<p>So basically, I'm a swedish student who dreams who taking a college degree in the states. At first I wanted to attend one of the UC schools - they seem like a lot of fun - but the issue is that the tuition is sky-high for an international student like myself. I could possibly get the money, but seeing as I can get an education of equal value here in sweden for free it's quite a hard choice to make.</p>
<p>Anyway, what are my best options - as an international student - if my finances are limited? I'd love to get some kind of scholarship, but my grades aren't excellent. That's mostly because I've been slacking the last few years though, and if necessary I could probably get good grades in community college and then transfer to some high standard college. Is that possible? How does it affect your college experience?</p>
<p>Cheers!</p>
<p>EDIT: If it matters, I can explain why I want to go to the states. I'm not really after the academics. I want the experience. In the end my goal in life isn't a well paid life, nor a high-end job that requires a specific education. I'm not even sure what I'd be studying, my greatest interest is music and playing the guitar so I'd probably major or minor in that. I just want to see a different part of the world, meet cool people, have fun and attempt different things.</p>
<p>Unfortunately it is VERY difficult for even exceptional international students to get financial aid. Yes, you can go the community college route and transfer - but the tuition will remain high (in the $45,000 a year range for a UC.) Transferring will also affect the ‘college experience’ since you will be unlikely to live in the dorms as a transfer student – at most UCs, students have to move out of the dorms after the first or second year.</p>
<p>My advice is to go to school in Sweden, and then spend a year in the US on an exchange program.</p>
<p>If you just want a chance to study in the US for a while, you could investigate student exchange programs either at the secondary school level (start with [AFS</a> Intercultural Programs](<a href=“http://www.afs.org%5DAFS”>http://www.afs.org) and [Youth</a> For Understanding](<a href=“http://www.yfu.org%5DYouth”>http://www.yfu.org)) or exchanges sponsored by your home university. Something like that would be much less expensive than four years in the US!</p>
<p>Cost of Attendance for international students who are living on their own at my local community college is now estimated to be more than USD 20,000 each year. You would need to demonstrate that you have that much money or you would not be able to get a student visa. Can your family pay at least that much? Even if you get excellent grades, it is extremely difficult for transfer students to receive a lot of scholarship money. Multiply that, by the difficulties faced international students in receiving a lot of scholarship money, and you will see that it is quite likely that you would have to pay full price for your last two years. At the least expensive colleges or universities that is almost certain to be USD 20,000 or more.</p>
<p>If you read through the threads in the International Student Forum, you will get more ideas about scholarships and financial aid for international applicants. You also should find some names of colleges and universities that are more affordable for international students. One that I know of is [Bemidji</a> State University](<a href=“http://www.bemidjistate.edu/]Bemidji”>http://www.bemidjistate.edu/) You also should read through the information at [EducationUSA</a> | Study Abroad, Student Visa, University Fairs, College Applications and Study in the U.S. / America](<a href=“http://www.educationusa.info/]EducationUSA”>http://www.educationusa.info/) and pay a visit to the advising center closest to where you live. There are two in Sweden [EducationUSA</a> - Find an Advising Center](<a href=“http://www.educationusa.info/Sweden]EducationUSA”>http://www.educationusa.info/Sweden) The counselors at these advising centers are expert at helping students from your country find good places to study in the US.</p>