How does UC(or other colleges) determine who is an International Student, and who is not?
Let’s say there is an American Citizen who was at California till Sophomore year.
Then her parents moved to Australia for job.
Now she does Junior and Senior year from Australia.
So when she applies to UCs or Harvard/Yale, is she considered an International Student and compared with other International Student or is considered a California student and compared with other Californians.
And would admission be easier applying as International or as a California Student if student would want to move back to California in Senior year?
As a US citizen, the student will be considered a domestic US student, but with international high school records and without any state residency for state universities.
For FAFSA-dependent students (which is almost all students going to college soon after high school graduation), California residency requires both the student and parent to satisfy the residency tests. However, the AB540 provision for students who graduate high school in California with sufficient school attendance in California can give waiver of non-resident tuition if the student would otherwise be classified as a non-California resident. More information here: Welcome | Understanding residency for purposes of UC tuition . Other states may have different rules.
Thanks a lot!
Will the Student be compared with other domestic students with International records for admissions?
Does admission into Ivy Leagues be any easier applying from Australia with great GPA(4.7) and great ECs as opposed to applying from California where many have such great records?
If the college in question regionalizes admission reading, it should not be assumed that US domestic students with international records will be a weaker applicant pool.
It varies by college and country, but mostly no, b/c that would be all but impossible to do in a meaningful way, as school systems vary so much across countries. You couldn’t meaningfully compare a US student coming from Oz with one coming from Germany or from Brazil.
Most of the colleges that I know about directly said that (same as in the US), they evaluate in the context of the school (/region/country).
Ime, applying as a US student overseas does not seem to help in admissions, and HYP will expect that you are a superstar no matter where you are in school (not just GPA).
Be aware that moving during HS typically dents ECs. It is hard to show leadership when you are arriving at the penultimate year of secondary school. Also, imo colleges are way less impressed that you have handled an international move (or moves, in the case of the Collegekids) than they should be!
That probably all sounds negative- but overall I don’t mean it to! An international move is a great opportunity, and you can have a great, life-changing adventure. But, there may be trade-offs. The biggest one for your family as a whole is possibly losing in-state tuition status for the UCs, b/c US colleges can be so $$$$$. On the other hand, UMelbourne is a great uni, very affordable, only 3 years for most courses, and if you see yourself as an HYP level candidate, probably not a stressful admit. Go to college Down Under & come back to the US for your name-brand grad degree
Hey! I’m actually an domestic student and have qualified for in state tuition via my father who reside there. I am however and internstional applicant currently staying abroad and will graduate with foreign credentials. They evaluate you based on what opportunities are available to you, taking into context locality, schooling, country etc. I personally think I had an advantage because I was able to excel in whatever I could and compared to other people in my country, I’m a top applicant but would be considered average via american standards. They evaluate you regionally, so you shouldnt have a disadvantage as an intl applicant. Still do well tho, but don’t compare yourself too much with domestic us citizens. In my country 60-70 percent is average. US it’s a D or a fail grade.
