Internationals, how do you cope with tuition?

Student Lounge International Students
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<p>Well, I think we all have the same problem: since we're international students, we don't qualify for need-based scholarships or financial aid. And while there are many prestigious merit-based scholarships, the sad truth is that many of us won't get those. So, how do you guys handle financial problems (besides hoping for scholarships)? Isn't it a problem at all because your family is wealthy enough, do you work your butt off to save at least some money yourself, does your country help you? Did you have to eliminate your first choices from your list simply because they were too expensive?</p>

<p>Tell me and discuss!</p>

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<p>1) Some colleges (mostly smaller ones) DO award need-based aid to intls. I got a really generous fin aid package from Bryn Mawr College.</p>

<p>2) Attend a public university where tuition is lower than at private colleges. There are enough universities that charge less than $10,000 of tuition per year. 10K can still be a fortune but easier to handle than 30K.</p>

<p>3) Apply for merit scholarships. Most colleges that award significant merit scholarships to intls are, well, not too great but it should be worth a thought.</p>

<p>4) Don't apply to colleges you know that you won't be able to finance.</p>

<p>5) Participate in the green card lottery (I did and I won; next year at this time I might be a permanent resident!!!)</p>

<p>6) Allow for some financial flexibility. E.g., don't plan to work more than 10 hours/week on campus. That way, if something unforeseen happens, you can still work a few hours more.</p>

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<p>barium, are there green card lotteries everywhere?</p>

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<p>b@r!um is right - there are a lot of small colleges that give aid to international students. These are usually small liberal arts colleges that give need based aid that is without loans, working etc. Some are even need-blind for international students:</p>

<p>Wellesley, Williams, Middlebury, Amherst, Pomona, Haverfod, Swarthmore</p>

<p>There are also some universities that are need blind:</p>

<p>Duke, Dartmouth, Stanford, Cornell, Harvard, Princeton, etc.</p>

<p>But even those that are not fully need blind to internationals may end up giving you a lot of need based aid (Bryn Mawr, Colby etc.)</p>

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<p>Stanford, Cornell and Dartmouth are not need-blind for internationals. I think HYPM are the only need-blind top universities though MIT does have an upper cap on the number of internationals they admit.</p>

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<p>other non need blind schools like northwestern, duke, columbia also give great aid</p>

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<p>Swarthmore, Wellesley, Pomona and Haverfod are not need blind. Nor are Duke, Dartmouth, Stanford or Cornell. Middlebury, Williams, Amherst (not officially announced yet, but rumoured) H, Y, P and M are.</p>

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<p>Duke is not need-blind for internationals :S!
yeah one thing is---> Don't apply to colleges you know that you won't be able to finance.
It is funny but I got scholarships (from 10k to 18k) in eight colleges but then I got the acceptance letter from Duke and couldn't turn it down! haha </p>

<p>Also, u can get a loan if u have a US citizen or resident co-signer</p>

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<p>There are only 6 universities that are need blind for international students. These are MIT, Harvard University, Princeton University, Yale University, Williams College, and Middlebury College.(source: WikiPedia)</p>

<p>Anyway, you can still get great financial aid even in a non need-blind school, I think.</p>

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<p>Georgetown is need-blind as well: <a href="http://www.georgetown.edu/undergrad/admissions/applyinternational.html%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.georgetown.edu/undergrad/admissions/applyinternational.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>(but they don't guarantee to meet 100% right?)</p>

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<p>
[quote]
barium, are there green card lotteries everywhere?

[/quote]

There is one annual green card lottery (the official name is Electronic Diversity Visa Lottery) and anyone with a high school diploma who was not born in one of few certain countries* can participate. Chances to win are really slim (I heard that 12 million people applied for 50,000 visas) but since it's free it should be worth a try.</p>

<p>*not eligible are: BRAZIL, CANADA, CHINA (mainland-born), COLOMBIA, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC, EL SALVADOR, HAITI, INDIA, JAMAICA, MEXICO, PAKISTAN, PHILIPPINES, PERU, POLAND, RUSSIA, SOUTH KOREA, UNITED KINGDOM (except Northern Ireland) and its dependent territories, and VIETNAM</p>

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<p>
[quote]
*not eligible are: BRAZIL, CANADA, CHINA (mainland-born), COLOMBIA, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC, EL SALVADOR, HAITI, INDIA

[/quote]

So, if you are going to Colombia University, you can't apply? Strange.</p>

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<p>I guess you are trying to be funny but I don't get it...</p>

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<p>What's funny in it?</p>

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<p>Well, I don't get the serious part either...</p>

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<p>I simply said that if you were born in Colombia, you are currently not eligible to enter the green card lottery. What has the Colombia University got to do with that?</p>

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<p>Ok, I thought you were saying that if you were born in Columbia University in NY, you aren't eligible.</p>

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<p>And it's Columbia University as opposed to Colombia University (which is located in Colombia). Interested in the Ivy League but lacking basic geography skills... :D</p>

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<p>lol barium and abhi08544!!</p>

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<p>barium, It's not Colombia. It's Locombia.</p>