<p>Just browsing through the top school forums with RD decisions threads...
does it annoy you to see applicants with lower qualifications than you getting into schools you were rejected/waitlisted from?</p>
<p>I realize that a cursory CC "resume" with the stats does not give a comprehensive picture of an application, but you can get a decent indication of an applicant's stats.</p>
<p>I guess it makes sense to favor U.S. citizens, but it is kinda hypocritical when most colleges' websites say stuff like "we fully welcome international students" or "there is no advantage or disadvantage given to international students" etc...</p>
<p>Meh, life ain't fair, gotta deal with it I guess.
Rant over.</p>
<p>I think that US colleges give a preference to domestic students because they would rather give the educational opportunities to american students.
Unfortunately, it actually makes some sense. The US, like many other countries, wants to educate their own citizens.
Additionally, many many many international student swant to come to America. So, compeition can be extreme.</p>
<p>They treat us like the scum of the earth in admissions, then prostitute us in their viewbooks as an advertisement for diversity. How's that for adding insult to injury?</p>
<p>I'm a high school junior and I'm already embittered.</p>
<p>is it fair from the domestic students' point of view, if they were to not discriminate us at all and evaluate us like domestic students? a US college, despite all the hype about international diversity, serves primarily to educate americans. so it's only fair that domestic students can gain easier entrance into the universities (which is not even always the case - i have this feeling internationals gain easier entrance to the high-end public schs than the domestic, out-of-state students). </p>
<p>it's the same everywhere isn't it? it's freaking easy for domestic students to gain entry to NUS/NTU (Singapore), but not nearly as easy for even the math geniuses in india. unis in some countries don't even allow internationals to apply at all! </p>
<p>so in comparison, US colleges actually welcome internationals with open arms - especially if they can pay. well even if you can't, there are wonderfully generous schs who offer to pay u to go. of coz, admissions is a lot tougher in dat case. but that's fair, isn't it?</p>
<p>I'm only bitter because I've lived in the United States for the past five years, which is longer than I've lived anywhere else in my life, including the country that's supposed to be my "home". I go to an American high school, speak perfect English, and am 100% assimilated... yet in admissions, I'll be treated as a second-class human being for no reason other than the letter combination on my visa. Even better, I'm applying for aid. It'll be a party.</p>
<p>edit: and Swedish universities aren't all that selective, as far as I'm aware. I'm sure they'd be happy to take in some Americans, should the question arise.</p>
<p>oh... yeah i guess it's a different story for those residing in US... but i guess that's the problem with being a permanent resident of a country u were not born in... u'll always be given second-class treatment.</p>
<p>
[quote]
I'm only bitter because I've lived in the United States for the past five years, which is longer than I've lived anywhere else in my life, including the country that's supposed to be my "home". I go to an American high school, speak perfect English, and am 100% assimilated... yet in admissions, I'll be treated as a second-class human being for no reason other than the letter combination on my visa. Even better, I'm applying for aid. It'll be a party.</p>
<p>edit: and Swedish universities aren't all that selective, as far as I'm aware. I'm sure they'd be happy to take in some Americans, should the question arise.
[/quote]
Except that its not YOUR taxes being used to subsidize most universities.</p>
<p>Private universities aren't tax-supported, are they? (I'm not being flippant; I genuinely want to know if it's the case. I didn't think they were.)</p>
<p>Private universities aren't tax-supported, are they? (I'm not being flippant; I genuinely want to know if it's the case. I didn't think they were.)
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Most private universities are nonprofit institutions, so they are significantly subsidized through tax benefits (e.g. property tax exemption is a biggie for universities, as is the tax-free investment return on their huge endowments). Harvard has what, 20 billion dollars in endowment? The investment return on that endowment (I believe would be several billions) is completely tax free, as is the money they receive through tuition (which, for most ivy-league level universities, is not a significant portion of their annual incomes).</p>
<p>In addition, governments and other nonprofit instutions (especially private foundations, which themselves are subsidized via various tax benefits using U.S. taxpayers' money) give significant donations and research grants to both public and private universities.</p>
<p>Well, I certainly wouldn't mind paying US taxes instead of Swedish ones, if that were the only issue. Maybe then we'd even have money for college, and financial aid wouldn't be such an issue. (Swedish taxes amount to ~55% of annual income. Go figure.)</p>
<p>In all seriousness, I do see what you're saying. I'm just grumpy because I seem to be getting the short end of every available stick here. :mad:</p>
<p>^^ same here, my family actually pays every penny of US taxes, but i'm still an interl when it comes to college admissions. i can't even apply for most scholarship/internships. aarg.</p>