<p>Hello everybody.
Recently I felt like there's hope for me to continue my studies abroad, as a close relative of mine offered me to accommodate me and cover my whole basic living expenses (food, electricity, etc.), however, I come from a relatively poor Southeast European country (compared to other first world countries), and most of the colleges I've been researching on have unaffordable tuition prices. She's in Ohio, and I wanted to know from anyone who is familiar with the American laws, do I, as an international student qualify for receiving a financial aid?</p>
<p>I have read somewhere online from sources that other people have been giving me, that only certain foreigners get financial aids (victims of human traffication, clandestines etc), however I do not fall under any of these categories. Does this refrain me from applying for a financial aid?</p>
<p>Oh and another thing which might be a bit off topic, but still requires knowledge of the American laws, I intend to work there while studying (my cousin said that she can find me a job where she works). This way I can cover up some of my expenses, but again, am I allowed to work if I come from outside of the US? </p>
<p>Thank you very much, any reply would be appreciated.</p>
<p>Your education visa will limit where you can work and the number of hours that you can work. You have to show that you have all funds covered to get your visa. </p>
<p>Most schools do not give aid to int’ls. However, some of the top schools do, but those schools are the hardest to get accepted to and require very high stats.</p>
<p>Some schools give merit scholarships, however, it sounds like you’d need a school that is near your relative’s home since you’d be commuting.</p>
<p>What colleges are near your relative’s Ohio home? Those are the schools that might work for you. </p>
<p>What are your stats? Are you a junior or senior? If you’re a senior, it may be too late to be applying to the schools that give great aid or merit.</p>
<p>Hi, thank you for the quick reply and forgive me for not providing additional details.
She said that she can show that she has all the money needed to “support” me, so that’s not a big problem, but what do you mean by “your visa will limit <em>where</em>” you can work? In like, what places, or what specific jobs? If it’s the latter, I am really planning to do ‘basic’ work (like most students) and now full time, of course.</p>
<p>She lives in Columbus, OH and I really have no idea what the top schools are… Can you give me any ideas on this? I’ve been getting this from my research online, and she also said that she knows that this is near her: [Columbus</a> State Community College - It’s Where the World Is Going!](<a href=“Page Not Found | Columbus State Community College”>http://www.cscc.edu/) . Is this good at all or do I have to look for other options?</p>
<p>I’m a really good student with almost maximal grades, however I’m in Europe as I stated. I have not taken any IELTS/TOEFL/SAT test yet as I do not know which one is required by the schools, and I’m in second year of High School in my country (17 years old), I believe that’s Sophomore, but second year of High School here is equal to 11th grade, does that mean I’m a Junior?</p>
<p>And another thing that I’m unsure of, I, as an international student, can I apply for both a financial aid AND a scholarship and get both?
And according to the law, do you have any idea of how many years do I need to live in the US in order for me to pay in-state tuitions? Can this be done immediately in the second year of college after I have studied for one year in the US and paid out-of-state costs?</p>
<p>Thank you very much.</p>
<p>Start by reading everything at [EducationUSA</a> | Study Abroad, Student Visa, University Fairs, College Applications and Study in the U.S. / America](<a href=“http://www.EducationUSA.state.gov%5DEducationUSA”>http://www.EducationUSA.state.gov) Then visit the advising center in your country. The counselors there can help you with everything. </p>
<p>In order to get your student visa, you will need to show that you have enough money to cover your full cost of attendance. Your cousin can pay fir living expenses, but you will also need to pay for your tuition and books etc. Make sure you have the money for that.</p>
<p>Ohh, I got it wrong, I thought the cousin had to show that she had enough money to support me.</p>
<p>What about searching for the colleges, do I have to be addressed at the counselors in my country as well for this, or do I have to do my own research? I’m asking because I had no idea about the schools, especially when you mentioned the “top” ones.</p>
<p>Thank you.</p>
<p>Are you thinking you would live with her…so would commute back and forth to the college campus or is she thinking that she can pay for your room and board on or near a college campus?</p>
<p>@momofthreeboys
I will live with her, I mean, yeah I’ll stay at her place, she won’t pay for a room because I wont live in the college’s campus.</p>
<p>Then I would absolutely do the research on colleges within driving distance of Columbus, Ohio. Ohio State would be the obvious one to research first.</p>
<p>Here’s the link to information for international students:</p>
<p><a href=“Your story begins here. - The Ohio State University”>http://undergrad.osu.edu/international/index.html</a></p>
<p>Some US colleges do have funds for international students. You need to research all of the schools without commutable distance of your cousin’s place and see which ones have the best possibilities for aid and are the most affordable for you.</p>
<p>If your grades and test scores are good enough, you may find that you have other options too. Read through the threads on international student aid here and in the international students forum. Pay attention to what b@r!um has written about it. She has very good advice.</p>
<p>Aren’t there school buses included in the tuition cost (sorry for the ignorance, I am not sure and just asking)?</p>
<p>My grades are really high, but I DO have some downfalls (not huge though, from A to B), meaning I’m not a straight A student. Is the scholarship available to these students only?</p>
<p>Also @momofthreeboys, what’s the difference between the Ohio State University and the Ohio State COLLEGE? Is the first one better? It had about double the price for an academic year for in-state, for out state it was 25k :(… The college was much cheaper though, and I don’t know if a scholarship can reduce the price to below 8K…</p>
<p>There is OSU - Ohio State University in Columbus, OU - Ohio University in Athens, and Columbus State in Columbus. All are public schools.</p>
<p>*Denison *university is not far from Columbus and does give aid to some international students. It is private and known to be generous but I’m not sure how many internationals there get aid. You might contact them and see.</p>
<p>For the most part, no…transportation is not provided by colleges. Some colleges have some sort of bus system going on prescribed routes but unless your cousin happens to live on one, it may not be helpful to you. Ohio State is a huge school, so I;m pretty sure there is some sort of shuttle service, but not to everywhere, usually just from univeristy properties. Most everyone has to find transportation to go to college unless living on campus or near enough to be able to use the campus shuttles. The purpose of those shuttles are not to serve as school buses but to get college employees/students to places around campus. </p>
<p>Also, some schools do have agreement with mass transit services so that a student id can give free or discounted rides. But the US does not have a good mass transit system in most areas. I have no idea what the transportation infrastructure in in Columbus and how well it serves the college population. The transporstion costs listed in the Costs of Attendance of a college are averages and are not based on what the college itself provides but what the average student in various categories are paying, including those from far away that live on campus.</p>
<p>Please be very aware that getting money from ANY college, especially enough to make a big difference in the total cost of going is very, very difficult. The chances are small. Ohio State does not guarantee to give students 100% of need and does not for all but a handful of the students they most want. International students generally have even a toughter time getting aid. You are automatically disqualified for federal and state money, so it’s all school money and outside awards for you. </p>
<p>As for “better”—in which way? Affordability, having the right program, support system, a good fit for you? Ohio State is a flagship school and one of the biggest universities in the US with a lot of name recognition.</p>
<p>I am aware that there is the Ohio State University, but isn’t there an Ohio State College as well? I was firstly aiming at the *college (OSC), not the university, do they have anything in common or not?</p>
<p>I am not sure yet if my cousin can drive me or not to school, that’s another topic. I think I can easily think and solve this, sorry for putting you in that route. What I need to focus on right now is finding a college that I can actually afford.
I meant better in terms of leissure and tuition quality. The two school [Ohio State Community College ([Columbus</a> State Community College - It’s Where the World Is Going!](<a href=“http://www.cscc.edu%5DColumbus”>http://www.cscc.edu)) and Ohio State University [Welcome</a> - The Ohio State University](<a href=“http://www.osu.edu%5DWelcome”>http://www.osu.edu)) have the same name but have different prices, and this makes me think that the latter offers better quality tuition? At least that’s what I thought at first.
I’m sorry to cause confusion and some of the questions might be pathetic, but I’m a total beginner and I don’t have any knowledge when it comes to the American educational system.</p>
<p>If there’s no chance for me to get an aid, can I at least be eligible for in-state tuition after 1-2 years of studying in the US? My cousin has lived in the US for more than a decade, if that helps at all.</p>
<p>Thank you very much.</p>
<p>Also, what is it with attending a community college for two years, and then going to a university? Is this how it works?
Will I be eligible for in-state tuition in the university after I have completed the two years in college?
I didn’t k ow you could choose to do both, I thought it was only either going to college or to university.</p>
<p>I feel so ashamed and ignorant lol…</p>
<p>Community college is usually a lot less expensive. THey generally offer the courses for the first two years of college. As for in state tuition, you need to read the rules that EACH college even within the same city have for in state tuition, foreign students, etc. Also important is finding out how the rules are enforced. Around here, some of the community and local colleges treat anyone as in state as long as the person lives locally and is not in a program . I doubt OSU would operate that way as it gets a lot of OOSers but some local schools simply do not, and are not interested in differentiating. You have to find out through word of mouth how it works with each school, in adddition to what the official rules are at teach school.</p>
<p>If you are an international student, it will be almost impossible for you to qualify for in-state tuition and fees. In some states, students who have lived in that state for a certain number of years, and who have graduated from high school in that state can qualify for in-state status even if they are considered international students because of the type of visa that they have. You won’t be in that situation. As long as your parents live outside the US, and neither you nor your parents have legal resident (green card) status, you will be an OOS student.</p>
<p>In the US some institutions of higher education call themselves Colleges, others call themselves Universities, still others call themselves Institutes, Conservatories, Polytechnics, etc. Generally speaking (but not always) a College doesn’t award post-graduate degrees, and the divisions within a College are often called Schools. Generally speaking (but not always) a University also awards post-graduate degrees, and the divisions within a University are often called Colleges. There are no rules about this so they get to name themselves as they see fit. Most Colleges and most Universities award four-year undergraduate degrees.</p>
<p>There also are Community Colleges and Junior Colleges. Generally speaking (but not always) these offer shorter career training programs that require two years or less of coursework, as well as courses that are the equivalent of the first two years at a College or University. Students can complete part of their classes at a Community College or Junior College, and then transfer to a 4-year college or university to finish a full bachelors degree.</p>
<p>The international students attending community college because:
- Community colleges cost a lot less.
- They provide excellent ESL classes to non-English speaking international students.
- Most Community Colleges have articulation agreements with many great four-year colleges. Sometime it is easier to transfer to four-year colleges than getting admitted as freshman student.</p>
<p>No, there are no school buses for college. You have to provide your own transportation.</p>
<p>If there’s no chance for me to get an aid, can I at least be eligible for in-state tuition after 1-2 years of studying in the US? My cousin has lived in the US for more than a decade, if that helps at all.</p>
<p>No, you’re an int’l coming to the US to attend college. You’ll be considered OOS for the entire time.</p>
<p>Your parents would have to move here and you’d have to get green cards (permanent residency) for you to get instate rates. Your parents don’t pay taxes to Ohio, so you’re not a resident.</p>
<p>Oh so I didn’t know that after completing the college, you would have to transfer to a four year university. I thought you would only go to college and then that’s it, you’re done with the higher education. I’ve been reading reviews and whatnot online and people say that going to a community college first will save you a lot of money.</p>
<p>As for getting a subsidized tuition cost from the state, is it true what I’ve read, that you can work in university as an assistant a professor or something like that, to help him with research? This way you’ll get a subsidized tuition.</p>
<p>I am totally lost by now, it’s like losing hope. Even the user one of you mentioned, b@r!um, told me that she has gotten a full aid before, but she was a US resident, so that still doesn’t apply to me.</p>
<p>Thank you for your time, I really appreciate it.</p>