I understand now. Are there similar issues with the European colleges mentioned?
Tumbler is blocked in my country (atleast in my region).
So, at last, I have concluded that US studies are possible, but not highly probable. There might be certain issues that I should be prepared for in advance.( Visa etc) My chances of getting a full ride are low.
I think I will go on and apply to these schools, plus the European schools mentioned. I will do a little more searching about European colleges. Should I count the European colleges as safties?
To be safeties they need to be affordable.
You also need to learn the appropriate language (although you can probably do that at home relatively cheaply) , or check out if there are specific systems such as
https://www.study-in.de/en/
https://www.campusfrance.org/en
Apply widely, with a mix of LACs, universities with merit scholarships, and national universities.
Definitely do not consider EU universities safeties if your total budget is $7k/year. It’s not enough to get by, even if tuition is free, and will probably not get you a Schengen visa. I would say you need approx. €10-18k a year + tuition, visa, travel/other expenses to live off, depending on the country of course. Do not assume you will get a scholarship; being able to pay for uni in Europe is based on government funding (for EU citizens). We’re not big on scholarships and grants unless it’s for someone whose parents have a very low income/single parent, etc. (for EU citizens). If you cannot pay the high non-EU tuition fees, your chances of getting in are very slim.
On the topic of language proficiency:
Undergrad programs are usually taught in the country’s native language so be prepared to show fluency in an admission test. Every uni has strict tests before considering an applicant. For graduate programs showing fluency in English is enough if the program taught in English although I highly recommend learning the local language anyway.
Also keep in mind that European universities have been flooded by non-EU students recently and consequently, admissions have become tighter for EU and non-EU students alike. I don’t know the specifics of the application process for each university but a thing most Indian students here have in common is that they have very high grades and a lot of money, either through family or (non-university) scholarships. They must receive their graduate degree within 2 years and their visa usually expires a month after the expected graduation date.
So there are no safties for me?
For international students that are not full pay, safeties are usually the universities in their home country.
Okay, any targets? Or are every one of these reaches?
Reaches.
The only safeties are universities with automatic merit that covers your financial need. For instance, if you manage to get a perfect sat 1600 or act 36, U Alabama would be a safety because you’d automatically get full tuition, room, and board. However getting a perfect score is very very hard.
Okay. But i got perfect sat 2400 a while ago. I don’ t think it will be impossible to get a 1600 SAT. I mean, I can try for that. Are there amy other colleges that give scholarships like U alabama?
@MYOS1634 , am I misunderstanding this page? It sounds like UA only covers one year of on-campus housing for presidential elite? Is this the scholarship you referred to?
https://scholarships.ua.edu/types/out-of-state.php
On the upside, it seems from that page OP may be able to use the previous SAT score.
Also the allowance for books etc seems to fall a bit short of UA’s own estimate under COA https://financialaid.ua.edu/cost/
Assuming I haven’t misunderstood -OP’s budget may not be able to stretch what’s remaining over the next 3 years, also taking into account either needing to fly home in vacations or pay for summer accommodation?
Yes, OP would not be able to fly home and would have some expenses, but hopefully could find co-ops or internships due to his choice of subjects. Using the stipend for the first year and saving as much of the $7,000/year as possible would cover him for the remaining 3 years of room/board.
Are paid summer internships allowed on F1 visas? I thought work was limited to on campus stuff but I don’t know all the details.
They estimate room & board at $13.5k per year and books at $1200 or so. I’m not getting the numbers adding up to the $28k available even with the stipends - plus, healthcare, clothes, some entertainment, phone, etc? It seems exceptionally tight to me, no not even tight, more like a $15k gap on a tight budget? Is that realistic to be earned on what is allowed on F1? (Not a sarcastic question- I genuinely don’t know)
And - Do they have summer rates on campus for students staying on campus? Wondering how much an internship could cover.
I am wondering if the tightness of the funding above alone could scupper OP’s plans at the visa application stage. I don’t believe you can used planned income from employment in the US (even what is allowed on F1] as part of your proof of funding?
No, you can only declare work study, not expected earnings.
But the smallest meal plan would work for the 1st year since room is covered.
Books would cost about $500/year.
“Books would cost about $500/year.”
The UA COA link lists $1200 per year, which seems about in line with what I see other colleges estimating? (Eg Colorado, Oregon etc)?
It just seems to me that even the most generous package available (I assume, as Bama is always the one people mention) is still going to be not a financial safety for a very low budget international.
They estimate based on buying ALL the books, brand new. Most college students can use rentals (ie., $45 instead of $170) or, sometimes, borrow from the library’s reserve.
The “safety” aspect is that it’s guaranteed. I’ve worked with international students whose budget was below $7,000 and they made it work. It means taking the smaller meal plan, then moving off campus and sharing an apartment/buying groceries.
The only safeties for international students are those few places that offer tull rides for stats and also include international students in that policy. The old yolasite thread share above had the list that was current at that time. The original author is no longer updating it, and we do not have a current list here at CC. The OP should check each of the places in that old list, and see if any of those scholarships are still available. But truly, that is it. There is no magical secret list out there. Even when international students have managed to land full rides, some have not been able to come to the US because they did not have the money to pay for travel to the US for their first year of studies.
@SJ2727 - Students with an F-1 can work during the summer, or hold a school-year internship, under the CPT provisions of their visas. However they need to be extremely careful about the number of days. If they use too many, they will lose the right to OPT after graduation.
The University of Alabama does list scholarships for international students - and spells out the values (which may not be the same as on the out of state page): https://gobama.ua.edu/international/scholarships/
OP would be relying on their own budget to cover health insurance.
I don’t think U of A would work because the budget is too limited.