<p>hey guys,
so I'm currently a sophmore who came to the U.S. in 6th grade.
I am not yet an permanent resident but am a legal immigrant. I'm wondering in case i don't get my greencard by the time I apply for college, am I considered an International Student?
And what are the advantages and disadvantages?
I've heard that some schools do not offer early decision to international students.. is that true?</p>
<p>Yes, you would be considered an international applicant if you don't become a permanent resident until you apply to college; some colleges however will consider you a domestic applicant if you show them that you will be a perm resident by the time you start college. The international status does not entail any real advantages.
The one big disadvantage is that you are not eligible for federal financial aid.
Thus you are not eligible for financial assistance at most colleges and universities (as the college would have to pay all your aid - including loans - out of their own pocket) and virtually no college is need-blind for internationals (except for Harvard & Co). At most schools the admission rate for international students is currently about half as high as for domestic applicants, and you might have to pay out-of-state tuition for your in-state university (I do not know your visa status).
When you do need financial assistance, the schools that you would normally consider safeties become your matches and matches turn into reaches.
International students can apply ED virtually everywhere as long as they don't apply for financial aid.</p>
<p>You don't want the international student status. Unless you're super rich, you'd have diminished chances at most schools. Only very few top schools are need-blind for int., HYPM come to my mind. Also, you'll compete with other int. for fewer spots, so try everything to get that greencard. It's very hard to quantify chances, but the greencard will probably more than double your chances at most schools.</p>
<p>Intl's not asking for fin aid have some advantage compared to Americans themselves when applying to some schools (especially outside HYPM), more so if they are from countries from where less ppl apply.</p>
<p>Abhi08544, most schools outside the first tier (by US News definition) accept all acedemically qualified students who can pay the full freight anyway.
Imo the question of intl vs domestic status is only relevant when
- relying on financial assistance to meet the cost of college
- aspiring competitive/prestigious colleges and universities
- talking about public universities (strict quotas on out-of-state students and the in-state/out-of-state tuition issue)</p>
<p>You're an international student. If you're studying in a US high school, many colleges will put you in the domestic pool or applicants for admission, but fin aid will be a problem.</p>