Hi everyone,
I’m new to using a forum so I really want some help since I have no idea what to do.
So I’m a college student living in France, I’m a freshman in a French-English law degree. I actually have American citizenship and have been living in France for the past 6 years. Due to financial and health problems, I think of leaving France and going to College in the US. I’m going to live in Florida, especially a little city called Hollywood and I plan to go there during the summer. I want to apply to FIU since I have a few cousins who went there and they told me it’s a good college. I would like to start with the proceedings while I’m in France but I don’t know where to begin and since I don’t have any money, I doubt my application will be accepted. Moreover, I don’t know how it will happen with the transcripts and all since they’re in French. Can someone who came to the US from abroad help me out please? Will i have to take the SAT like the american students? and can I fill out the Fafsa while I’m still in France?
Thank you in advance 
If you have financial and health problems, America is not the place to be! Do you realize what it costs to go to school here? To see a doctor?
As for FIU, contact the school to see if you are considered a transfer student, the requirements are a little bit different if you are. Many of your questions can be answered by reading the website
http://admissions.fiu.edu/apply/freshman/index.html#Steps
Yes, you’re likely to have to take the SAT exam(s).
Although you’re an American, you will be considered an out of state applicant, since you do not have Florida residency. This makes a HUGE difference in how much FIU will cost. (Tuition for out of state students is about $19,000 per year. That doesn’t include fees or books/lab costs.)
It sounds like you will need extensive financial aid, which you are not likely to get at FIU. It’s a public university, therefore most of the financial aid is slated for in-state students.
If you need extensive financial aid, you’re better off applying to private schools.
The fact that many schools will consider you a transfer student may impact your ability to receive enough financial aid, since many scholarships are for first year students - which you may not be considered to be.
I definitely don’t have any choice but to come the US, I don’t even have a legal residency card here. I don’t think I will be considered as a transfer student since I want to start all over again, I think there’s no equivalency for an undergraduate law degree in the US. Now I realize how difficult the process may be from abroad, I think I’m going there and waste a year before applying to college. I’ll contact them to see what they’ll tell me. And I’ll check out a few private schools too. Thanks for your input
Just because YOU want to start all over again doesn’t mean schools won’t consider you a transfer student. But taking a year off to familiarize yourself with requirements and options is a good idea. Just remember – and save money for – a good, comprehensive health insurance. Going without health insurance is against the law, and you face a $500 tax penalty in addition to risking your financial (and health) well-being.
American colleges consider that if you’ve earned college credits (ECTs) you are a transfer student. Transfers typically have fewer scholarship opportunities and different requirements. For instance, your high school achievements would count for less than your college record, and the more you progress through your semesters, the more your college record counts.
FIU is not a bad university but it’s not the best one. In Florida, roughly, I’d say UF Honors, UF/FSU Honors, FSU/UCF Honors/NCF, UCF, USF/UNF, FIU/FAU/UWF/FAMU, FGCU.
French-English law degrees are highly selective and at the very least you should try to get into FIU Honors…
If you are an American citizen and have family in Florida, see with them whether you might be able to move in with them. Work for a year, get your driver’s license, do not take classes (except for noncredit ESL classes if need be), become a resident of Florida. It’ll make things much easier for you, especially wrt college admissions and tuition.
Other thing you can consider to apply for private universities that will meet 100% of your need(calculated by SCHOOL, not YOU) if you gain an admission. For financial purpose, it is un-recommended to limit oneself in one area.
And yes, FIU is not the best school. UF is the best in Florida.
I really considered taking another year off but I already spent last year not going to college. and it has really taken a toll on my motivation for this school year. I’m afraid I won’t be able to focus on College if I stay out of school for one more year but I guess I have no choice 
Yeah, I’m aware for the health insurance, mine in France is already a pain so I’ll make sure to get a good one. I consider applying to private schools, I’m open to all possibilities as long as the school is accredited. I’ll take the TOEFL meanwhile so it’ll be something altready done.
Have you been working? If so, have you been saving that money?
Please remember that France’s health system is ranked #1 in the world (due to a crucial combination of low costs, easy access, and high quality). I don’t know where the US was ranked but it’s somewhere at the bottom of developed countries.Things improved a bit with “Obamacare” in terms of access and basic legal protections that other nations take for granted but costs are still incredibly high (up to 10 times those of France) if you think health insurance is a pain in France, you have no idea what you’re in for in the US. However, I understand you are a US citizen, not sure why you’re in France but you have to return to the US, and you have family in Florida.
You’ll have to work for 12 months in order to establish residency, unless you have $20,000 to spend on tuition at FIU. So while a gap year may not be your optimal choice, either you have the money or you have to work for a year.
FIU is good for certain majors:
- Nursing (BS, Nurse Prationer, Nurse Anesthetist, Physical Therapy Program, Occupational Therapy)
- Chaplin School of Hospitality and Tourism Management (attract a lot of students from the Caribbean and Latin America)
They also have an Engineering/Computer Science School, Architecture (MArch), a fairly new Medical/Law School. FIU has become extremely large in the last 3-5 years (~55K students, most commuters).
If you move to Hollywood, you will be within commuting distance of two 4-year Florida Public Universities (FIU and FAU). If you establish Florida residency, the instate tuition at FIU/FAU is currently ~$6,168 (~$19K OOS). You can cut your cost in half by attending one of the local State Colleges (Community Colleges - Broward or Miami-Dade) for ~$105/credit. Both Broward College and Miami-Dade College offers Bachelor’s Degrees in a number of select fields and both offer the 10K Bachelor’s Degree, where the total cost for all 4-years will not exceed $10K!.
http://www.broward.edu/academics/programs/Pages/bachelors.aspx
http://www.mdc.edu/academics/programs/bachelors.aspx
10K Degree:
http://www.broward.edu/academics/programs/10k-bachelors-degree/Pages/default.aspx
The community college is definitely a good idea. I didn’t consider that option. I don’t really want to go to a high ranked college and I don’t want to be charged with debt so as long as I find one that is reliable and accredited it’s fine.
Remember that you must be in Florida for 12 months, with a job, before you enroll in community college - otherwise, you’ll be considered an Out of State student and will have to pay 3 times the amount.