I’m an international student. I studied one semester in the U.S. last fall and then came back home. I want to go back for Jan 2018 as a transfer. The thing is, schools keep asking for transcripts, high school and college ones. I could give them, but not the official ones, and only soft copy versions. Sending my college transcripts costs $$$ and it’s not like I can take the chance, just apply to one school and pay for that. Additionally, I only have one official high school transcript which I can’t just send away.
Then there are SAT scores which costs like $12 or something? I don’t know about you guys, but I’m not living in Oslo or something. The currency exchange rate for my country to USD is almost 20x.
Does anyone know schools, preferably $15K and less per semester tuition, where you have experience applying to without ever having to pay, whether application fee wise or sending transcripts. I’d really appreciate it. Thank you.
I appreciate you are looking for a way to keep application and attendance costs low. For your HS transcript, your HS is supposed to send it, not you. Will they not do that since you’ve attended some college already? You can send a note to US colleges and ask if they will accept the info YOU provide for admission and then send the official college transcript once accepted (they might if you are truly low income).
There is a thread of low cost schools in the Financial Aid forum pinned at the top. Go look there.
If you can’t afford the transcript fee how will you pay for college? Why did you leave college after one semester?
There are some colleges where you self-report previous high school and college courses and grades, and then submit official transcripts for verification later if you are admitted and decide to attend.
However, the bigger cost issue is the cost of the college itself.
@“Erin’s Dad” My high school…I’m not sure. I should consider just informing them about it.
Thanks for the advice.
@TomSrOfBoston I never mentioned I can’t afford it. I suggested that the total fees you’re expected to pay, when summed up, is quite expensive. I wish it wasn’t a concern, but so what. I rather look at the solutions possible.
Firstly, my parents earn in cash; it isn’t as easy as having a card laying around with all the money you need. Secondly, I got into enough schools last fall without ever paying, except for maybe sending SAT scores. I had no college transcript to send. I don’t want to spend money when I can get away with not having to…God, I hope that isn’t so wrong.
Why I left… Personal reasons.
Talk to your high school, discuss the situation with colleges you’re applying to.
But, frankly, I’m surprised that – after a semester at an American school – you haven’t learned that everything about American education is expensive. You ARE expected to have a “card laying around.” You ARE expected to pay for the SATs, for the applications, and even in some cases for your visa. And that’s before you even set a foot on campus.
Don’t expect a lot of sympathy about this on an American forum. All of us have had to save, deny ourselves certain expenses, go into debt or work extra jobs to pay for our children’s educations.
As someone on this site said, American schools are not funded by the UN. Someone has to pay for them, and it’s us.
If your family always pays cash, then find a place where you can get a pre-paid card for this kind of transaction. In the US, you would be able to get that kind of card at a 7-Eleven or a Walgreens/CVS/RiteAid Pharmacy. Some of those pre-paid cards can have more money added onto them after the first amount runs out.
You will need to be prepared to have official copies of all of your transcripts sent when you apply.
Applying to college is expensive. Most schools have an application fee. There is a fee to send test scores. At our high school, there was no cost to send the high school transcript, but my child also took some college courses while in high school and had to pay to send an official college transcript. Many schools require the CSS Profile for Financial Aid, and there is a fee to submit this form as well.
In the US, students with limited means can qualify for fee waivers from the CollegeBoard, which can help a little.
I will second what @happymomof1 recommended - you can purchase a pre-paid card with cash (in the US there’s a small fee for the purchase, approximately $5), and you can register the card to make online purchases. Then use that card to pay application fees, test score fees, etc.
Colleges aren’t going to take your word for the information on your records. You’ll have to supply official copies (sent directly from your college and high school). If costs are an issue, apply wisely to a conservative number of schools and make sure you have safeties lined up in your home country.
The university of washington doesnt require transcripts until you have been accepted and decide to attend.
So do whatever you did before that meant you didn’t pay fees. Not sure why you are asking for help, as you clearly have already done it before. Or email admissions at the other colleges you were accepted to and ask if they will reactivate your app. But you will not be able to hide the fact that you already attended college. Maybe they will accpet an unofficial transcript for application purposes, then if you matriculate, you will have to send an official one. Ask.
Agree with @katliamom . Your situation seems precarious. If your parents are funding your education, you might need to consider if they can actually afford four full years of US college for you. Can they afford a year or two, then realize it isn’t affordable? Then you have spnt a lot of money for what purpose?
@katliamom
I’m not expecting sympathy, I’m expecting straightforward answers. I think many of you here misunderstood some things. There are schools out there which would take electronic copies of documents first and then require you to provide them with official ones later on once the school year is about to begin or so. That’s what I was asking for- if any of you have had such experiences and could name me some schools.
But no, you think I’m trying to escape paying altogether? By telling me "Someone has to pay for them, and it’s us.:…what are you implying? I really don’t get you. Am I asking to get a free ride? I’m researching and finding possibilities. “All of us have had to save, deny ourselves certain expenses, go into debt or work extra jobs to pay for our children’s educations.” Again…I’m sorry but my question was simple and you are looking at it in a totally different way.
Thank you so much @ucbalumnus @happymomof1 @college_query @austinmshauri @snowfairy137 . You guys were extremely helpful and had the answers I needed.
One, two years of a college education HAS a purpose. Heck, even that one semester I took was one of the best things that’s happened in my life. I only have a transcript to show for it, but what I actually learned and experienced outweighs even that. The money my parents spent…it isn’t to waste. And no one can tell me otherwise. Maybe you think having a diploma or degree to your title at the end of four years is the ultimate goal, but it’s not for me. I think even if I have to leave after one or two years due to lack of funds, I can still go on in life, maybe accumulate enough money again and go back. It really isn’t so difficult except for those who see obstacles in opportunity. I’m not a perfectionist, maybe you are? Please, with all due respect, don’t tell people what they can and cannot afford to do. You don’t even know them.
Answers to the other things you mentioned briefly-
I’m asking for help because I need to.
Things change, my friend. What worked in the past, might not be suitable for today.
And, I’m not trying to hide that I’ve attended college.
Have a good day.
I don’t think anyone is trying to be mean. Education isn’t a waste, so if your parents can afford to send you to the US to study and don’t care whether or not you get a degree then by all means let them write a check and go do that. Most of us can’t write checks to send our kids to college in another country. In fact, most of us can’t afford residential college at all. Our kids commute to local schools – mostly community colleges, but sometimes 4-year colleges if the family is lucky enough to live close to one.
When you ask how you can save money during applications and mention $12 fees, it sound like you’re in the latter group, not the former. The best thing you can do is set a budget for what your family can afford to pay [tuition, dorm, meal plan, round trip travel to the US at least twice/year, health insurance, living expenses (toiletries, spending money), and application fees] – and figure out how many college applications you can afford. Make sure your list has a financial safety or two in your home country.
@austinmshauri You assume incorrectly.
UCs and CSUs do self-reporting and don’t require transcripts until you are admitted and decide to attend. Same with Univerisity of Washington, from their website: “The Coalition application asks you to provide a detailed account of your academic coursework, and that’s all we need to review your application. However, if you have attended a school outside of the U.S. that follows a national compulsory curriculum, you are required to upload an unofficial scanned copy of the transcript(s) for grade levels 9 and higher.”
Rutgers and Penn State are self-report schools. They don’t require an official transcript unless you enroll.
Florida State University is also a school where grades are self reported when you apply, then you must follow up with official transcripts if you decide to enroll. I don’t know if they meet need or have merit for international students/transfers, or if they have application fee waivers, though.