Hey,
so I am a senior in a high school in California. I am about to apply to my dream universities in a few months. But, i am already starting worrying about it. The thing is I came legally (green card) from another country about a year ago.
SO, when I apply to UC am I an international student or am I ‘normal’ ?
You are not international. You are California resident if you parents live in California.
As a green card holder, you’re a domestic applicant.
But being a domestic applicant, though, doesn’t automatically qualify you for in-state tuition. Google: California university residency requirements.
@coolweather Just to be clear, what makes the OP not an international has nothing to do with residency in a state – but his/her possession of the green card. That’s the sole distinction.
Thank you so. @T26E4 you think/ say that having the possession of a green card makes me non-international?
@PrimeMeridian Sorry, but why would I have to apply for residency if I am a legal permanent residence (green card)??
You’re confusing US Permanent Resident status with state residency status. Each state’s government sets its own rules on who qualifies for cheaper in-state tuition.
In UC, you are most likely in-state for tuition if you got green card 1 year before the college starts and your parents are living in California and paying taxes.
Yes, but sometimes indirectly. For example, California statue guarantees that “Each campus’ admission office has the responsibility to determine the residence status.” Each school sets rules and makes final decision, and it often works for a student’s favor in special situations, which is quite often the case with immigrants.
To be more clear: 1. You are a domestic applicant. 2. But you are likely required to submit TOEFL scores if you did not study in an English speaking country (England, Australia,…) before coming to the US.
Correction: But you are likely required to submit TOEFL scores if you did not study in an English speaking country AND if your HS language of instruction isn’t English — some are.
Some schools only require English proficiency test if HS language of instruction is not in English.
For example, UCSC:
http://admissions.ucsc.edu/apply/international-students/english-proficiency.html
Some schools require English proficiency test if English is not native language.
For example, USC:
https://dornsife.usc.edu/international-application-process/
UCB recommends English proficiency test for all international students:
@coolweather thank you so much.
wait so it is not necessary to take the toefl if I have the SAT and ACT right? (i score pretty good there on the English part) ?
http://admission.universityofcalifornia.edu/freshman/requirements/english-proficiency/index.html
Yes for some UC schools and most CSU schools. But for the competitive colleges like UCB and UCLA, the requirement is different. UCLA requirement is slightly higher than UCB.
https://www.admission.ucla.edu/prospect/intl.htm
Some schools require TOEFL scores so that they can identify your listening and speaking skills. The SAT does not provide that kind of information. I know an international kids who attended US boarding schools in 4 years but his TOEFL speaking score was low.
Take the TOEFL if you can. If you have high scores, submit them.
@coolweather thank you so much!
I plan to apply to UCI, UCSB and UCSD. I think I should just take the TOEFL and then see what happens. Thank you