As i got no luck with answers in the state forum im gonna try to get them here.
Hey! So as im an international student i cant afford 4 years at a UC school and getting aid would be rather hard. What i can do though is attend a CSU like SDSU for 4 years or attend a CC like SBCC for 2 years and then transfer to a UC campus. Whats the best strategy you think? I dont care if a university like UCLA is more recognizable internationally, im here to stay hopefully. I know that getting a H1B atfter im done is hard but i will take the risk.
So whats the pros and cons to each strategy? The price is roughly the same.
I will major in computer science/engineering
Do employers in Usa prefer to hire local grads or from the whole state/nation?
You have to assume that you will be returning to your home country for employment. I know it’s not what you want to do, but it is a fact that jobs, for non-citizens, are hard to come by. @B@r!um can elaborate.
A number of CS careers require a security clearance and that requires a US citizenship. A number of CS companies have contracts with the government, so they cannot hire international candidates and will not sponsor anyone who is NOT a US citizen. There are so many US students, in this major now, that your chances of applying for a job would be nil because hiring preferences would go to the US students. My dd’s company website has posted a note that states, something to the effect of: we cannot currently sponsor non-citizens.
Best strategy is what you can afford. The CSU’s and UC’s are California public schools; as an international student, with a visa, you will pay full fees at the CC, CSU and UC. Many students start at the CCs and transfer to the CSU’s or UC’s.
If you start at a CSU it should be SJSU rather than SDSU. If you start at a CC, look at rental costs as those tend to be very high in CA, don’t neglect that part of your budget.
The first path is more assured, the second one will give you time to adjust to the US but you are not guaranteed a transfer to the UC of your choice.
I’m assuming your total budget for 4 years is about 160K, right?