<p>We have a French exchange student who is staying with us this school year. He has 2 more years of French H.S. once he returns home. </p>
<p>He loves America, and wants to study business in an American university. Can he apply directly to one, or does he have to matriculate in a French university and then transfer or come over in some sort of exchange program?</p>
<p>He speaks Polish, French and English fluently, and has been a real joy to have around. It's like I have 3 sons now instead of 2.</p>
<p>but he is considered a senior in our HS (but won't be getting a diploma), but has 2 more years in France. Just wonder if he has to apply after he graduates in France, or can he apply now like an American senior?</p>
<p>He has to apply after he finishes high school in his country.
At least, that's what I read on most websites. It says he first has to complete whatever he would need in order to enroll at a university in his own country (including the final national exams..which I believe that French have?). Of course, he can ask schools himself, if he really wants to apply now, but it's highly unlikely they'll let him.</p>
<p>I'm not a french student, but I am an international student, and as far as I'm aware, the top US universities prefer their international applicants to be qualified to study at universities in their own countries before they apply. For a french student, I guess that would mean finishing the Bac. There is the option to apply before this, but his chances would be a lot lower, and in the competitive international pool, why take that risk?</p>
<p>namtrag, is he in seconde or terminale at home? If he's in seconde (10th grade-age) he'll do his two more years and apply to colleges during terminale, just like any other kid. If he's in terminale and the "two more years" are CPGE, then he can basically apply whatever year he wants, because once he's passed the bac he is at the level to enter American universities. He should be able to apply directly.</p>
<p>I asked Nic and he says he has 2 more years before he takes the bac. Will he be able to get any need-based financial aid from the American universities or any other sources, or will it be up to him to pay his entire tuition?</p>
<p>Thank you to everyone for helping with this information.</p>
<p>Again that depends upon the colleges he's applying to.</p>
<p>For internationals there are three categories of colleges:</p>
<p>Need Blind: Only a few colleges (Harvard, Princeton, MIT, Yale, Middlebury); they don't consider a student's financial status while making their decision and fulfill an admitted student's financial need.</p>
<p>Need Aware: Quite a few colleges, there's a list in the international forum, they offer financial aid, but take into consideration a student's amount of need while making the decision as they have a limited amount of aid available.</p>
<p>Don't offer financial aid: The vast majority of public colleges and universities as well as many private colleges.</p>
<p>Merit scholarships. Some colleges, like Rice don't offer need based financial aid, but offer merit scholarships to internationals like any other applicant based upon stats and grades/any other qualifications.</p>
<p>If you are an international requiring financial aid, your choices are limited to about 100 colleges and universities with need-based and a few more with merit-based aid. Many (most?) of those colleges are liberal arts colleges without a business major though.</p>