My son (H4) graduating from NJ high school got admitted into below schools.
Wait listed: Brandeis, Rejected: 1. USC 2. U Chicago
Waiting for 5 more decisions in the next week.
What’s the best option to change to student visa ? go to India and get stamped or apply online ? Any chances to get rejected if apply in India ?
Also admitted to University of Minnesota - Twin Cities, no merit scholarship information yet
@Ravi, congratulations --your son has some good options. Hope he will get some better options next week. He can change to student visa by applying I-539 . Stamping from India could be tricky as it may be difficult for him to establish non-immigrant intent (that he will return back to India after his education) at the time of visa interview.
Thank you. It looks online COS taking longer time , 12 Months to 15.5 Months
This is so painful, lot of hurdles to overcome , my son did all his schooling (KG to high school) in NJ and this GC backlog killing our kids future.
Yes, very true and we feel totally helpless.
All flat rejections last night. So I am giving you the final count.
Stat: GPA (3.97 un weighted), SAT 1550; SAT subject tests , MATH 2, Chemistry, Physics–> all 800; AP–> Psychology, Statistics, Chemistry, Calculus BC and computer science Principle–> all 5. Ap Spanish, Ap Physics C Mechanics, electromagnetism (in Senior year). Average ECs (with Varsity Soccer)
Accepted to:
Purdue Engineering (Applied Early action) ; no scholarship
Rochester Institute of Technology (Mechanical Engineering-Aerospace): Founder’s Scholarship ($20K per year)
UMN Twin cities (Aerospace engineering) Research scholarship (just $1400)
University of Miami (Aerospace Engineering): President’s scholarship ($30K per year)
University of Pittsburgh (Mechanical Engineering) Merit scholarship $2K per year and in-state tuition (most probably!)
Waitlisted: Case Western Reserve, Georgia Tech, Colby College
Rejected: Swarthmore, Wash U, University of Southern California, Lehigh (told they have no more fund for intl. student), Northwestern, Rice, Duke, Upenn, Cornell, Brown, Dartmouth, Princeton
Reflections: (i) EC’s are average, you need stellar ECs (ii) Should have applied to easier places (Case western, Lehigh or Colby) in ED1 or ED2 (iii) International students residing in USA and international students applying from outside are treated in the same way by most Universities if they need financial aid. (iv) The Universities never disclose the acceptance rate for international students–If a student is a citizen of China or India and applied for financial aid, the acceptance rate is 1-2%.
So what are total tuition costs at the accepted places and how much can you afford (assuming $20K for R&B and everything else)?
Lliving on campus COA could be (lower end) $45k at Purdue, $40K at RIT, $55K at UMN, $40K at U Miami, and $33K at Upitt and we can afford around $20K and we do not know yet how we can afford the rest.
Can he make money working in a co-op? Would his visa allow him to? Or work part time?
Would AP credits knock off anything?
Could you borrow? $60K in debt isn’t a huge amount for an engineer who can work at American/EU wages throughout his career.
Also, if it is simply a cashflow issue, he could conceivably drop down to part-time status (2 classes a term) at Pitt (and maybe work as well).
No siblings?
In order to work, he must change to student visa and must register for minimum of 12 credits. I think he can get about 20 Ap credits and may try to graduate by 3 and half years saving around $16K and also needs to borrow around $60K (at 12% or more interest).
Is he on track for a green card? You?
Dropping to a student visa is bad, then?
Would a green card come soon?
If so, he could be a part-time student (or take however many credits he can afford) until then. Also potentially take cheaper classes at a local CC during the summers (make sure they can transfer to Pitt and then take classes at Pitt that can’t be taken at a CC).
PA student’s dad , your son did a great work in high school. Congrats!!!
I hope you can solve the economic difference in the best way.
Jeff Levy, CEP …has a spreadsheet that is geared for international students with colleges and breaks down financial aid and merit and past percentage of students it was offered to as a free resource on his website. http://www.personalcollegeadmissions.com/financial-aid-nonresident
@PurpleTitan - Getting a student visa would mean that the student could work in certain restricted conditions (CPT while in college, OPT after graduation). If the student is in H4 status now, they can’t work. Only some H4 spouses of H1B holders can work, and even that is under challenge right now. Students age out of H4 at 21, and must convert to F1 then if they haven’t done so yet.
^ I’m not sure if a student visa is good or bad then. The OP will have to decide. But getting a student visa would allow for co-op, then? That would mean earnings coming in and costs spread out.
I am German and I know that in many colleges over there classes are offered in english. While he is there he could study German. Germany is very interested in international students and there are measures in place. I would look into it . He would get a very good degree with a very different price tag.
This comment was meant for PA student’s dad.
PA student dad, I would like to talk to you, can you please send me a PM so that I can share my contact number.
Hi Ravi,
May I know which college your son finally decided to go? we are in the same boat this year and need some feedback.
thanks,