<p>Speaking of loans, many colleges do have a loan component in their financial aid packages (even if you get full financial aid) for international students, usually $5k per year, building up to $20k over time. Not that easy to pay off after returning home (presuming you plan to do that).</p>
<p>Also, the video is quite pointless to be honest. How loans work in America is that either a) you make the foolish mistake of taking out lots of loans to go to a private school rather than your state school (very common), which leads to a lifetime of paying it back b) colleges “gap” you, that is, don’t give you enough grants, and you take out loans to attend c) your need is met, but you don’t want your parents to pay so you take up loans to cover it. In other cases, they’re pretty much fine, especially at the type of schools we are looking forward to applying.</p>
<p>@Phantasmagoria18
You are highly confident and that is good but taking too many course in your college can negatively impact your GPA and may even exempt you form financial aid.
Most people won’t be able to handle heavy course load while others major in three subject. If you are determined and work really (really really) hard, you can take a lot of minors or even double major.</p>
<p>ABOUT DOUBLE MAJOR
From what I have understood, most people who double major, do majors at closely related course. Like in two fields of engineering or similar field of biology. Some EXCEPTIONAL students major in radically different subjects. I am not an expert in this matter, so just do your research and enlighten others here.</p>
<p>I don’t mean to discourage you and I don’t mean you can’t do it, but I think taking online course or reading books is much better alternative as there are not much research opportunities when you minor (depends on institution of course.)Why waste time and money on something you can learn for free?</p>
<p>About the documentary
The whole point of thanking God was us being luck enough that we don’t have to take huge loans. The documentary is not the complete truth but the stats don’t lie.Whatever be the reasons for the current situation of economy there, Education loans in the United States have surpassed credit card debts, that’s the harsh reality.</p>
<p>Okay, that’s it, I’m done with this Nepal sub-forum. Too frustrated by the nonsense (there is only so much stupidity one can bear). I wrote a huge post explaining what happens in most American colleges, but I think it was in vain, so I deleted it. Migrating to the general international forum now. Should make a lot of you happy! Goodbyeeeee.</p>
<p>PS Don’t know what you’re expecting from a liberal arts college, androbot, but good luck, and I must say, you’re in for a rude awakening if you enroll in one. Also, I’m pretty sure I won’t be the one compromising my financial aid status.</p>
<p>@Phantasmagoria18:
You meant opportunity cost, right? Well, I have to look at it positively. Don’t think I have not thought about the year gaps. I have thought about it more than you. But I am the one who has to overcome this and best thing for me is to be optimistic. Regarding “You really want to go to US thing!” I got a good offer from Hollins but I didn’t go because I didn’t want to last year. So, for me in my own mind I want to go US to study and not for agendas.
You have researched well about college application. Your information will work greatly for you. If you think posting here is unproductive then don’t. But do not say that the talk here is nonsense. Unlike you most students haven’t given their SAT in the senior year. They have not had a head start. I am sure that you had some guidance and that is why you are in this position. Maybe others did not have the same guidance but that does not mean you can call it nonsense. They are looking for guidance.
This is a place for experience sharing and clearing our confusions(mostly). If you give them advice in a condescending tone, surely their response will not be friendly. (I know you will think that you are just stating the facts and I think so too but people tell me so.) I do not have a problem with you though.
I have seen all kinds of people and dealt with those people. All thanks to gap year. So my advice for you is just this, You are informed and you are helpful but somehow people find it offensive when you help them (as I have seen.) Maybe everyone has a problem except you! @toall It was a mistake not to do ED-2 at Holyhoke last year. That is a good college. Plus it has got 5 college consortium and all. So do not make mistakes like those! I am not making one again!</p>
<p>1) I am in this position out of my own work and research. Please do not make assumptions. (“I am sure” vs “probably”).</p>
<p>2) The tone is intentional. I can pare it down according to what people say. And when it is clear that they do not know what they’re talking about, then, oh well.</p>
<p>3) I did not mean to say this whole thread is nonsense. Some parts of it, though… such as when one doesn’t even know what on earth liberal arts is and goes on and on about it. That’s when the facepalm does its work.</p>
<p>4) Whatever. I am done with the sub-forum. Responded only because you told me to check it out. GOOD LUCK.</p>
<p>do you even know what BNKS is or what it was founded for? true, there will be some rich kids there because the school was founded to educate the comparatively rich and poor people together but the range of student wealth is very very wide. so no, generally, the students at bnks cannot pay more than students of other schools. if one or two do, that does not speak for all the students. u should know better (plus given last year’s acceptances, such as at MIT and Bates with near full scholarships, i severely doubt the money has anything to do with college admissions for BNKS students.)</p>
<p>idk too much about rbs but from what i’ve heard, all those accepted to top schools last year are paying nothing to about 12k (most of them about 4-6k, i heard). the wealth range exists there too (their website says that they do have scholarships for qualified students, so maybe that’s why?), as it does at all schools, even chelsea and trinity intl.</p>
<p>i really, really doubt the small $$ differences in our efc’s would influence admission decisions. that’s just ridiculous when they’re already giving out 55k worth of aid. some more is not going to make a difference for them if they really want the student.</p>
<p>oh and i decided to ed to williams. anyone else?</p>
<p>Most is the keyword my friend. BNKS has a rich history and that plays a lot into the whole thing and most students can pay 4-6 thousand a year. But in schools outside I have seen the trend to be 2-3 thousand in their COF generally. If you don’t think so or anyone here has not met these people that write so less then I can assure you they are more in numbers. that is what I meant.
I am not going into school vs school thing again this year. Everyone in this thread knows that they are at disadvantage because they are internationals. Everyone knows that BNKS and RBS are good schools with history that distinguishes them other schools. Maybe at times it is about the money too but it is just a part of college application. I am not going to argue from my point of view because I have seen both rich and poor kids who are applying to US and seen hardships from both sides (rich kids have hardships too).</p>
<p>The thing I want to say is, ED Williams? I think if anybody has a chance as an international at Williams it is at ED. So, if that is what you are going for then I say go along but be careful. Many students tend to think it is a competition but it is actually not. You do not have to outdo anyone but yourself. We say we have to be better but actually we have to be ourselves. That is the best way they get to know us and maybe let us in. (Told to me by the admission officer of Yale-NUS.)</p>
<p>Okay … guys … I have an option about the money hai … If you have any relatives or even close friends with some decent kind of salary, you can get loan from the university, state loan (i don’t know the source actually). Your relatives will be ur co-signer (kind of guarantee). So, If u have current EFC 5k then get loan of 5k per year and try to fulfill the cost of tuition which is probably around 10k. You can pay some amount of loan through ur summer employments and rest after u graduate. You will get extended WORKING VISA of 2 years after u graduate. </p>
<p>I believe 10k can help a lot during college admissions. </p>
<p>(Note: Its my opinion…feel free to comment )</p>
<p>I have yet to decide on which institution to apply ED (with little time remaining and much thinking to do), but I’m not going to be overly ambitious. I believe that ED is one of the few things we have got going for us, so I’m going to be prudent. A nice and generous LAC, probably. But regardless of where you apply, do your best guys.</p>
<p>On the subject of loans, I think I might opt for a mild loan, if provided. It might help lessen some of the financial burden. Most LAC’s seem to have decent loan policies. But I don’t know how I’ll even pay it back, haha.</p>
<p>@adayin:
I know for one thing for sure. VISA is for entry and exit but DOES NOT DETERMINE the length of your stay in the country. The length and the permission to stay will be determined by the department of homeland security whereas VISA is issued by the embassy. Which means even if you have a VISA for 5 years, your length of stay will be till graduation and you will have 60 days grace period to stay in the US or change the VISA status after graduation. Another thing, them magical jobs that the seniors mention or the colleges mention, they are very very hard to get. You will have to compete with lots of people to get those jobs. So all I am saying is you should plan your finances carefully.</p>
<p>So I am just saying that if anybody has in his or her mind that he or she will work after he or she graduates, he or she is in for a big shocker because he or she will have 1 or more years of VISA left but length of stay will be sixty days. You should look at the embassy policy again. All of this info is available in the USEF. You can get that book from USEF that has all the info.</p>
<p>Thank You though. Adayin. You reminded me to mention this. :)</p>
<p>@GandalfGrey:
“2 years VISA extension” - One of the senior who recently graduated there said me about it. 2 years is given either to prepare for master’s or to get job. </p>
<p>Okay… here is something I found about OPT (Optional Practice Training for F-1 Visa holders)</p>
<p>“On April 4, 2008, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) released an interim final rule extending the period of OPT from 12 to 29 months for qualified F-1 non-immigrant students. The extension will be available to students who are employed by businesses enrolled in the E-Verify program or that make use of valid work permits and social security.To be eligible for the 12-month permit, any degree in any field of studies is valid.”</p>
<p>SO, its not 60 days; it can vary from 12-29 months. </p>
<p>And regarding the job, its you, only you. Getting a job is fully determined by your college degree, GPA, your potential, your college, your college job placement trend and your personality. Why on earth will employer reject if an applicant has good potential?</p>
<p>lol was that a rhetorical question? because it can be answered bro: it’s not just about you, it’s about everyone who applies. more relevantly, they can reject you simply because you are not an american resident/citizen because it costs $$$ to hire an international person (issues with working visa and all). have to be seriously exceptional to get a job as an international. good potential isn’t enough.</p>
<p>Thank God. You did search for it. I just knew about the increment in OPT time yesterday LOL. Though I am not sure that everybody will have a chance to get it because so many students go to community colleges and state colleges that they intend to settle there after certain time they live illegally. But good research though.
There are lot of those students who look at this forum and they need to know about this.</p>
<p>yah it’s good research. i looked into it and it seems like 60 days is given to everyone. however we have to apply for the OFT thing. 2 years is for STEM majors with a job. 1 year is for others.</p>
<p>@Everyone: That was an option … not an easy though! haha :P</p>
<p>@BChanakya: Welcome buddy! Feel free to join us in the discussions … we literally of the same background … I mean with education system, economical situation, and other issues. We can share the same desk! :D</p>
<p>I just wanted to inform everyone who is applying to Trinity College, Hartford, CT, that Trinity spends almost all of its available financial aid for ED applicants. Getting in RD is not impossible, but is indeed difficult. And, guys, from what I have experienced during my application period, I would like to suggest you to keep your last option open. Do not just apply to colleges in the States, and not think about your other option. Indian Embassy scholarships are pretty good. NYU Abu Dhabi is one of the great programs. Think about KU/Pulchowk for engineering, if you wanna go to graduate school (PHd) later.</p>