<p>Hi. =) I know many parents on here are much more experienced with the college process, so I am asking for your help. </p>
<p>I am the valedictorian of a high school in IL, I have just been admitted to Oxford University. For me, Oxford had always been one of those impossible dreams, you know, the kind you always work towards but never realistically hope to achieve. Yet it happened. Naturally, I couldn't be more thrilled, but now my dream is quickly slipping away again. As wonderful as Oxford is, it provides no financial aid for international students, and costs close to $50,000 per year. There is no way I would be able to attend without outside financial assistance, but so far finding scholarships has proven difficult. Many of them do not apply simply because a. I am not a U.S. citizen (just permanent resident) and b. I plan/hope to attend a college outside the U.S. I was wondering if any of you knew of any scholarships or other resources that could adhere to my situation. </p>
<p>When I asked my guidance office for help, they simply told me to go on Fastweb. Yes, I've spent hours on Fastweb and other scholarship sites, but they've returned few applicable results... So now I just feel lost. I have always been told that I shouldn't let money prevent me from shooting for my college dreams, and look how well that turned out.</p>
<p>My parents are now telling me to write to people like Bill Gates asking for help, since no established scholarships seem to match what I need, but I thought I'd ask you first. =) Any advise on getting to the school of my dreams?</p>
<p>How do you get to the figure of $50k per year--which is higher than any US college? The Oxford website shows figures for tuition, room and board for the current academic year to be around 11,250 pounds--roughly $20k, a real bargain by US standards.</p>
<p>I did some checking on fees, also -- depending on the program the cost could even be as low as $15,000 a year for fees. don't know the cost for room and board -- but can't imagine it could be $35,000 a year.</p>
<p>Can you defer tuition and work for a year?</p>
<p>You had to know when you applied that financiall aid was not available -- what was your original plan? And what is your EFC? Can your parents pay for some?</p>
<p>The Oxford website is not exactly a model of clarity and ease of use. As I read it from the Undergraduate Prospectus, the tuition fees for for overseas (non-EU) students range from 8800 to 11,840. But there's also a reference to additional "college fees" that vary between colleges but are "likely to be in excess of 4,700. And then "estimated minimum living expenses for overseas students" of 9250 gets you to:</p>
<p>(8,800 to 11,840) + (4,700+) + (9,250 minimum) = 22,750 to 25,790</p>
<p>Which is indeed getting close to $50K. I'm assuming the OP is not a UK or EU citizen.</p>
<p>Exactly. My subject is 11,840. As for living expenses, apparently at Oxford everything costs double. Plus, they make you empty the dorms for breaks and rent an apartment, which is even more expensive than buying 3 round-trip plan tickets home. </p>
<p>I could have deferred for a year if I applied on those conditions, which I didn't. As for my original plan, I didn't start hard-core scholarship searching until after I applied, and I didn't realize that scholarships would be so restrictive. And yes, my parents are helping tremendously; we are even able to cover the uni+college fees. It's those living expenses that are getting in the way now. But maybe I just won't eat. I mean, who needs anything else if they've got Oxford, right? ;)</p>
<p>I wouldn't rely on an individual appeal to Bill Gates. He donates massive amounts but I doubt he'd respond to an individual appeal for $200K for someone to attend a particular Uni. I'm sure he gets countless requests for individual appeals. </p>
<p>If you haven't done so already, I suggest you contact their financial aid office, explain your situation, and see if they have any recommendations.</p>
<p>On the bright side, if you were accepted to Oxford I assume you were also accepted to some great colleges here that may be more affordable for you.</p>
<p>ok -- if you are looking to cover living expenses, at least you are not looking for $50,000.</p>
<p>Do you have some choices in living arrangements? can you share a living space with a bunch of other people and save money? Are you able to work at all while going to school -- something like a work study?</p>
<p>as far as emptying the dorms at breaks -- could you stay in hostels? you could even travel and stay in youth hostels. certainly cheaper than renting an apartment. Or you may meet someone who will invite you home for break.</p>
<p>how much money can you make over the summer -- would that help?</p>
<p>I think you are going to have a very hard time finding any scholarships/aid. Your best bet is to earn money working and try for some of the essay based scholarships if you are a good writer.</p>
<p>Yulsie does not seem to post on CC anymore but she has a child at Oxford. I did not get the impression that her child paid anywhere near $50k per year. Perhaps she could be contacted by email?</p>
<p>nelle178, which college will you be studying at? The wealthier colleges (e.g. St John's, Magdalen, Univ, New etc.) offer very subsidised accomodation, much cheaper than anything you will find in the private sector. These colleges also tend to offer more in the way of occasional grants, such as for buying books and so on. </p>
<p>You need to contact your college and ask them exactly how much the college fee will be, as well as what grants/scholarships you may be eligible for. </p>
<p>I also don't know where they're getting an estimated living cost of </p>
<p>To continue... I also don't know where they're getting an estimated living cost of 9000+. I pay less than half that for accomodation, food, books etc. (And I don't even live in a college accomodation, I live in a privately rented house.) I guess the only people who pay that much are the ones who want to live in mansions and drink champagne every night! </p>
<p>Also, flights to and from the US are very cheap as long as you book in advance.</p>
<p>You won't be allowed to work much during term time. Oxford only allow students to do pre-approved jobs, which usually means working in the college bar, for low wages, about 5 hours a week. If you go out and get another job, they can expel you (and I know 1 person who this happened to). Having said that, foreign student visas include a part-time work visa so you are allowed to work up to 20 hours a week (outside of term time) in the UK legally. Since Oxford has loooong holidays you could defintely get part-time work at Christmas and Easter.</p>
<p>I wouldn't worry too much about having to leave your room during the holidays. I don't know which college your're going to but most of them will take pity on foreign students and allow them to stay over the Christmas and Easter breaks if they have nowhere else to go. Appeal to the housekeeper. You will probably be moved to the smallest and cheapest room though, as the best rooms get rented out to conference guests. This probably won't be an issue anyway because you will make friends and go to their homes in the holidays.</p>
<p>I have read some of your other posts and I am wondering about your thinking regarding the ranking of the college you were admitted to (Somerville). If you get off the wait list at Princeton or are admitted to the other high ranking U.S. schools you applied to, wouldn't they be a better choice? Especially if they come up with some cash?</p>
<p>Really, you should take no notice of college rankings. Your degree will come from Oxford, not XXX College, Oxford. There is no reason why someone at one of the bottom ranked colleges cannot get a very good class degree. </p>
<p>The biggest correlation shown on the rankings is between college wealth and the number of people who graduate with first class degrees. But even that is not universal - Oriel College, which is certainly nowhere near being the poorest college, was bottom of the table last year.</p>
<p>Your lectures will be university-wide, you will have access to the main university library. No one in Oxford will care about your college ranking - many here oppose the tables being compiled. After you graduate, your college becomes almost meaningless anyway.</p>
<p>Especially since Somerville isn't ranked at the bottom; it's right in the middle (16/30). What are "first degrees"? Are there second and third degrees?</p>
<p>As for the top US schools, of course I'd take HYP over Oxford if I had to pay half as much. But admissions are so competitive, that I really cannot count on it as an option, while planning has to start now...</p>
<p>Laylah, could you post a breakdown of your overall Oxford expenses and when you have to pay each installment? (You are studying there now, I'm assuming)</p>
<p>Hi nelle178, yes, I'm a student at Oxford. </p>
<p>Sorry, I should have been clearer: </p>
<p>A 'first class' degree is the highest degree classification one can achieve. It means an average of 70% on Finals papers. (As you know, the UK uses a different grading system to the US - 70% is hard to achieve, and few people reach it.)</p>
<p>There are several classifications below it - the next highest is an 'upper second class' (aka 2.1), followed by a 'lower second class' (aka 2.2), followed by a 'third class'. I think there is also something lower than that (maybe called a 'pass degree'?) but hardly anyone gets that - most people get a first class degree, a 2.1 or a 2.2. </p>
<p>Do you mind if I PM you my expense list? I don't really want to post it on the open web.</p>