Financial Aid Problem - HELP!

<p>Hello, I am new to this site! I am kind of lost right now in terms of getting help to pay for college and I really need help. </p>

<p>Currently I am a senior in high school, I am a Canadian citizen on a TD (dependent of TN, work visa) living in Maryland. My family has been living here for 3 years and we do pay taxes. Right now I am deciding between going to UMD-College Park or University of Miami. </p>

<p>The problem for me is that I cannot pay for college. Since I have a TD visa, I have no social security number and therefore I couldn't file a FAFSA and my options for financial aid is pretty much nonexistent. I also cannot get federal student loans because of the lack of a FAFSA. Oh yeah, I am considered out-of-state for every college. This is totally ridiculous because even illegal immigrants can get in-state tuition because of the Dream Act Referendum. </p>

<p>May 1st is just 2 weeks away and I am kinda freaking out, I don't think I can go to college. PLEASE HELP!!!!!!!</p>

<p>Thank you in advance!</p>

<p>You’re a Canadian citizen. Why, oh why, didn’t you apply to school there??? Or to a school where you’d be eligible for merit aid?</p>

<p>If you have been going to a MD high school for 3 years and your parents have paid taxes, would that not suffice for in state tuition at MD schools? </p>

<p>Of course, you CANNOT get FAFSA or any federal loans, and are probably not in line for other US only type aid. Even if you had a SSN, you would not be eligible for that. Only citizens and green card holders and some very few special exceptions. </p>

<p>I don’t know what parameters and restraints MD has put in their version of Dream Act. Check it out. Otherwise, yes, you are not a citizen and need to apply to schools here as a foreign student. You are eligible only for what aid colleges and outside agencies have that do not exclude internationals. I don’t see what’s so difficult to get about that. I don’t think US citizens get the same privileges as Canadians in the college scene there. </p>

<p>It’s two weeks before May 1 and you are just trying to figure out NOW how to pay for college? Your planning should have been completed months ago, before any applications were submitted and, as stated above, would likely have required you to attend college in Canada. There is no money fairy anyone on CC can find for you. If you don’t have any affordable alternatives at this point, your choices are to take a gap year and apply more strategically next year or to attend community college.</p>

<p>I don’t think Maryland has a “dream act” provision for non-citizens legal residents.</p>

<p>You are a Canadian citizen. You knew this before you sent your applications out.</p>

<p>What are your parents saying? Did you apply to any Canadian universities? </p>

<p>Agreed with others…you knew all along that you were ineligible for U.S. federally funded financial aid. How were you planning to pay for college?</p>

<p><a href=“Maryland passes Dream Act”>Maryland passes Dream Act;

<p>Gotta start at community college but do well and you can transfer. Happymom’s DD did that. MD has a very good community college system.</p>

<p>Yes, but happy kid is a U.S. Citizen. Will this OP get instate status at a four year school if he/she transfers there? What are the costs for non-residents to attend a MD community college?</p>