Do I count as international or domestic? (For US applications)

Student Lounge International Students
1

Hi! I’ve been trying to figure out this question for a while but I’ve never been able to find someone who was positive about their answer.

So I am a US citizen (born in the States) and lived there until 7th Grade. From 8th Grade onwards, however, I’ve been living in Greece. The high school I attend is an American School, however, where classes are in English and basically the education style is the same as in America.

When I apply to college in the US, will I count as an international applicant? Either way, will this situation help or hurt me in my application?

Thanks for your help!

2

For statistical purposes, you will count as a domestic applicant (i.e. if the college says 11% are international students, that will not include you). I am pretty confident you also qualify for financial aid reserved for US applicants. However I think for most colleges, your admissions officer will be in charge of the region you’re in, so your admission officer will be in charge of Greece or maybe even Europe as a whole, and you will be competing against other applicants from the same area. I don’t really think there is any advantage or disadvantage, but your admission officer will be familiar with the significance of awards etc. that you have, and the type of opportunities you have, which is probably a good thing.

Hope this helps! :slight_smile:

3

Thanks! That is reassuring.

4

Also don’t forget you will be counted as OOS for all state universities.

5

You are a US citizen educated abroad. This means that you are eligible for financial aid that is determined based on the FAFSA, so if you need or want to, you can borrow the federal student loans. It also means that there are no restrictions on where you can get a job while you are in school or after you graduate.

The general consensus is that admissions is somewhat easier for US citizens educated abroad than it is for true international applicants - probably because of the difference in financial aid. I expect that the college placement person at your own high school can give you better information though, as it is almost certain that other students like you have attended that school over the years.