Two threads that were very similar were merged into one, but I left all the posts for clarity. - fallenchemist
Hey everyone,
I’m an international student applying to the undergrad film school at USC this year. I was filling out the common apps when I saw that I have to submit proof of financial ability to pay for first year.
“The US government requires all international students to provide proof of the ability to pay tuition and living expenses for the first academic year. […] you must submit the Financial Statement of Personal or Family Support, accompanied by documentation of available funds (such as savings deposits, checking accounts, investment portfolios, or a signed bank letter verifying the ability to pay educational expenses). Documentation may also include proof of any scholarships or fellowships you have received or expect to receive.”
Unfortunately, due to some unforeseen circumstances, I will be unable to pay for USC’s tuition without a merit scholarship. I am definitely applying while preparing and doing all I can in my power to earn a merit scholarship. So I can’t really submit this proof of funds right now- we just don’t have it. It does say “Documentation may also include proof of any scholarships you expect to receive”, would this include the merit scholarship I would need to receive in order to go to USC? How can I submit the apps and explain this situation without having to submit these documents?
I don’t even speak the language of my “home country”, unfortunately. This adds to the part of the big reason why I’m so keen on heading back to the states for school. I’ve lived in the US my entire life, and recently had to move back due to a family emergency. I’ve asked around a bit but generally, the flow of the education system here is that wealthy or genius kids are the only students who go int’l. Not many priv. scholarships are offered in general, and it’s practically nonexistent for students wanting to go abroad. Most students here just go to in-country univ. with scholarships from the school they end up at.
This is going to be a bumpy ride…
I just meant that generally, you have to write some kind of essay for scholarships in general, haha. Never seen a scholarship that doesn’t require an essay or Q&A of sorts.
You will not receive a merit scholarship which covers 100% of your costs (tuition plus living expenses plus books and fees plus health insurance) AND your travel costs from your own country.
So you need to document that you have everything else covered- absent the merit award which you haven’t received yet (and might not).
Proof of funds- even if your tuition gets covered- how are you going to pay your rent and for food?
I think you misunderstand. The random scholarships that you see may require an essay, but usually those are ONLY for FRESHMAN year, are for small amounts, hard to get, AND aren’t open to int’ls.
Even if you won a few, it wouldn’t be enough for Frosh year…and you’d have NOTHING for the other 3 years.
What are your stats? How much will your family pay each year?
You may need to find SCHOOLS that will give you large merit for your stats.
I am definitely applying while preparing and doing all I can in my power to earn a merit scholarship. So I can't really submit this proof of funds right now- we just don't have it. It does say "Documentation may also include proof of any scholarships you expect to receive", would this include the merit scholarship I would need to receive in order to go to USC? How can I submit the apps and explain this situation without having to submit these documents?
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this won’t work for the reasons I mentioned in your other thread BUT also because even if you won a couple of small awards, you wouldn’t even know about those until next spring…too late for USC.
You really need a new plan. THIS one will NOT WORK>
“I’ve lived in the US my entire life, and recently had to move back due to a family emergency.” What does this mean? If you had indeed lived in the US for your “entire life” you would have been born here which would have made you a US citizen (well in all but a few, rare instances such as certain dependents of diplomats from certain countries).
What was your immigration status in the US? Did you have a green card? If so, have you been out of the US long enough now to have definitely lost that status? If you’ve got a green card, and you haven’t lost that status, get yourself back to the US, find a job, and work on sorting out your life here. College can come later.
Did you graduate from high school while you were in the US, or are you still completing your secondary education? That is going to affect whether or not you can be admitted to any college just yet.
What are your grades like, and do you have an ACT or SAT score? That can affect where you can be admitted.
As things stand, USC film school is just not workable right now. You need to investigate other options.
I’ll be applying to USC’s SCA for film this year as an international student. Without scholarship, it will cost almost 70K a year to attend! I can’t seem to be able to find many scholarships offered for International students, and fin.aid is clearly not an option for me. Does anyone know of any good sites or scholarships/grants that are open to int’l students? I don’t mind filling out lots of essays!
blossom: There are merit scholarships open to international incoming freshmen students at USC which cover tuition, room/board, and have a monthly stipend. We have money to pay for food, travel costs, etc. So would I submit proof of ability to pay for those things, and omit the funds we don’t have for tuition and such?
momof2collegekids & happymomof1: I’m getting ready to take my ACT in a couple weeks. I expect to score somewhere in the 30-32 range. I scored in the top 5% for all of my GED exams. Technically I’ve “graduated” high school two years early and I am extremely lost right now. I had a 4.0 GPA when I was still in school. My situation is extremely complicated, and I’d really rather not explain family matters. We were in the USA a renewable visa, getting ready to apply for green card. I moved there immediately after being born in my home country, so citizenship is here, not in the US, though it is true that I’ve lived there my entire life- I have no memories of this country. Yes, indeed I have other options open, but I really do not want to turn to them. I am applying to USC on a whim, really truly hoping for the best. So I am doing my best in trying to get there. If there is any way, any at all for going to USC, please help me rather than telling me to look for other options…
This is extremely discouraging. I was always told that there is a way to and around everything. Especially with my circumstances and with all these “alternative” education work-arounds I’ve done for the past few months, I truly believe it- there needs to be another way of getting into USC. I’ve complicated things enough as it is by being an international student, but I’m also a GED holder, and my old counselor apparently cannot fill the counselor role in my common apps because I don’t go to school there anymore. So I’m not even sure how to submit mid-year transcripts (which I do not have), or any of the “counselor” things. I’m really at a loss right now, am extremely stressed, and with family matters on top of this, I’m just looking for a way to get into the school I’ve always wanted to go to. Please, can anyone give me hope of some sort, and tell me that there is a way into this school without money or high school diploma (GED sub)?
Most of the financial statements ask who will pay for the cost, how much each year, and for how many years. You need to provide the exact information to those questions and bank statements of the person who will pay or affidavit from the organization that gives you scholarship. That’s all you can do. 30-32 ACT and top 5% GED will be difficult to qualify for USC tuition scholarship unless you have other outstanding talents in sports, arts,…
So if I could gather that info, would I submit the proof of funds while omitting mentioning the costs that would be covered by a merit scholarship (room/board, scholarship, etc)? And do I show the information for the merit scholarship I would need to receive in order to attend?
I’ve been writing for print publications, preparing to publish a book, and and am working as a producer for a documentary right now. Could those things may be my sub for “outstanding talents”? I’m not extremely talented in any sport or instrument but I have a lot of extracurriculars and have a career building. I’ve read through forums where USC’s merit scholars in the past have posted their stats and what scholarship received- maybe about 1/4 of the posters had similar stats, and great extracurriculars to make up for lower scores. I’m really just hoping for the best…
To generally address my “other plans”/alternatives/fallbacks, I do have some other options for higher edu that will definitely be less complicated, but I’m making a reach. It’s just like how students apply to both their “dream schools” and “safety schools” and really hope for the best. This is my dream school, I just have more complications and hopes while applying, but I’m no different than anyone else applying to their dream school. I’m simply asking for help in figuring out how to fill out these common apps as an international student who has no past knowledge in college applications, applying to her dream college. Whether I apply or not does not depend on my chances of acceptance. No loss in trying, right?
No. You don’t show the info the USC merit scholarship because you don’t have the scholarship offer yet. Maybe you should indicate you are applying for the USC merit scholarship on the statement (if there is a space for that) or on the common app. Yes, outstanding book writing and journalism are excellent ECs. Good luck!.
I will mention it in the additonal info section. Thank you so, so much for being both helpful and encouraging! You are one of the only people that have answered straight-forward without being discouraging or making me feel stupid. Thanks again!!
The proof of finance document isn’t due till afer admissions, but it’s pointless in your case:
If you’re aiming for 30-32 on the ACT, there’s zero chance youll get a full tuition scholarship from USC. Even kids with 33-34 only get half tuition.
When do you get your ACT results? (Most merit scholarships have deadlines Dec 1st.)
Considering your situation, I’d apply to 100% need schools and look for merit scholarships.
Your situation IS complicated and you clearly made it more so by 1° graduating early 2° with a GED 3° returning to your home country. Any chance you can return to HS in your US hometown ? If you’re under 18 still, they may have to take you back even if you have a GED (I’m not sure, but I think most public high schools take local students up to age 18.)
It sounds like you were legally in the US so I don’t think there’d be a problem for you if you returned to your family or friends in the US. It’d give you more options as graduating from a US high school in a state where you’ve spent at least 5 years could qualify you for instate admissions and tuition.
Once you have completed high school anywhere in the world, you cannot return to public high school to get a diploma.
If student did not complete high school, they would have the right to return in order to complete high school depending on age (In NYC, you have the right to return until you are 21). However, if you have a diploma, you cannot return because you are a high school graduate.