Do forget it include health insurance to the costs that may not be covered by the schools FA.
OP, I don’t know where you’re from… but schools will take into consideration what people earn in your country. And in MANY countries, a $55K/year salary is considered upper-middle class or higher, and schools will expect such a family to be able to contribute to the student’s education. In your documentation, you could probably show that this income is new… but in terms of perception, this salary would suggest that you have other educational options other than coming to the US.
@katliamom As I said, 55,000 is a tentative amount (in reality it’s most likely 40,000) and it’s only for a period of two years. Before that my family earned well below 15,000. The thing is that living costs where I’m from are very high, considering my family size and the debt incurred over the past few years, with this new-found wealth, I should only be able to get about 7,000 a year from my parents. This doesn’t cover tuition costs at the universities where I’m from except for a single very academically weak institution. As I said, I have a few limited options, but the United States seems to be the best chance for me to actually get a decent and worthwhile education. I doubt american institutions care about whether or not I have any other option as I’m not playing the ‘poor’ card in my application.
Besides studying for the SAT, are you doing anything else constructive during your gap year? Community service?
“I doubt american institutions care about whether or not I have any other option” – how do you know this? I actually think they may, whether that is studying in your own “academically weak institution” or in another nation, closer to home. Again, not knowing where you’re from it’s hard to say. (But for example, if you were from a poorer Central European country, you would have the option to study in other, wealthier EU nations, likely with financial aid. If you are from Nepal, you could study in India, etc.) And yes, that would be taken into consideration.
@Madison85 Yes, I’m tutoring for extra income, and I also got an internship at a local NGO. I’ve also taken it upon myself to try and learn a bit of French. I’m taking a few courses and am planning on taking the B1 exam in 2017.
@katliamom Well, I’d honestly rather not say where I’m from, but my country is not part of the EU, and little financial aid is offered.
Also, they aren’t going to accept me out of charity. If they want me to be part of their institution (and, considering most of the places I’m applying for) they have the money to finance me, why would my ability to attend another institution affect my admission? I mean, logically, universities would want competitive applicants to not go to other schools.
I don’t know if US colleges consider the cost of living or consumer debt when making their financial aid calculations.
“why would my ability to attend another institution affect my admission?”
Because these schools have too many qualified applicants, each with a compelling story and outstanding academics, and yes, great need. They turn down 95% of them.
Edited: look, I think you’re probably a terrific candidate. Apply. Just have a back up plan, because the odds are against you. Simple math. Be ready for either a rejection, or acceptance without adequate FA. We see posts like yours every year. Sometimes, students do get in, on their second try at admissions, by changing their strategy and applying to less-competitive schools. Check out the international students thread and see where they luck out. Often, it’s NOT at the schools you’re shooting for.
@katliamom I never said I’m going to get in! Obviously I’d have a better chance of winning the lottery! XD All I said was that because they’re primarily looking for competitive applicants, whether or not an applicant can afford anywhere else to go study won’t play a part in the application procedure as much as academic competitiveness.
@katliamom I appreciate your concern. However I’m really rather limited in options. Trinity and Lawrence currently represent my best chances since they’re amongst one of the few schools that offer international aid to students whilst meeting 100% of their need (and aren’t insanely competitive like Harvard or Yale).
In all honesty, I have little interest in the ‘name-brand’ of the school as much as I care about actually getting a degree. If I had the option I wouldn’t even be applying to any of these hyper-competitive schools. However, I figured with low chances, applying to x5 more low chance options should increase my chances of getting accepted somewhere, regardless of how low it seems. I’ll take your suggestions and check international threads. Thanks a lot for your advice!
Please take a statistics course. Each school you apply to has its own odds of you being accepted. Applying to more schools does NOT increase your odds of acceptance to any one school.
Your high cost of living does NOT factor into the need based aid calculation at all. That is the case for all students applying.
Also, the 2017-2018 Profile will be using tax/income information from 2015. What did your family income look like that year? BUT keep in mind…you will need to reapply for need based aid annually, so if your family income rises substantially in 2016, or 2017, your need based aid will also very likely be reduced. So…have a plan for the years that will reflect that higher income. It would be a shame to enroll in a college, be able to meet your family contribution freshman year…and find you cannot do so in subsequent years.
I agree, you have a good chance of a acceptance someplace…but I would also suggest you add an affordable option in your country.
Are you majoring in engineering? If so, you might want to consider University Of Alabama. I think you might get automatic full tuition, and if you major in engineering you would get $2500 additional money per year. That added to your $7000 Parent contribution could cover your bills.
@mom2collegekids am inaccurate about the auto scholarship for this student?
@thumper1 Well, most universities with low acceptance rates oftentimes have a ‘chance’ factor. That’s what I’m planning on taking advantage of by applying multiple times.
Of course, I’m not discounting studying in my country. Which will be the case if I don’t get the chance to go anywhere. (I’m simply trying to avoid that.)
I’m sure I have a relatively decent chance at Trinity or Lawrence. If I’m lucky I may get into one of the tougher ones, but I’m not counting on it. I really do appreciate your suggestion! I’m surprised to find Alabama offers this much aid. I’m definitely going to apply.
The Alabama application is available for submission now. Complete it ASAP. And also do their scholarship application…now. Neither takes a long time to complete.
You will have an admission decision with your merit aid package within a few weeks.
At least you will then know the coat of that school for you!