Being an International Student in U.S.A.

Student Lounge International Students
1

Hi,

I was born in India, and I moved to America when I was 7. I’ve been going to school here ever since then, and I am about to graduate high school after this last semester. I can honestly say that life in America is much better than it was for me in India. I have so many more opportunities academic-wise and extracurricular-wise. I would not give that up for anything, but it’s so very disappointing when it comes to college decisions. I applied to UGA and Georgia Tech. I got into the former, but I got deferred from GT. It was heartbreaking because it was my dream school, and had I qualified as an in-state or even out-of-state applicant, I would’ve had a significantly better chance. Being deferred from this school made me realize that the acceptance rates for most of the schools that I applied to are much lower than they seem because of my status. I get that if I worked harder, I would’ve been able to achieve more and get accepted into those schools despite their stricter acceptance rates, but in a normal public school, there’s only so much you can do to distinguish yourself from your peers. And even that does not matter since in reality, I’m competing with people who completed my entire high school math curriculum by the time he/she became a freshman in his/her own high school. I only wish I realized this sooner, and it really sucks since ALL of my friends got into Georgia Tech, and half of them don’t even want to go there since the major they want to do is better at UGA. My parents now think I’m absolutely stupid and worthless, and my mom even threatened to not pay for my college tuition because of this. Sigh I don’t know what to do lol. Nothing I can do now can actually influence my college decisions in a more positive way. The struggle is somewhat real.

Thanks for reading…this wasn’t really a discussion, I just needed a place to rant (I know there’s people in much more worse conditions and yes I could be more grateful but whatever)

2

What did your guidance counselor have to say about your application list? Did that person have much experience with students like you who don’t have a green card yet?

It might be time for your parents to go have a nice long chat with your guidance counselor about your educational options. Your counselor may have useful ideas for getting off the deferral list at GT.

3

Are you being considered international? What kind of visa do you have?
Did you get into UGA Honors college? (it’s one of the best in the country).
Can you afford UGA ?

4

And if you can afford UGa as an International, did you look at unis in the UK?

5

I can afford UGA, and I think because I have been living and paying GA taxes for 10+ years, I might be able to appeal and get some sort of aid. My friend who went to UGA last year did the same, and he was able to get a decent amount of financial aid.

6

@epictaco99- It’s ok to rant and this is a good place to do that. But at the end of the day or week, you have to pick yourself up and move forward in the best way you can. If you were considered an International student then you were being compared to that pool and it’s a very competitive pool.

What is your major? My husband who is in high tech says that it what employers will be looking at are your internships and work performance and not so much where your degree is from. He works with people from a wide range of backgrounds in their schooling.

Sorry that your parents took things so personally. I think that for Asian parents where their kids get into school is still considered a measure of their worth as a parent. My Asian friends who are parents tell me this about their community.

Go to UGA and have a great time. They do have one of the best Honor Colleges in the country. Make friends, study hard and get internships. Do everything you can to shine. If you get off the deferral list at GA Tech then great.