportation to school until this year (and even now many still do). The schools awarded aid can be used for all the fees and costs billed by the school (tuition, fees, room, board) but amounts paid to outside companies, like health insurance, airline tickets, entertainment, personal care items, are usually NOT covered, even for domestic students.
You’ve been offered an institutional loan from the school since you aren’t eligible to get a federal loan. Many domestic students are expected to take some loans, even at ‘meets full needs’ schools. It wouldn’t really be fair for the domestic students to have to take those loans while international students don’t have to. Loans for education may not be common in your country, but they are here and you are asking to be treated like a US student.
I think she means…take the Clark offer!
The Clark offer is good. Make sure it truly is affordable for your family. You can save some on books and personal, but will need to pay the bills. Best wishes.
Clark’s offer is very good.
International students are required (by the US State Department) to have health insurance that meets specific requirements, so I assume Clark has built that in.
Clark is a great school and not far from Boston which is a great city…and not terribly far from NYC either, actually.
go to Clark, it is more affordable and Boston is a great city
correct. Take the Clark offer.