I have several questions, but will begin with just two. The first one has to do with the availability of financial aid and scholarships for US high school students studying abroad (for high school). My daughter, currently the equivalent of an 11th grade high school student, is studying at a sixth form college in the UK and is the first year of the IB diploma program. If she stays on a second year, she will receive an IB diploma, but as she wouldn’t be in the USA, would not receive a US high school diploma. In this scenario, what I need to know is whether she still be able to apply for financial aid and scholarships? So many scholarships want to see a GPA and a high school diploma or equivalent. Here’s the thing – she can return to her US high school in Oregon to complete her final year, whereby she would get her US high school diploma and she would also complete the AP Capstone diploma program. As a Sophmore, she was enrolled in the AP Capstone diploma course. She took three AP courses and four AP exams. She also took SATs and ACTs (and is going to retake the SATs this May).
We/she is trying to figure out, from an educational perspective and a financial aid/scholarship perspective, what she should do – stay in the UK and complete the IB diploma or return to Oregon and get the high school diploma and the AP Capstone Diploma. She will need as much financial assistance as possible; therefore this is a top priority for her/us.
Next, she is interested in applying to both US colleges and UK universities. My second question has two parts: is there an advantage to applying as a current UK student to either US colleges or UK universities (she will NOT be considered a home student for UK universities as she would only have resided in the UK for two years (but she will have a residency card) As well, does anyone know about both FAFSA and other financial aid if she applies to UK universities? If so, are there specific UK universities?
She is extremely unlikely to receive any need or merit based scholarships in the UK no matter where she goes for senior year. She can do loans.
Do you qualify for need based aid here in the US?
We may qualify for some need based aid by the time she finishes up high school (next year), but as I retired just this past August (and am now on a reduced pension), I will have to contact FSA to see what numbers they will use. I do believe in subsequent years we’ll get full FAFSA aid.
@farmgirl1961 Your daughter will be able to qualify for admission to a US university on the basis of holding an IB diploma but will also need to take the SAT or ACT. There is no need that she hold a high school diploma (I’m a bit surprised her school hasn’t explained all of this). Assuming she is a US citizen, as far as need-based aid is concerned, this will be based on demonstrated need, as calculated using the FAFSA or CSS. Bear in mind that many US universities require the CSS Profile and will be looking at more than just your income. Property, investments, equity may all be considered. Some universities offer merit aid, but it usually only covers part of the Cost of Attendance.
As for UK universities, there is very little, if any, financial aid available to overseas students and it never covers the full cost of attendance. As she won’t qualify for ‘home’ fees, she will have to pay fees as an overseas student, which can be as much as £20-30K per year.
I’m not certain what you mean by “fully FAFSA aid”. You might qualify for a full Pell Grant, but that comes to only $5500 or so a year. The majority of grant aid comes from university resources and that differs from school to school.
She does not need to go back to Oregon. She does need to take the SAT or ACT. Higher scores mean choices that give more need based aid.
Note that most schools that give good aid also take a non-custodial parent’s income & assets into account, and those of new spouses as well. Just in case that is your situation.
The one disadvantage she will have if she stays in the UK is that she will not have in-state tuition rates at any public universities. However, if she doesn’t have a parent in Oregon, going back for senior year still may not give her in-state status.