“I already have a bachelor’s degree in music.”
What do you mean by that? If it is a baccalaureat, then it is not a “degree”. It is a secondary school diploma, and roughly equivalent to a US high school diploma.
If it is a true bachelor’s degree in music, there is no reason for you to be repeating high school at this point. And there will be no financial aid for you anywhere in the US as an international applicant. The only aid for a second bachelor’s degree in the US, is federal loans for US students.
Your parents presumably are paying for your education now in Scotland. If they are willing to continue paying that much, then you need to find colleges and universities within that cost range.
@BelknapPoint I’m not sure, but I won’t get any grant anyway. I have two associate’s degrees and a bachelor’s degree all in music so that would not help at all.
@happymomof1 it’s ‘equivalent to a Bachelor degree.’ it’s a licentiate.
- Real bachelor’s degree = No aid for your second bachelor’s degree.
- Real bachelor’s degree = You are now considered to be independent for financial aid purposes, so your parents’ ability to pay or not simply doesn’t enter into it.
What is it that you want to study in the US that you can’t do in the UK system where your Trinity program will be better understood?
@happymomof1 I’m applying to both countries, but in the UK system you go into your 1st year and study one subject only. There’s no road backwards and you usually can’t change subjects, you have to make the decision at 15 (when you choose your A-Levels). I like the US higher education model more. But I’m probably going back to the UK for masters, anyway. My degree is kind of a confusing concept- it’s just equivalent, but not a bachelor’s degree I think, but I don’t really know.
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The schools that I am applying to offer aid to two-thirds of its student population.
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That doesnt’ matter. You’ll be one of the 1/3 that doesnt’ get aid.
Schools really do not care that certain cultures think that they need to support extended family members instead of paying for college. Can you imagine if colleges did care? Suddenly every family with lots of money and assets would suddenly be supporting every aunt, uncle and granny and then no one would be paying.
Perhaps the colleges in your home country understand that kind of thinking, so maybe those would be more affordable.
@mom2collegekids yeah, someone’s already answered that already, and I’ve also explained why I would not pursue college education in my home country. Thanks anyway.
CSS Profile schools will not likely consider this student independent for aid. That may be more of a FAFSA thing, and wouldn’t apply to this student.
Good luck finding scholarships to pay for your education here in the US.
@mom2collegekids thank you. I hope I do find some scholarships. OR jobs on campus. I would rather not attend university than let my parents sell a property- I feel like it’s more of my responsibility. I mean, as long as our rental income can afford it (it should) I’ll be okay with it. But not selling a property.
In order to get a clearer understanding of what your degrees from Trinity College are worth in the US, you should have all of those records formally evaluated. http://wes.org/ is generally recognized as the best. Get the “Course-by-Course” evaluation.
@happymomof1 thanks for that. But I really consider music as a hobby, so I really don’t want to use these degrees to my advantage or anything.
According to the [Trinity College website](USA college equivalence and credits | Trinity College London):
If you have the Licentiate and ATCL, it doesn’t sound like you’ll be eligible for any aid in the US.
@austinmshauri thanks. I’ve got both. I guess I won’t qualify anyway.
@klmelon, It’s better to know now so you can focus on the UK schools and not waste time or money applying to unaffordable colleges. Good luck.
@klmelon - It is not a matter of using it towards another degree, it is a matter of verifying that you have the degree. In the US an applicant doesn’t get to decide that a previous degree doesn’t count. The college or university that person applies to (and later, and place where that person is admitted) decides whether any coursework counts or not.
@happymomof1 Sorry, but I don’t quite understand. what happens if it counts?
The point is that you don’t get to decide whether you have a real degree or not, whether you want to use any of the credits toward your new program or not, which credits to apply and which not to apply. The colleges and universities will decide. You have to get your degree evaluated and submit the evaluation when you apply.
If you are accepted anywhere, that place will tell you what your classification is there, which credits apply toward your degree program, and what courses you need to take in order to complete that new degree program. Yes, it is entirely possible for you to be admitted somewhere as a “senior transfer” because you already have a full undergraduate degree, but find out that not one of your previous credits apply toward your degree even as an elective course. It is more likely, however, that some of your previous coursework can be applied as elective credits toward some of your general education requirements.
@happymomof1 thank you for the information.
Trinity College says ‘Those students who are applying to colleges now are having from 2 to all 10 of the credits accepted.’
I am interested in the sciences, so I’m not sure if music credits will be of any help. But I will keep it in mind!
Also, I have to wait till ‘the end of the senior year of high school and only for the university at which the student is entering.’
Plan that your family will be paying the full costs…all $64,000 of them per year.
You know…no one is required to attend a college that costs >$60,000 a year. Everyone, including this OP has the option of attending a less expensive college.
Need based aid is for,students with lower incomes, and really little to no assets. It is NOT set up,so that families can make a choice to support other relatives (which is nice…but is a choice…), or so,that the family can own or continue to own multiple rental properties, or even one rental property.
These are choices.
In addition, you will be required to provide your transcripts for your first bachelors degree. Many schools award NO financial aid for second bachelors degrees. And if you are thinking you don’t have to provide that first degree transcript…think again. Most colleges frown on dishonesty.