<p>Right, a question for all you knowledgeable people!</p>
<p>Is there a cut off age for financial support? </p>
<p>After being out of the education system for a few years - I'll be 24 come enrollment! - I'm looking to come back in and study again. Thing is, I will probably need a bit of financial aid. So, I've got two questions - </p>
<p>1) Is there a cut off age for Financial Support? That is to say, at 24 come enrollment (assuming I get accepted... but that's a whole 'nother story...) will I still be eligible to receive it?</p>
<p>2) Assuming I am still eligible, will I be judged as an adult or will my parents' financial situation still be judged?</p>
<p>Just to make these questions even MORE tricky, I'll be applying as an international student as I'm British. Yes, I know that there isn't a whole lot of financial aid available for Ints. anyway, and State Universities don't give out any. After doing my research, I'm depressingly aware of this...</p>
<p>But still, in general terms, how big of a factor will my age be in the Financial Aid process?</p>
<p>For schools that give aid to internationals, your age shouldn’t be a problem. </p>
<p>However, the problem is that so few give aid to int’ls, that typically you have to have super stats even to have a chance at the few schools that give aid to int’ls. Not many privates gives out aid, either. </p>
<p>Plus, of those who do give aid to int’ls, many don’t necessarily meet need, so you might get some grant, but not enough to pay for your education. How much can you contribute? If you can’t contribute anything, then that will be a problem.</p>
<p>Usually, age 24 is the cutoff for considering parents’ incomes. </p>
<p>What are your stats and what colleges are you considering? Some state schools will give scholarships to int’ls.</p>
<p>Age 24 is more relevant for US students than internationals. US students no longer need parent support at that age to qualify for federal money. All bets are off for intnls, very, very few schools will support an intnl that can’t pay most costs at any age. The ones that do will want you to be a rock star and being older will be a disadvantage unfortunately. As is the case for most, best to do undergrad at home and aim for the US for grad school.</p>
<p>mom2collegekids - You keep popping up on all of these threads! I owe you one! </p>
<p>I’m still whittling away at the college lists, as it’s a pretty huge decision to even form a short list! Still in SATs I’m scoring around 1,900, but that is only because my maths scores suck - I haven’t done algebra in 7 years so I’m still re-learning all of that! Realistically, 2,100 would be a bare minimum for what I should be achieving. With a base score of 1,900 and 5 months until the exam date, I’ll pull that up to a 2,100 - 2,300 range.</p>
<p>Over the four year course (although this would change if they accept my A Levels as credits, which can be a case by case basis) I can budget in the range of $100k-$120k to encompass everything. I know that gets me close to the budgeting, but I’d still fall a bit short. I’m not in the position of me saying to a College “Hey, can you subsidise me for $100,000?”, which may help. </p>
<p>Redroses - Now, if colleges accept literal Rock Stars, I may not have all that much of a problem…</p>
<p>benh182: have you considered Canada? They have some really good schools, and because the government subsidizes higher education, even international tuition is less than many American schools would be.</p>
<p>Colleges are excited by all extreme talents, so a literal rock star would work, but are you Justin Timberlake?</p>
<p>For $120K over 4 years you actually have limited choice without really focusing on schools that discount, also know as giving almost all merit aid. There are many good threads on this. For now I’d research assuming a 2000 and look at schools offering substantial merit aid priced at under $40K/yr.</p>
<p>With these situations, however, I always wonder why it’s worth it to the intnl student. Most can attend equal or better schools in their home country for much less. IMO, the rare case to come to the US for undergrad is those who can get great aid at top colleges.</p>
<p>*I can budget in the range of $100k-$120k to encompass everything. I know that gets me close to the budgeting, but I’d still fall a bit short. I’m not in the position of me saying to a College “Hey, can you subsidise me for $100,000?”, which may help. *</p>
<p>If you can get your scores up to the 2100+ range, then you could get enough merit money to supplement your budget.</p>
<p>What is your likely major? </p>
<p>LOL…He’s not Justin Timberlake! Justin is a Southerner, not a Brit!</p>
<p>BTW…I just realized that you’re the student who wondered about being in the dorms as an older student. Don’t worry, you probably can live in off-campus housing and not have to put up with 18 year old drama.</p>
<p>Hold on – this is an older, British guy wanting to dorm on-campus?</p>
<p>No. Absolutely not. Whatever college he ends up at, the forum for it here will be deluged with whining complaints from the other college kids screaming about how “Hugh Grant moved in to our dorm this fall and now none of the rest of us can get dates! HELLLLLPPP!!!” I don’t want to have to hear that crap for 4 entire years.</p>
<p>mom2collegekids - The major I’m after is in Creative Writing, however I’m also looking at a more general Eng. Lit. with the option to specialise in creative aspects based on grades. Do you know of any good resources where I can read up on Merit Aid, as it’s something I’m looking more and more at as Financial Aid becomes a bleaker prospect but I can’t find any good articles on it?</p>
<p>Oh, and it’s not so much the 18 year old drama I’m worried about - it’s more the facts that I a) Don’t want to be ‘That Weird Old Guy’ and, b) don’t want to have to say ‘No, 24 is not old and, No I won’t buy you beer’ every day :p</p>
<p>Redroses - The main reasons I want to study in the USA are because I much prefer the curriculum’s in the States and, in the 5 years since I left school here, I’ve spent a lot of time in the country and really like it. Still, it’s mainly the curriculum in the US that I prefer to Universities here. In a US college there is a lot more freedom and the chance for extra curricular activity where as here, everything is very rigid. </p>
<p>Gardna - I think you’ve just proposed the concept for an episode of a cop show…</p>
<p>I wonder how schools that give merit money would award a first time freshmen who is taking the SAT or ACT at a later age?</p>
<p>If they don’t care, and they will still award some merit money, then if you were to get your ACT or SAT up in the 2100+ range (or ACT equivalent) then there would be some schools that would be affordable with the addition of your own money.</p>
<p>That said, the SUNY/CUNYs might be affordable for you, even without merit.</p>
<p>Until you actually have higher scores, it’s hard to suggest where you could get merit money.</p>
<p>I’ve spoken to one or two UK based admissions consultants as a part of looking towards attending a good college in the USA and none of the advice I’ve received indicates that my age would play a major issue in the decision. Of course, who knows if that will actually ring true come D-Day… </p>
<p>What I’m looking for in a school is just a great education and a great experience. I don’t regret not going to University at 18 in any way, shape or form and I’ve really enjoyed exploring some of the musical and writing opportunities I’ve had since then, but the time is right now to ‘finish’ my education and complete a degree. Ideally, I’d like to do that in America, hence heavily exploring the options.</p>
<p>I know whenever you’ve seen me posting on here I’ve been having a little whine about Financial Aid, but at the end of the day the deal breaker is the quality of the school, not the cost. The Financial\Merit Aid options are just ways for me to explore higher quality schools. As Redroses said, it is silly of me to go to school in the States just to go there while I could a better education back here. </p>
<p>Sorry to go off topic a wee bit - I just thought it was important to clarify :)</p>
<p>And I still wonder why you want to pay all that money for a creative writing degree in the States. Honestly, in my opinion you won’t enjoy a typical US college experience at your age. The American college experiece necessitates being a silly 18 year old having been just sprung from parental supervision. </p>
<p>In your case I think I’d get an inexpensive UK degree and spend the money on travelling through the States first class. Come here for grad school when you can be with people your age.</p>
<p>If you must do undergrad here, I would really focus on non traditional programs such as the ones at Columbia and Penn or go to a school like NYU where the school is only part of daily life.</p>
<p>Redroses - Although I really do appreciate any and all input, as you guys are way more knowledgeable about the US College process than me, I’m not looking to keep on justifying my educational choices. Studying in the USA is something that I’ve always had in the back of my mind and now that I’m looking to return to education and complete a degree, I’d really regret not fully exploring it. Only when I have all the options on the table will I know which is the best for me educationally, socially and financially.</p>
<p>There are many schools that have a fair number of non-traditional students, internationals, and grad students on campus (it’s possible that you’d be offered apartment style housing with the grads if the school offers it). Unlike Redroses, I don’t think you’ll have a problem fitting in…not that 24 IS old! Do you have a geographic region or urban preference within the US?</p>
<p>sk8rmom - Thanks for the kind words. I’m only really looking around the Northeast of the States as of all the places that I’ve visited in the last few years, that is the place I’ve liked the most. I’m not too bothered about being urban\suburban either - I’d just rather not attend a very rural college. The only other thing I’m really looking for is a large undergrad community. </p>
<p>I’m determined to get a workable shortlist in the next week or two to help narrow down my search, so keep an eye out for me on the Search forum. Any and all advice would be very much appreciated!</p>
<p>Most schools are “need blind” but your problem will be getting aid.</p>
<p>Since you seem to have funds, I don’t even think a “full need/need-blind” school would give you much - if anything.</p>
<p>So, your best bet is to work as much as you can this year and save as much as you can, and apply to the various SUNY/CUNYs that have a good creative writing program.</p>