I can't afford College, there just isn't any solution...

<p>Honestly, I can't afford College. The fees for International students is absolutely ridiculous, there is no way I can pay $40-60 thousand dollars per year. Also, as an International student, I wouldn't get any aid either and I am not allowed to take loans as well as I am not allowed to work outside of campus. It all seems impossible which absolutely kills me since I've studied so hard for the past 6 years, getting really good grades but still not good enough grades to recieve a full scolarship. These scolarships are incredibly rare and mostly apply to US citizens. The whole situation is a riddle I can't solve, and it seems like I have to give up on my dreams. Anyone got a solution before I give up completely? Very thankful for replies.</p>

<p>Can you go to college more economically in your home country, and perhaps do the international student thing as a grad student?</p>

<p>The education in my home country is free, but very limited, and I also feel like I can’t stand living here anymore. I need a change and I don’t feel at home here. I do in the US, I go there every single summer and those weeks are always the best of the year. </p>

<p>Doing the ‘study abroad’ thing is also a big risk as many people apply for it and only a few people get this opportunity.</p>

<p>Are the University of Alabama scholarships (also at UA-Huntsville & UA-Birmingham) available to international students?</p>

<p>I dont know what fees you are talking about. I have never heard of different tuition status for international. There is in state, out of state, on campus, off campus, thats about it. $40 to $60 is retail cost at a major university or private college, so thats a bit on the high side. A community college would cost under $25 and the majority of that is just cost of living. </p>

<p>Its not true that you would not be eligible for financial aid or that scholarships only go to US citizens. You are eligible for both. Some programs may be exclusive to legal residents but citizenship is rarely an issue. </p>

<p>My advice is simply to try. Apply to some schools and see what kind of package you can get. Consider a CC for 2 years. Dreams are free, but making them happen requies some work.</p>

<p>What is your home country?</p>

<p>Sent from my DROID2 GLOBAL using CC</p>

<p>It might be well true that you are not a candidate for a college education right now in the US. Most people are not. You are fortunate to have free of cost choices in your country. Perhaps when you complete your education there, you can find opportunites to come here.</p>

<p>There are US government sponsored programs for international students from certain countries that would let you spend a year in the US cost free. See [Global</a> Undergraduate Exchange Program](<a href=“http://exchanges.state.gov/ugrad.html]Global”>http://exchanges.state.gov/ugrad.html) for more info. Since we don’t know what country you’re from, it’s hard to give more specific advice. If you’re in an Erasmus country, you can also apply for a year exchange program if you want to get out of your country [ESN</a> International | Erasmus Student Network](<a href=“http://www.esn.org/]ESN”>http://www.esn.org/)</p>

<p>*Are the University of Alabama scholarships (also at UA-Huntsville & UA-Birmingham) available to international students?
*</p>

<p>Yes there are. However, for UAlabama, the student would need to apply ASAP, because an int’l student needs to be accepted by Dec 1st to qualify. And fill out the scholarship app. Both are easy to do, but don’t waste any time…if you have the stats, then apply now.</p>

<p>If you don’t have the high stats to get big scholarships here, then you may have to go to school in your country.</p>

<p>Please understand that most US students don’t get the funds to go away to school in this country, much less another country. They all worked hard, too.</p>

<p>It is not a matter of you not being able to afford college; it is free in your home country. This is a luxury that many people in the US do not have. The real issue is that you cannot afford the college you want. </p>

<p>Just like families here in the US, your parents are first in line when it comes to paying for your education. If the money is not doable you must-readjust your list to include some affordable options even if it means staying home ( which is what the majority of college students in the US do; they attend college within their
home state. Very few parents in the US can afford to send their children to college in another country. </p>

<p>US attend schols in ot</p>

<p>There are some US community colleges that cater to international students. They provide much smaller class sizes in the first 2 years than larger universities, and are very affordable. I believe one is in Houston for example.</p>

<p>You might also spend 2 years in your home country, while you save you money and perfect your English. That may make the last 2 years in the US successful. </p>

<p>You might look into a program where you can spend a semester at a US university. This is the approach used by many US students - they spend one semester in another country. Many universities and cities have residence halls that provide support services for students from other countries, including students who are only in the US for a semester. </p>

<p>You might save your money and go to grad school in the US. Many US universities have less expensive tuition for grad school than undergrad (except for law, medicine and business which are more expensive). There also are plentiful opportunities for grad students to earn money at a university, as lab assistants, research assistants, teaching assistants, etc.</p>

<p>You might look at Canadian universities, which are generally cheaper than US colleges.</p>

<p>charlieschm has a good point about universities in Canada. They are less expensive than their peer institutions in the US. Also, work permission for international students in Canada is more favorable than in the US, and immigration policies are more favorable if you would want to stay there for the long term. Australia is similar. If you just want OUT of wherever it is that you are, contact the Education Officer at the closest consulate for each of those countries, and find out more about those options.</p>