I'm so confused...!

Paying for College
1

<p>I just finished my Junior year in High School, and I've been thinking of myself as an "international" applicant, because I didn't have citizenship/green card.</p>

<p>Recently, however, I became a permanent resident, and I have to think about federal aid now. I don't live in the United States, though.</p>

<p>My questions are:</p>

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<p>Any other tips/tricks are really appreciated. Thanks so much for reading this far!!</p>

2

<p>First, you should concentrate on finding and applying to schools that are a good fit and are likely to be affordable for you, whatever that means to your family. I suggest having a candid discussion with your parents to find out how much per year they are willing to commit to your educational expenses and running some numbers through the online calculators. The fafsa4caster has one that will estimate your FAFSA EFC and College Board has both FAFSA and Profile EFC calculators. If you can get at least one of your parents involved in the college planning process, especially where finances are concerned, that will help a lot.</p>

<p>For people with EFC’s over a certain number, around $5600 I think, federal student aid is basically loans and work study - federal grant aid is really targeted to those with low incomes and mainly consists of Pell grants, which provide a maximum of $5500 per year . The finaid.org site explains federal loans and aid programs very well and has loan calculators. State aid varies in income limits, requirements, and amounts but often requires you to remain instate for college and file a separate application in addition to FAFSA - you can google for your state’s higher education website. If your income is higher than the limits for federal/state aid, your best source of funding will be from the colleges themselves and outside scholarships. Some schools offer significant merit aid to kids with high stats or other talents that they want to attract, as do outside scholarships. Some promise to meet need, usually based on their own calculations via Profile, with or without loans. You can find a list of those who meet need without loans on the Project On Student Debt site, under Initiatives.</p>

<p>As you’re researching schools, make note of what they offer and when their deadlines are. Be aware of whether they require a separate scholarship app. Start putting together a resume of activities/awards/honors to help you, and those you ask for LOR’s, in the process.</p>

<p>Good luck, keep reading, and post questions as they arise!</p>

3

<p>“I don’t live in the United States, though.”</p>

<p>You can lose your Permanent Residence status if you spend too much time living outside the US. Ask your family’s immigration lawyer about how to manage your specific situation. </p>

<p>For good information about the financial aid process, visit
[FinAid</a>! Financial Aid, College Scholarships and Student Loans](<a href=“http://www.finaid.org%5DFinAid”>http://www.finaid.org)
[FAFSA</a> - Free Application for Federal Student Aid](<a href=“http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/]FAFSA”>http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/)
[FAFSA4caster</a> - Federal Student Aid](<a href=“http://www.fafsa4caster.ed.gov/F4CApp/index/index.jsf]FAFSA4caster”>http://www.fafsa4caster.ed.gov/F4CApp/index/index.jsf)</p>

<p>For good information about the college admission process in general as you have been educated outside the US visit
[EducationUSA</a> | Study Abroad, Student Visa, University Fairs, College Applications and Study in the U.S. / America](<a href=“http://www.educationusa.state.gov/]EducationUSA”>http://www.educationusa.state.gov/)<br>
Then make an appointment with the counselors at the Advising Center closest to you. They will have good ideas for you.</p>

4

<p>How are you a permanent resident if you haven’t been living in the US?</p>

<p>(It sounds a bit crazy if this student isn’t a citizen, doesn’t live in the US, parents aren’t likely paying US taxes, and he’d get tax-payer aid? What is wrong with this picture???)</p>

5

<p>I don’t know his particular situation but I know some crazy ones. If his parents are working in US territories , anticipating a move to the US, have some diplomatic conncections, this could happen. He could be the child of someone who got green cards and is in the US while he is finishing up school in another country.</p>

<p>I grew up in crazy systems like that, so there are a lot of legitimate niches where this could happen.</p>

<p>You can put up to 6 schools on FAFSA, and a number on PROFILE too. YOu can then “correct” the FAFSA and put on more schools. So you would list all of the schools to which you have applied.</p>

6

<p>Thank you for the responses! Actually, I’m a girl! My family income is on the high side, I believe, but I will definitely have a chat with my parents about their funds.</p>

<p>Some information to clear things up: I’ve lived in the United States for 10 years! I moved to the US when I was 6 months old and moved back to my native country during the spring of my 4th grade year. So basically, I grew up in the US. I’ve been living here since, and so although I’m better at English and I am planning to live in the United States when I grow up, I thought I would have to apply as an international applicant – but not anymore.</p>

<p>Thank you so much for the detailed response, sk8rmom! I have a list of schools I’m interested in, but I will look for financial safeties and start making a final list, so I can organize deadlines, etc.</p>

<p>Thank you for all the links, happymomof1. I’ll take a very good look at them. I am planning to go to New York this summer to do college visits, as well as visit other schools later during my senior year, so I’ll be able to keep my Permanent Residency!</p>

<p>mom2collegekids, my parents have been paying US taxes the 10 years we lived there. After we moved to the country we live in now, we haven’t been paying US taxes. Now that my family has permanent residency, we will start paying US taxes again. Sorry for the confusion!</p>

<p>Thank you, cptofthehouse. There is a possibility that I might have more than 6 schools, so thank you for that bit of information. I don’t know how to explain my situation, but we got the permanent residency through the Diversity program or something. Either way, I really want to graduate the international school I attend right now, because it’s a really good school and my school has a good reputation among colleges!</p>

7

<p>Not sure if this question was answered for you, but for the FAFSA you put down all the schools you applied to down.</p>

8

<p>^What junshik and cpt are saying is that you enter the max number allowed (cpt says 6 and that sounds about right) when you initially submit the FAFSA. After a few days you’ll receive an email saying your SAR was processed and is available for viewing. Once you make sure it’s correct, go an update to FAFSA to remove the inital schools from the list and add the remainder so they receive your FAFSA as well, then resubmit. Repeat until you’re through your list!</p>

9

<p>If your parents make more than what is considered a very low income, like $30K or less, and have assets, it is doubtful that the FAFSA EFC is going to give you anything other than eligibility for certain US citizen awards, the Staffords, and the PLUS for your parents. You do have to complete the FAFSA to get your toe in the door for financial aid as every school requires it (or nearly) and some do use it as their primary financial aid form. </p>

<p>I suggest you fill out some sample PROFILE calculators and see what they indicate what they define as your need. Schools that use this more thorough calculator are among those that give the most generous financial aid, but those schools are also the most selective. Until you have test scores and your high school profile laid out, it’s hard to say where you will do the best.</p>

10

<p>If your family has a highish income, then you won’t qualify for much, if any, aid…except loans. Free aid is for lower income families. </p>

<p>You need to talk to your parents about how much they will pay each year for your education because that will likely determine where you’ll be able to afford to go to school.</p>