<p>Hello. I'm a bit worried about the costs of studying in the US as it is a fair bit more expensive as going to college/university in the Netherlands.</p>
<p>When I want to get Financial Aid from the Dutch Government I'm not allowed to receive money from a federal institution abroad, however, receiving money from the college/university is OK.</p>
<p>Someone told me that some colleges/universities offer aid for international students.</p>
<p>Could anyone confirm this?</p>
<p>Some colleges do offer aid to internationals. It’s very competitive to get requiring top grades and is mostly given by the most highly selective colleges. In other words, they are looking for internationals with exceptional grades and achievements.</p>
<p>Harvard, Dartmouth, Princeton, Amherst, Yale and one or two more are the only US schools that don’t look at ability to pay for intnls, and will give you what they think you need to attend based on your parents’ income and assets. It’s important to understand that schools determine what your family can afford to pay and it’s often much more than families want to pay. In the US paying for college is painful for most families, often costing about one third of their income and 6% of their assets. Europeans are often shocked by this.</p>
<p>So as you explore, use calculators such as the one on this site to get an idea of what your family would be expected to pay at minimum. Many Europeans rethink school in the US when they see the number unfortunately.</p>
<p>That’s the problem that I’m encountering right now as my parents won’t be able to pay it for me. </p>
<p>But for getting into the universities you mentioned you already need like exceptionally high grades, right?</p>
<p>Many international students struggle with college financing. Try searching for old discussions about scholarships and financial aid in the international student forum. </p>
<p>In a nutshell, most of the institutional financial aid for international students comes in three flavors:</p>
<ul>
<li><p>Need-based financial aid from the top colleges and universities. 2college2college listed some of the colleges with financial aid for international students. There are many more small liberal arts colleges that are generous with financial aid and less selective than Harvard and MIT. However, their resources are limited, so - unlike Harvard and MIT - they need take your financial situation into account when deciding whether or not to offer you admission. You need to be a very strong student to qualify for admission, and rather poor to qualify for significant financial aid. American colleges expect your parents to pay for your education to the fullest extent possible, a sacrifice that many European families are unwilling to make.* Your Dutch government support would be taken into account as well, so you cannot use government grants to cover your family contribution.</p></li>
<li><p>Merit-based scholarships from less selective universities. This requires the same sort of academic achievement as getting need-based aid at the more selective colleges, but your family finances and outside grants won’t enter the equation.</p></li>
<li><p>Athletic scholarships. Top athletes can qualify for athletic scholarships up to the full cost of attendance (i.e. tuition, room, board, and a stipend). The disadvantage is that college sports are a very significant time commitment and your continued support hinges on your ability to play.</p></li>
</ul>
<hr>
<ul>
<li>To give you some idea of what I mean by sacrifice: My parents support a family of 7 on a yearly income of about 30,000 Euros ($40,000) per year after taxes. Need-based financial aid offers expected them to contribute $8,000 to $13,000 per year.</li>
</ul>
<p>Ok, thanks for the extensive answer!
I’m getting a maximum of approximtely $ 20000 from the Dutch Government as aid that has not to be payed back. I could lend another max. of $ 60000 from the Dutch Government which would have to be payed back with just a little bit of interest.
As I am planning to do a bachelor + master I don’t think this will be sufficient.</p>
<p>My parents are not poor but they told me, when we talked about that I wanted to go to a university in the States, that they wouldn’t be able to pay it for me. So I don’t think I’ll be receiving a lot, if any, need-based aid.
I’m also not a person getting straight A’s for every subject in school, nor do I practise any sports at a very high level.</p>
<p>I don’t think there are any options left now… :-(</p>
<p>What’s your prospective major? I am asking because in some fields (e.g. sciences) it’s really easy to get funding at the graduate level. That’s because graduate students can grade homework and teach recitations. A graduate student TA might get full tuition remission, health insurance and a yearly stipend in the $15,000 to $25,000 range! </p>
<p>It is also generally easier to get funded as a PhD student than in a terminal Master’s program. In many fields you can enroll in a PhD program with only a Bachelor’s degree and earn the Master’s degree on the way. </p>
<p>Have you considered getting your Bachelor’s degree in Europe, maybe with a semester abroad in the US, and then come to the US for graduate school? That might make the most sense from a financial point of view.</p>
<p>Unfortunately, most internationals who would like to come to college in the US don’t find viable options. The vast majority have parents who pay, outside of that you need to have great grades and be lucky.</p>
<p>B@rium gives good advice, graduate school is more viable. Good luck.</p>
<p>I’m planning to do either business or hospitality as a major.</p>
<p>I did consider but I’m worried that reasons might occur while getting my bachelor here because of which I’d rather not go to the US anymore and then te chance’s gone.</p>
<p>I’m not sure whether I’d want to do a PhD yet, I would of course if it cheapened things.</p>
<p>What would you think is the maximum amount of money that could be borrowed without being in financial **** after college?</p>
<p>How much money could I earn a year while working on or near to a university?</p>