<p>Hello College Confidential,</p>
<p>I am not here for me, but rather to vouch for a cousin of mine. He works full-time all week in Mexico and cannot attend a university over there because he is, put bluntly, dirt poor.</p>
<p>However, he is very bright and his talents are wasted working the way he is right now.</p>
<p>To cut to the chase, although I am not so na</p>
<p>Applying to FAFSA – that’s for domestic students only</p>
<p>I’m just wondering if there’s a less difficult path available to him – nope. </p>
<p>How does a foreigner proceed through financial aid – requests financial aid at time of application, the same way everyone else does.</p>
<p>Are there some kinds of programs or work abroad or volunteering (like peace corps or something) out there that will pay for at least most of tuition – he should check in Mexico. There are programs like that in the US, but only for American nationals. </p>
<p>A bit more: His best bet are private schools since a vast majority of publics don’t give out aid (and certainly not full rides) to international students. To be a competitive candidate, his scores would have to be in the very upper percentages among accepted students at said school. That information is available on each school’s website. </p>
<p>He would also have to have a good high school record and very good letters of recommendation. ECs aren’t taken as seriously for admission of international students as they are for domestic ones. If he’s had to work to help his family, that would be considered his EC. (And make for a compelling essay.)</p>
<p>Since Texas is an area that would work best, then I would sit down with your friend, google ‘private colleges/universities Texas’ and start checking out websites, their requirements/policies/FA for international students.</p>
<p>I also think you should target southern states and the central/western US (Ohio, Iowa, Nebraska, Minnesota, the Dakotas, Montana, Wyoming etc.) states often looking for geographic/cultural diversity but where fewer international students apply – so there’s less competition.</p>
<p>Don’t discount catholic universities - often, they’re a great source of FA. A Polish kid I know just got a full ride at St. Mary’ University in Minnesota.</p>
<p>Prepare your cousin for a lot of test taking (SAT IIs would look good on his record also) googling, essay writing and paperwork.There are no guarantees, but if chooses his schools carefully, and if he’s as good as you say he is & can convey that in his application, something good could happen.</p>
<p>Ask your cousin to visit this webpage [Education</a> & Culture | Embassy of the United States Mexico City, Mexico](<a href=“http://mexico.usembassy.gov/eng/resources.html]Education”>http://mexico.usembassy.gov/eng/resources.html)</p>
<p>He needs a minimum of a GED/high school diploma and proof of English proficiency to get a student visa, which should be his goal. The good news is that once here, taking classes and working nights and weekend will seem like a breeze compared to his life in Mexico. A degree in a STEM field could grant him a permanent visa. GL to him</p>
<p>This might be useful, although he’ll still need to save the money for instate tuition and living costs.</p>
<p>[College</a> For All Texans: Mexican Citizens with Financial Need-Border Nations Waiver](<a href=“http://www.collegeforalltexans.com/apps/financialaid/tofa2.cfm?ID=511]College”>College For All Texans: Mexican Citizens with Financial Need-Border Nations Waiver)</p>