Financial Aid (International Students)

Paying for College
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<p>Thank you for your help Difuzttt
I really appreciate an advice from a similar student who’s in my same position.</p>

<p>First, like I said, I was stubborn, naive and adamant, Difuzttt.
In my high school I got stucked with the idea of going to SCU.
I really didn’t considered any other choices around. Right now it’s pretty late for that, but I’m doing my all to see in which University I’ll be accepted.
Sadly I didn’t went to EducationUSA today, but I will tomorrow and ask the councellor is she knows of any.</p>

<p>Right now, if I start to search it’s possible that I encounter none or that I ecounter a lot.
I already searched the list you posted.
There are a lot of options. However, some of them require high standards, which are late for me to acheve.
For example, I looked for Caltech, since it appeared in that list.
Thankfully, it says in the common app that the requirement for International Students to show they can pay a school year is “optional”
However, if I want to be considered for scholarship, they require a very high GPA.
I think their minimum GPA is 3.7, and their average GPA is 3.9
Also, they want high SAT scores. For them, a “low” math score is of 710, and a high score is 800. Math is okay for me, but the same goes to reading, and I’m not very good at reading since English isn’t my first language.
To be really assured in getting a scholarship over here you need to get at least 1400+ in Math and Reading combinated.</p>

<p>And for the other schools. it would take me a lot of time to apply.</p>

<p>I will have my first SAT score in 13 days. I already registered for the December SAT, which I hope to improve 200 points.
I can’t apply to all those schools. Like I said, I’m in this alone.
My parents won’t pay for the applications.
The applications fees I’ve applied until now I have payed them myself.
Right now I’m getting shorter of money (like $300) and I could apply in like 6 more colleges.
I would need to search carefully a college that will guarantee me a very good scholarship, but the search is hard right now.</p>

<p>I’m considering Universities in Alabma and possibly Loyola Marymount University.</p>

<p>I still need to look for more colleges, but it’s a hard work. I haven’t done my application essay either, so I should start by it first.
Also I need to start studying for the SAT AGAIN, which I used to study 2 hours per day.
And also, thanks to the neglectfullness of my mother, next week I’m starting classes on a college over here…
I would spend all the morning in that place, from 7AM to 2PM. I go to bus since this college is far away from my home, like 10KM away.
She just thinks that I won’t go to there.</p>

<p>But anyways, I will need to organize myself better and find a way. I really want to go, but because of my stubborness in the begining, this is being really hard.</p>

<p>Anyways, thanks again and good luck to you too!
Hopefully we both will study in America.</p>

<p>Take care</p>

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<p>tnx man that helps me too</p>

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<p>I am sorry. I couldn’t give you any good advice since I am not in your situation.
But I just want to say good luck to you. Everything will be fine. I believe that if you have dream and don’t give up, you will achieve it.
You can do this! Keep going!!
Good luck with everything !!!</p>

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<p>Do NOT start taking college classes… That will RUIN your “incoming freshman” status…which can ruin your aid chances at MOST schools…including the ones on your list. </p>

<p>It doesn’t matter if Cal Tech states that showing that you can pay is optional. the federal gov’t REQUIRES it, so Cal Tech can’t make its own rules up. The US gov’t is the one that issues the Visa, NOT Cal Tech.</p>

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<p>If you’re worried about application fees, have you considered Application fee waivers? You can write the letter yourself and ask your school official sign it. The colleges will give it to you if you really need it. If you want, I’d be happy to give you a list of some colleges that are supposedly generous according to my friends. However, they are mostly in Northeastern US and if you’ve lucky, you’ll find some that don’t require essays. You might just make the dealine. Oh btw, I’m reanswering my SAT in Dec too. LOL it seems we have a lot in common. Although my previous score is decent, I just felt that I can do a bit better so I’m reanswering. It wouldn’t hurt to try. </p>

<p>So yea let me know if you have any questions. :)</p>

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<p>Good afternoon. Thanks for your replies and your wishes.</p>

<p>For the application fee waivers, I don’t know how’s the process of that.
First, I live in El Salvador and I don’t know if that thing applies to countries outside the USA.
Also, I’m already out of high school. I really don’t have much contact with the staff anymore.
However, if there’s a possibility of that, I could try it and talk personally with my academic chairman.
But again, I don’t know anything about it.
Like I said, I still have $300 on my savings, and I think this could help me fill in 5-6 colleges.</p>

<p>But because of this, I gladly accept your offer of any other colleges.
I want to use my money in filling college applications where I would have higher possibilities of getting Financial Aid.
Sadly, I already applied to SCU and I know I won’t get in.
But right now I want to know of good colleges and universities that will open its arms to me.
I’m in the process of applying for scholarships in University of Alabama and Univeristy of Alabama, Huntsville.
I also want to apply to the University of Central Florida, but I still haven’t recieve a rreply from the ISS regarding scholarships for International Students.</p>

<p>I also want to apply to Loyola Marymount University, since it’s similar to SCU, but this one has more scholarships available to International Students.
However, it’s really hard to get them since A LOT of students apply to them and just a few get them, specially the smarter ones.</p>

<p>I would like to post the “transcripts” my high school sent me through email (it’s a scanning) so you can tell me if I have opportunities.</p>

<p>If you are interested, I will put the link here, and I will try to delete it asp since I don’t think I’m allow to put this publicly, am I?</p>

<p>Anyways, yes Difuzzttt I want a list of good colleges that are really generous with international students.</p>

<p>And lol. Good luck in December SAT.
I’m sure my November score will be mediocre (between 1800-2000). I need 2100+ to get good scholarships.</p>

<p>Anyways, I’ll wait for a reply.</p>

<p>Thanks everyone and have a nice day</p>

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<p>Again…do NOT start any college classes in El Salvador. Otherwise you’ll lose your scholarship opportunities as an incoming frosh.</p>

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<p>Okay! Don’t worry about it I won’t!</p>

<p>And do you know of any good colleges/universities that is generous with International Students?</p>

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<p>And a major problem I have Difuzttt is the COF (Certification of Finances) for the Student Visa.</p>

<p>All American Universities require me to show that I’ll be able to pay at least the first year of the college.
Sadly… The most I could possibly show is $15k (with a bank loan)…
And most Colleges require $20k+ for International Students.</p>

<p>Because I’m poor, even if I’m smart, I can’t get into College. This requirement is indispensable, and if I don’t meet it, then there’s really nothing I can do</p>

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<p>Forget the last thing I just said.</p>

<p>My parents never told me that in the past they had an issue with a bank where they had troubles paying a loan.
I went to banks today and my mother until now is telling me this.</p>

<p>Apparently, because of this, my parent’s DON’T qualify as loan asker, since neither bank is willing to give them money.
Now, thanks to them, I have $0 to fund my education.</p>

<p>Thanks everyone. I guess this thread is closed now. There’s nothing I can do.</p>

<p>Good night.</p>

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<p>Get your undergrad degree in YOUR country. At some point in the future, you can do graduate studies in the U.S.</p>

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<p>Yeah… I guess that’s what I will do at the end.</p>

<p>I’ll still apply to the ones I payed the fee. Not going to waste money</p>

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<p>Just a suggestion:</p>

<p>You may contact the schools, withdraw the application, and ask for a refund.</p>

<p>For instance, if you are sure that SCU will not give you aid, you may withdraw there.</p>

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<p>How can I do that?</p>

<p>I’m sure I will not get aid, since they just give $18.
They might want to help if I get an amazing SAT score, but it won’t happen. </p>

<p>I talk to them and ask them to give me back $55?</p>

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<p>Explani that you thought that they offer fin aid to international students, but that after talking to the finaid office they tell you this is not the case, hence you would like to withdraw the application and get a refund. Tell them that you are someone with very limited resources from El Salvador, and there is a good chance they will understand.</p>

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<p>I talk with the Undergraduate office? </p>

<p>Or is it with other office?</p>

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<p>Send an email to the office of undergraduate admissions.</p>

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<p>Okay, I’ll do that.</p>

<p>It would have been amazing to go there, but without money you can’t really do a thing hehe…</p>

<p>Thanks. I’ll talk to them</p>

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<p>Im almost in your same position and also graduated on june 2012… you have to realize once and for all that basically the chances of earning a full ride at a college in california are minimum…con lo del counselor me imagino de quien hablas pero al final de cuentas lo que el hace tu lo podes hacer por tu propia cuenta a exepcion de tenes los contactos que el tiene.</p>