<p>I've been a U.S. resident for 7 years but still don't have a green card.
I'm a E-2 visa dependent, so I would have to apply as an international student.
My brother went through the same process, so I know there's a big disadvantage, especially when it comes to getting loans and financial aid.
But how big would that disadvantage be?
Suppose I have a pretty good chance of getting into this particular school if I were a permanent resident... will I still have a good chance as an international student? How about the financial aid/scholarships?</p>
<p>I don’t know how it is in the USA, but I applied to the States as an international from Alberta, Canada…</p>
<p>Trust me, it’s lame… The state schools give very little aid to you and the only ones which give good FA are elite institutions such as Harvard and MIT.</p>
<p>Also, they have quotas for internationals (I don’t know if this applies to those who live in the USA) and the acceptance rate for them is a lot lower… (ex. Canada only had about 25 admissions to MIT)</p>
<p>However, seeing as you live in the States, things might be different. I think some states will give you instate tuition if you went to a HS in that state. Also, I remember some colleges gave Canadians and Mexicans more quota/FA, so you might be also given special treatment because you are an international in the United States.</p>
<p>The big disadvantage is financial. You aren’t eligible for federally determined financial (FAFSA) aid, which means that you are competing with a lot of very well-qualified candidates for a very small pool of money. Unless your state of residence considers you in-state for tuition and fees purposes, you would have to pay out-of-state tuition and fees at the public institutions.</p>
<p>Sit down with your parents and talk with them about the money. Maybe it won’t be an issue for you. Maybe it will. Until you know the facts though, you really have no idea what your options are.</p>
<p>It is a real big problem in graduate school admissions. Specifically the level of competition ramps up because almost everyone from abroad applying in the USA for grad school has a master’s degree already. It is is my understanding that generally there are limited spots for international students in most programs so you are competing against them as opposed to domestic applicants. Also with the ever worsening budget crisis at most schools they admit fewer and fewer international students because of the additional costs to have them. So the competition is higher, and there are less openings.</p>
<p>Not true. Few colleges are need-blind to internationals apps. And some that are need-blind, such as Cornell, may not meet full financial need once accepted. OTOH, Stanford, takes financial need into account for international admissions.</p>
<p>Duke University encourages ALL qualified foreign nationals to apply for admission. The university will meet full demonstrated financial need for a limited number of international students applying for first-year admission. Because financial resources for these students are limited, each year Duke expects to enroll 20-25 first-year foreign citizens who receive need-based financial aid. Please note there is no need-based aid for international transfer applicants.</p>
<p>There are two applicant pools for foreign nationals: those not applying for financial aid who will be considered for admission along with US citizens and Lawful Permanent Residents, and those applying for financial aid who will be considered in a separate process for a limited number of places in the entering class. Also, foreign citizens who do not apply for financial aid initially may not subsequently apply for financial aid during their time at Duke unless they become U.S. citizens or permanent residents.*</p>
<p>This is what Stanford says
*
Financial Aid</p>
<p>Financial aid at Stanford is based on demonstrated need, and we make every effort to meet the full computed need of all admitted students. However, because of the limited financial aid resources available to international students, Stanford can offer admission with financial aid to a small number of international applicants a year. Thus, a student’s request for financial aid may be a factor in the admission decision. We will not admit a student unless we are certain either that the student is self-funded or that we are able to provide financial aid. For more information about financial aid at Stanford, and to find the required application forms, you can visit the Financial Aid Web site.*</p>
<p>Unfortunately, being an international is disadvantageous not only in terms of financial aid, but in terms of admission as well.</p>
<p>in fact, the gap between US citizens and internationals is quite HUGE.</p>
<p>This is directly from MIT’s admission statistics for class entering in fall of 2009</p>
<p>US citizens/permanent residents
applied : 12026
accepted : 1552
I calculated the admission rate… : 12.9%. Not so bad is it?</p>
<p>International students
applied : 3636
accepted : 123
Well well. the admission rate comes to : 3.4%. </p>
<p>Overall admission rate of MIT including internationals was 10.7%. The admission rates posted on most schools’ webpages are a poor representation of the real competitiveness of the international pool. it is way more competitive for internationals to get in to US colleges. </p>
<p>12.9% and 3.4%. Numbers don’t lie.
This is one school, but I imagine the situation is pretty similar everywhere else.
International students have it pretty hard, both in admission and financial aid. </p>
<p>I imagine, however, it would be somewhat different if you’ve been living in the states for a while or sth. not sure tho.</p>