Do American colleges provide financial aids to foreign students?

<p>OP, you need to read up and get a full picture on how things work in terms of college in the US, the options available in the Columbus area where you have a possibility of living, and what you need to do in Albania to get access to these programs. We can’t cover the full gambit here. There is a lot of information that is important for you to know from what you need to get your visa right down to the actual schools and your own academic record.</p>

<p>There are two year school and school that offer an Associates Degree after an completing a certain slate of courses that make up two years of full time work. To transfer into a 4 year program such a degree is not usually important. It’s more important what courses you have completed towards the course of study you want to pursue at the 4 year school and the grades that you have gotten at that school What many students do who go to a local or community college is load up on whatever courses they can that are required at a four year school/program that they ahve in mind. They do this because it is usually a lot less expensive to do so. They then apply to transfer to the 4 year program. Associates degrees (two year awards) are often attained because it isn’t in the way of the long term goal to pick one up on the way, or if there is a specific program a community college offers that has good work and transfer possibilities if you complete it and get that degreee. But for many, if not most students, the cc is just a stepping stone for the 4 year school and getting that AA degree is not as important as getting into a 4 year school after completing two years equivalency of courses . </p>

<p>The four year degree is pretty much the standard for a college graduate. There are programs that will throw in the possiblilty of a masters in additional years or have another such track to the masters, but the usual track is to get that BA, BS or however it is called which is a 4 year Bachelor’s. of whatever.</p>

<p>There are some fields of work and study where getting a master’s is important or even required. What usually happens in those cases is that the those in such fields find work, and get that master’s on apart time basis, or iif it is field that makes it worth while, go full time, borrowing the money from where ever they can to get that masters or even doctorate. Some programs do have stipends and tuition waivers for some programs, but for certain ones that are lucrative in earnings, they expect YOU to pay. Not a whole lot out there for free MBA, MD, CPA or JD degrees except maybe loans, which are not as available for international students.</p>

<p>Look at what is available locally, and start small. If there is alocal school or if you can afford OSU commuting, see what it will cost you locally. See if your cousin can find out thorugh word of mouth if some local communtiy colleges will let you take corses at the resident price as a non matriculating student. Like I said , I know in may area, the ccs don’t go after that categroy. You hae a local address, and you are good despite the rules on the web sites of the schools.</p>

<p>Thanks a lot to both of you, really.</p>

<p>I had sent an e-mail to Columbus State Community College/CSCC last Friday and I got their reply today, filled with information links, however, I want to highlight this:</p>

<p>"Certain non-F1 visa-holders MAY be eligible for in-state tuition. After applying, the applicant should contact Columbus State’s Residency Department for more information: <a href="Tuition & Fees | Columbus State Community College I clicked on the link and the first point says:</p>

<p>"The following persons will be classified as residents of the State of Ohio for tuition surcharge purposes:</p>

<p>A. Dependent students, at least one of whose parents or legal guardians has been a resident of the State of Ohio for 12 consecutive months or more immediately preceding the enrollment of such student in an institution of higher education;"</p>

<p>So my cousin will accommodate me, I will be living IN HER house for the entire time I’ll study (while my parents will stay in my home country). That makes her my guardian, right? And she has been legally living in Ohio for more than a decade, does that mean that I become eligible for in-state tuition in this case? If so, which I really really hope, does that make me eligible for in-state tuition for attending CSCC <em>ONLY</em>, or even the 4 year school? Or do I have to contact the 4 year school for this?</p>

<p>And one more thing, still hypothetically, getting back to the possibilities of me being eligible for in-state tuition, does this allow me to work, even part time, at the same time, or is this not possible? And also after completing the 2 years of the Associate degree, am I allowed to reside for another 1-2 years in Ohio with my current visa, until I finish the whole 4 year school, and even the Masters degree? Can the 1-2 years of pause be used for working intentions, or even practicing the job, I don’t know?.. I know I’m still asking general questions, I’m sorry.</p>

<p>I’ll post some of the replies from this thread to my cousin, thank you very very much for your time, I really appreciate it.</p>

<p>I could be wrong on your immigration status.</p>

<p>I think you’ll be F1 visa holder and may not eligible for in-state tuition.</p>

<p>Please read the following again:

</p>

<p>

</p>

<p>But, there are only three types of visas for non-US citizens:</p>

<p>F-1 Student Visa. The most common visa for those who want to study in the United States. It is for individuals who want to study at an accredited U.S. college or university or study English at a university or intensive English language institute.
• J-1 Exchange Visa. This visa is for people who will be participating in an exchange program, including those programs that provide high school and university study.
• M-1 Student Visa. This visa is for those who will be engaged in non-academic or vocational study or training in the United States.</p>

<p>I’m not a J-1 because I’m not an exchange student, and I’m not a M-1 either, as I wont be attending a technical school, right?
Link: [EducationUSA</a> | Apply for Your Student Visa](<a href=“http://www.educationusa.info/5_steps_to_study/undergraduate_step_4_apply_for_your_student_visa.php#top]EducationUSA”>http://www.educationusa.info/5_steps_to_study/undergraduate_step_4_apply_for_your_student_visa.php#top)</p>

<p>I think you’re saying you will be F-1 visa holder.</p>

<p>The Columbus State Community College/CSCC says only certain NON-F1 visa holder MAY be eligible for in-state tuition.</p>

<p>Please read the following again:

</p>

<p>Yes, a F-1 visa holder, sorry, that’s what I was trying to say.</p>

<p>And yes, that’s what they mention in the e-mail, and the “Residency - Columbus State Community College” part is a link, [Residency</a> - Columbus State Community College](<a href=“Tuition & Fees | Columbus State Community College”>Tuition & Fees | Columbus State Community College)</p>

<p>Opening the link, which contains the special cases (the: “Certain non-F1 visa-holders MAY be eligible for in-state tuition, etc. etc. part”), and the first point reads:</p>

<p>

Which is also mentioned in post #42.</p>

<p>satycorn, how old will you be when you came to the US to attend college?</p>

<p>

As soon as I finish High School, I have one more year and I’m currently 17. I guess I’ll be 19? (I turn 17 in March, so…)</p>

<p>No legal guardianship in your situation, so I don’t think the in-state tuition is going to happen.</p>

<p>If you are F1 visa holder, then you are international student. PERIOD. I DO NOT think international student can qualify for Ohio resident tuition rate.</p>

<p>See [Tuition</a> & Fees - Columbus State Community College](<a href=“Tuition & Fees | Columbus State Community College”>Tuition & Fees | Columbus State Community College)</p>

<p>However, if you can obtain immigration visa to enter US, you may be able to get in-state rate (not easy)</p>

<p>If you think you can qualify for in-state rate please contact CSCC [F1</a> Visa Holders - Columbus State Community College](<a href=“Global and International Students | Columbus State Community College”>Global and International Students | Columbus State Community College)</p>

<p>I will send them an e-mail again, but this doesn’t make sense. Most, if not all of the people who go to college are above 18 years old of age, and they must have a guardian, otherwise the link that they gave me by e-mail, stating that F1 visa holders can get in-state tuition, would be totally pointless and should have not been given to interested students.</p>

<p>satycorn, the guardianship/parent information is relevant at the time of application, not the time of matriculation and your cousin won’t be your legal guardian at that time. By the time you get to college, you won’t need to have a guardian anyway. Getting in-state tuition rates isn’t easy because it’s a benefit to the people who pay taxes in the state for a period of time before applying. I think 4kidsdad is probably right on this.</p>

<p>

No, CSCC did not said that, it says:

In us English, non-F1 visa holders means someone holds a visa that is not F1.</p>

<p>Those guardianship/dependent student etc are only apply to US citizens or residents</p>

<p>If you still think you’re correct, please contact <a href=“http://www.cscc.edu/admissions/international-student/f1-visa.shtml[/url]”>Global and International Students | Columbus State Community College;

<p>Oh, I see your point 4kidsdad, sorry for insisting.</p>

<p>

</p>

<p>Well the, does that mean that if I apply now, when I’m below 18, It’ll be different than applying 1-2 years later?</p>

<p>No, but either way, your cousin is not your guardian.</p>