<p>While I agree that some countries have very low poverty levels, but the OP says this:</p>
<p>*In my country, there are specific government loads, but they reach up to only $40k per year, *</p>
<p>While his country (El Salvador) may have a lower level of poverty than the US, I don’t think it’s at the levels of where Thumper’s D is right now. I don’t think a country with THAT low of poverty is handing out $40k per year loans because how would its students EVER pay that much back…even over 15 years ($160k…that’s well over $10k per year in loan payments)</p>
<p>It’s just ridiculous to expect to earn $12k per year as a newish grad and think that $6k of it can go towards student loan debt each year. What if the student’s job isn’t close to his parents’ home and he has to pay for rent, utilities, food, etc, in addition to car, gas, cell phone, internet, clothing, etc. And what about taxes? Doesn’t his country have any taxes/income taxes? </p>
<p>The OP doesn’t have SAT or ACT scores. For some reason, he has waited til quite late to take the SAT. That makes it almost impossible to create a well-thought-out list. </p>
<p>I highly doubt this student will get even close to enough aid from Santa Clara. SCU doesn’t meet need, and since many of its students are instate and residents, many qualify for Cal Grants and fed aid, which greatly reduce the amount of aid that SCU needs to supply. An int’l student wouldn’t qualify for those aids, so it’s unlikely that SCU is going to make up the difference unless the student’s stats are spectacular.</p>
<p>**Guillermo: Lo que tienes que entender es que el gobierno de los EU no tiene dinero para fundar la educaci</p>
<p>Well, I guess the last three posts are saying indirectly that I’m a fool, stupid and imbecile little brat.</p>
<p>I was here to asked for advice. A simple “I’m sorry, but I don’t think so” was enough.</p>
<ol>
<li><p>I already put some of my stats. Read well Jesus Chrit. My Senior GPA was of 4.0, but my overall cumulative GPA os High School is 3.8
I did 150+ hours of community service and I also got the International Baccalaureate.</p></li>
<li><p>For if you still haven’t got the idea, I live in El Salvador, “mom2collegekids”.
Here we don’t have your same system of high school. I couldn’t do it earlier.
I needed to prepare and do the admission test of my country (PAES) since it’s a requirement to graduate, plus I also needed to prepare for the international baccalaureate.
And I graduated in June/2012. Before that I didn’t have much time for anything…
I didn’t have time to go through the SAT. Plus my high school is only 2 years long, not 3 like yours, where you have PLENTY of time to do anything.
I could have do it on October, but I had to do the TOEFL that day…
So don’t criticize me for doing it this time if you don’t even know the reasons. Next time shut up.</p></li>
<li><p>I already did the SAT today. I know I won’t get a high score to get a good financial aid. It was my first time and I don’t have time to do it again on december.
I really don’t care about your advices. I would ask for a $40k loan if I want to. Right now I’m mad because you really don’t get my circumstances.
If I get poor, I don’t care. I really can do whatever I want to.
And I know that USA isn’t that rich to give money to everyone, so I will still try and hope to get aid.
If not, well, I’ll need to ask for a private $50k year loan, instead of the government.
I have a feeling that SCU could at least take at glance at my profile and consider something.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>Thanks for your callous answers. Now I know that I NEED to ask for a loan, since you all say that I’m poor and stupid to get financial aid.</p>
<p>
Posts 6, 8 and 9 all said that very thing. But you didn’t listen, so they tried to emphasize.</p>
<p>Yea, you are right…</p>
<p>I’m sorry.</p>
<p>I just came from the SAT, was my first time, and I was really frustrated… And to read that my chances are that slim… I got angry.</p>
<p>Thanks everyone for their help</p>
<p>Guille…</p>
<p>As parents, when we see somone wanting to jump off a cliff, we don’t ■■■■■-foot around. Your plan to borrow that much money, especially when your salary prospects are modest, is just life ruining.</p>
<p>Yea, I guess you are right.</p>
<p>First, thank you for your concern and sincere help, even though you don’t know me hehe</p>
<p>And second (I hope I don’t sound ■■■■■) is that I really wanted to go to the USA…
It hurts to know that I was so naive because I really didn’t even had a chance from the very beginning…
I was very reckless and I though I had chances, but it resulted in nothing.
I worked hard in my senior year and in the IB program just because of this.
I also studied for the TOEFL and I got a more-or-less score (101).
But it now hurts to see that all these efforts are useless and futile.</p>
<p>It’s right… I might ruin my life, but right now I feel so angry, frustrated and disappointed at myself that I think I already ruined it, lol.</p>
<p>I’ll still try, you know, but now I know what to expect. My chances aren’t even the 1%, but a friend told me: “the worst battles are the ones that you don’t fight”</p>
<p>I guess I’ll begin to search for colleges in here…</p>
<p>But thank you! It’s better to know earlier than get disappointed at the very end.
Like the proverb says “it’s better to be pessimistic than to get a disillusion”</p>
<p>Another thought…have you considered a gap year between high school and college? That would give you some time to retake the SAT and craft a good list of colleges. In addition, perhaps you could work to earn some money for college.</p>
<p>I could, but two problems:</p>
<ol>
<li><p>My parents doesn’t want me to stay a year doing nothing. They say that I should enter college by next year (I’m already 18 and I kind of agree… Entering to college by the age of 19-20 is kind of hard, I think)</p></li>
<li><p>Even if I get a work here (I could easily get a job in a call center) I won’t get enough money.
The most a call center could pay me is $500 a month, hence just $6000 a year.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>I could do anything to go to the USA, but there’s nothing I can do, sadly.</p>
<p>I’m thinking of doing the SAT again in December (deadline is November/6) because I’m sure I will ge between 1800-2000 in the one I did today :(</p>
<p>All hope is not lost. Sign up for the next couple of SATs. There are some schools that will give merit for later SAT scores…like Miss State and others. </p>
<p>You may need to set your sights lower for big merit. </p>
<p>What is your major?</p>
<p>Guillermo: We weren’t trying to discourage you from trying to study in the US. We were trying to discourage you from using outrageous loans to pay for an education that you will have extreme difficulty in repaying. </p>
<p>Many students begin college at all ages. The one thing you can do is try to get that SAT score up. It has nothing to do with how many years of high school the students have here. You’re in the same situation as many US students who can’t get their scores up.</p>
<p>You should try to work and build up some funds to help your family, but you should ALSO try to get some SAT study books to practice taking the test and increase your score. </p>
<p>** Nosotros somos padres quienes tenemos experiencias de pr</p>
<p>Yea I know.</p>
<p>You people are here with the best intentions.
I’m sorry.
I’ts me… I’m so naive and stubborn… And very immature.</p>
<p>To momcollege2kids:</p>
<p>My intented major is Computer Science.</p>
<p>I’ll try to see colleges right now.</p>
<p>People say that Texas welcomes Internationals, so I’ll need to see, although my dream was always to study in California.</p>
<p>By the way, can an International student fill the CSS profile to ask for financial aid?</p>
<p>If the school requires the CSS Profile for need based aid consideration for international students, then you MUST complete it. </p>
<p>If the school does not use the Profile, you cannot submit it to that school.</p>
<p>Hi Thumper!</p>
<p>Okay, SCU does requires that for need-based aid.</p>
<p>However, since I’m international I don’t know if I need to do that.</p>
<p>I’ll talk to the office tomorrow and ask everything about it</p>
<p>Does SCU give FA to int’ls? Their website says this:</p>
<p>If you are an international applicant planning to enroll at SCU, you and your family must assume the total cost of a Santa Clara education.</p>
<p>Estimated Costs: 2012–2013 Academic Year</p>
<p>On Campus</p>
<p>Tuition
$40,572</p>
<p>Room and board
$12,276</p>
<p>Books/Supplies
$1,665</p>
<p>Transportation<br>
$1,314</p>
<p>Personal<br>
$2,844</p>
<p>Total $57,993 </p>
<p>The website appears to suggest that the only aid available to int’l students is some merit scholarships…which require high stats. I know that my nephew was offered $25k per year for a 2200 SAT…which is a good amount of merit, but the OP needs all costs covered since his family will only pay a very small amount (essentially foreign travel costs.).</p>
<p>It doesn’t appear that need based aid is given to int’ls. If so, that’s probably because SCU depends on federal aid (and cal grants) to help a LOT with aid pkgs.</p>
<p>I have to say…the Calgrant and all the federally funded aid would be a drop in the bucket for the cost of attendance at SCU. The school DOES give need based grants to some accepted students, and some substantial ones too. They don’t meet full need for ALL students but their endowment is such that they do meet need for some. </p>
<p>However, from what mom2 is posting, this does not appear to be available to international students.</p>
<p>Hello!</p>
<p>No, no. I’m not looking to get an aid that will give ALL the money in SCU, mom2collegekids.</p>
<p>If I could get atleast half a scholarship (like $30k) I could still ask for a loan.</p>
<p>I know that there’s no way in this world that I would get a FULL ride.
That’s just ridiculous. The only way is to get a 2400 SAT score.</p>
<p>I’m just asking for a good amount, like $30k.</p>
<p>If I could get that I could find ways to get additional money (loans, family support).
If I could at least get admitted with this, it would be awesome!
I could then put all my effort in college and try to get a 4.0 GPA, which is very possible.
If I could show SCU that I’m a really good student, MAYBE they will give me more merit aid in the years I’m studying with them, which will reduce the loan I would be asking.</p>
<p>That’s what I plan to do, however, it will be very hard.</p>
<p>SCU has some departmental scholarships for upperclass students, but they are not plentiful in either numbers or dollar amounts. </p>
<p>Our kiddo loved the school and so did we. SCU provided our kiddo with a terrific undergrad experience and she thrived there. I am a HUGE fan of the school.</p>
<p>That being said…apply there but don’t put all of your eggs in one basket. The school has gotten much more competitive for admissions AND it is expensive to attend. Merit awards go to top applicants and/or students who the school really wants to attract.</p>
<p>Yeah, I know.</p>
<p>Right now I’m trying to apply to California State Universities or University of Central Florida, but I´m really more attracted to SCU (I already began the application. I’m just missing my SAT score, school forms, and my essay)</p>
<p>I’m also debating with myself if I should do the SAT again. I’m thinking of begining to wotk this month in a call center.
However, if I do, it will be time consuming, and I would have to work 6 days per week (9 hours daily) and I would hardly have time to study in the SAT.
I’m pretty sure I got 700+ in the Math Section, and I’ve been told that for International students that score is more important, since writing and reading are balanced with the TOEFL score, but I don’t know! I’m not sure!</p>
<p>I just know I’m really good at math and if I can show SCU that I’m really adept in math skills (used a lot in computer science) I might still have a chance.</p>
<p>However, I still think and I think I will that I should take the SAT in December.</p>
<p>It’s just that SCU offers really good stuff!! It’s a very good university, and it’s just 20 mins from where my aunt lives.</p>
<p>But as you said, I should look for other options</p>