I am currently studying in the UK in my first year at uni/college, I wish to transfer and move to a college in the US but have been having issues and am unsure about what to do.
I was unable to afford the SAT as there was an international additional fee which basically doubled the price, but because of this, I can’t apply to many colleges now as they all want SAT scores.
I can’t afford to apply to colleges with high applications fees either, and it seems like nearly every college has one.
I just don’t know what to do, I really want this and could use any help anyone could give.
Would you be considered an international student in the USA? If you can’t afford the SAT costs, how do you expect to afford USA schools? International students need to prove that they have the funds to pay for school (sometimes all four years) before being issued their student visa. In general, transfer students usually don’t get as good financial packages as first year students might get. Not being able to afford SAT fees would be a red flag.
You would need to be a truly exceptional student (or athlete) to be accepted as a transfer student with a full scholarship (tuition/room/board/travel/stipend)- much less as an international applicant. As @mardong said, the SAT fees are the very least of the costs associated with going to university anywhere, and especially in the US.
I’m sorry.
Why do you want to go to college in the US?
How about doing well in undergrad and aiming for PhD programs in the US?
Are you British, a (non American) international citizen who lives in the UK, or an American citizen who lives in the UK?
Why do you attend a university in the UK? What do you study?
What are your marks or are you ranking high enough for a First?
Can you work and save to take the SAT - and in the meantime prep very hard to be as high as possible (1500 for even the possibility of a full ride?)
If you’re that low income, your guidance counselor would check the box for “low income” and you’d check “fee waiver” on commonapp. However if you’re not able to afford the SAT, how would you afford plane tickets, books, food… in the us?
I have to agree that if you can’t afford the SAT, the fees to go to the US, not to mention plane tickets etc are going to
be a real problem. You are probably better thinking in terms of graduate school , where there are scholarships every year, such as the Fulbright scholarships. It is also possible to be a Kennedy scholar at Harvard, but you need an outstanding record. It would be hard to get a scholarship as a transfer student unless there are very unusual circumstances. If you need more information, I suggest you contact the Fulbright Commission in London, as they are reputable, can arrange tests, and give out advice.
@lizzzar, many PhD programs in certain subjects in the US tend to be fully funded.
How is your current education being funded?
The problem here is that you don’t seem to understand the US educational system.
Everything costs money in the US. Everything.
There are no secret funds nor scholarships for applying to US schools.
The private and public colleges and universities do not have funding to give to everyone who wants to attend a US university. Even US citizens can’t afford to pay for university fees.
Wanting this, does not mean that the US schools are obligated to provide it.
You need grades, test scores, and access to money. This is not easy to come by if you are an international transfer student who has limited means.
I know PhD programmes are often funded, and also that there are many graduate programmes in the US that are not PhD level that UK students consider before or instead of just taking a PhD.
It can be hard to get funding to go to the US, but many people do and it is not impossible. I can’t guarantee that you will be able to, but the Fulbright Commission could give accurate advice. Much of what is said on College Confidential does appear based on insecurity and resentment.
@lizzzar, I fully disagree with you. SAT fees are negligible comparing to the costs of attending college here in the US. I happen to be the host parent of a HS exchange student who successfully was able to attend college here in the US and has now moved onto a graduate program. Said student came from a third world country and his parents could certainly not afford education here in the USA. He came to our private HS through a scholarship, and upon graduation, was able to secure a full ride at a private university. So, is it possible? Absolutely! But we still had to pay for his SATs, plane trips to and from his country of origin, TOEFL fees, college application fees, visa application fees, mandatory health insurance, etc. He had an army of people behind him here in the USA for support and guidance and it was still very hard for him to do this.
My advise to the OP was not based on insecurity or resentment. My advise was based on first hand knowledge. Studying abroad without financial backing and/or a good support system is next to impossible for internationals. Sometimes, kids need a little dose of reality. Just because you want something, it does not mean you can have it. OP needs to figure out how he will pay for the basics regarding college applications, and realize that that is just the tip of the iceberg. Even a full ride here in the USA has associated costs that surpass tenfold the cost of an SAT exam.
Why is the US even attractive when UK education is so decent? What fantasies do you have about this scenario? Which uni are you currently attending?
To respond to some question. Yes, I am a British student living in the UK. My current grades are first. My current plan was to transfer to any college in the US, find a job, take the SAT, then transfer to a better college. My family is against me moving, however, if I get accepted I am hoping they will give in and accept it as what I want in my life and help. My current uni is Aberystwyth, in wales. I’ve been using the list from fairtest which shows every college that doesn’t make the SAT a compulsory requirement.
Uh, how will you pay for it all? Do you realize what costs will be?
This is a terrible plan.
Also transfer students may not need to take SAT.
You should really get your head down and make the most of your UK school as you will be finished in a couple of years once this year is over. Was Wales your only option?
You can’t work in the USA just like that. The SAT is a test for high school kids, not a 2nd yr uni student. Get your degree and THEN travel. What is your major?
@BritBoi The thing that I am still lost on is why you want to do this. What do you expect to accomplish by attending a university in the US?
Also, how much do you think that you would earn through a part-time job in the US? Students who are here on a student visa are very strictly limited in terms of how many hours they can work.
Agree^
SAT’s are for high school students. Funding for transfers is minimal.
A student visa has strict immigration limitations.
Acceptance to a US school, is acceptance . Non citizens are expected to return to their countries after receiving a US education. Acceptance to a US school does not include immigration nor employment opportunities, it has to do with an education.
Okay, I missed the part about wanting to transfer twice. Wont work. Where are you getting your VERY misguided information?
How will it be funded? Whom do you expect will fund this?
To get a student visa, you need to show and prove how you plan to pay for your education to immigration officials. Also, you can’t go over a certain amount of units because many universities will not accept students with an overage of units. So how will you transfer to a better college???
You aren’t allowed to work a lot of hours on a visa. US transfer students get very minimal funding. How will you, as an international transfer student get funding?
The US is an expensive place to live. You wont be able to support yourself, nor your living expenses because you wont be allowed to work.
So this is what you want and you expect your family support, but you don’t have money, and you expect US schools to fund this scheme. Wow! You have lots of gaul!
^ Pretty certain the OP isn’t French.