<p>Hi, I am currently a senior in hs and I would like to know if there is any way that I can get financial aid since I am neither a permanent resident nor an international student. We already applied for a green card but I don't think it's going to be released anytime soon. Should I change my visa into an F-1 to get aid? And am I gonna get a very minimal aid? </p>
<p>And another question if ever I am eligible for aid can I apply for an art scholarship even though I am not sure if I'm majoring in art?</p>
<p>thanks in advance I would really appreciate it if someone could help me</p>
<p>The reality is youre not eligible for any state financial aid until you have an actual green card in hand. You cannot file FAFSA, so if youre applying to state schools, you should plan to pay everything out of pocket. However, state schools may consider you an in-state applicant; therefore youll be eligible for in-state tuition rates. You need to check it with the schools youre applying to (on schools websites they usually state whos eligible for in-state tuition). In California, H4 visa holders are eligible for in-state tuition rates.
For private schools, you will be considered an international applicant again until you have a green card in hand. Some private schools have institutional funds available for internationals (need-based and merit aid), but youll be competing for them with other internationals. If youre a competitive applicant (high SATs, GPA and other things), you might want to consider applying to some private schools.<br>
Another way is to start in a community college and then transfer.
It doesnt make any sense to change your visa to F1. If you already applied for a green card, you should have a work permit (or can apply and get one), which gives you eligibility to work without any restrictions.
Not sure what you mean by art scholarship. Usually, fin aid doesnt depend on your major.</p>
<p>Since you’re considered an international, you have only a few options for aid.</p>
<p>1) If your stats are strong, apply to the few schools that give need-based aid to int’ls. These are the hardest schools to get into and some only give some aid, not full aid. and, some are “need aware” for int’ls. If your family earns too much or has too many assets, you may not get as much as you want or you might not get anything.</p>
<p>2) If your stats are strong, apply to the schools that give merit scholarships to int’ls. These are rarely full rides. They are mostly only scholarships towards tuition or less, so your family would still have to pay most of your costs.</p>
<p>3) commute to a local community college or state school. You may still have to pay OOS rates, but the costs will be less than going away. In some states, if you went to high school in that state, then you get instate rates.</p>
<p>You seem to be confusing need-based aid with merit scholarships. Need based aid is based on “financial need”. Merit scholarships are based on academic achievement and talent.</p>
<p>I doubt you could get an art scholarship from a school if you’re not going to be studying art. </p>
<p>What are your stats?</p>
<p>How much can your family contribute?</p>
<p>It may be cheaper for you to go to college in your home country. Most colleges don’t have enough money for domestic students, so they really don’t have much/any aid to int’l students.</p>
<p>You don’t need to convert to an F-1 visa just yet. After you are admitted to college, you might find that an F-1 offers more favorable conditions than your H-4 does. For example, if your parent who holds the H-1 loses that status, you automatically lose your own H-4 status. Also, the work provisions with an F-1 may be better than with an H-4, and it may be easier for you to get a job or an internship.</p>
<p>If your family used an immigration lawyer for the green card application, that person should be able to give you some sense of how long the process is likely to take. That will help you evaluate whether or not it makes sense to get an F-1.</p>
<p>thanks guys now I kinda understand whats going on</p>
<p>additional info:</p>
<p>3.5-4.0 GPA
planning to go to a cuny/suny
no real job experience(no social security number)only volunteers, one-day jobs…babysitting…etc.
dad is the only one with a real job (preschool teacher)
might major in architecture, graphic design, nursing, or physical therapy</p>