<p>So I lived in the US for the past 8 years with a H4 visa... but would I still be considered as an "International Applicant" when I apply for colleges? Is this an advantage or disadvantage? I'm so confused... -_-</p>
<p>You would be classified as an international student as far as your citizenship status is concerned. Whether that’s good or bad depends mainly on your financial situation. If your family can afford to pay for 4 years of college without assistance, you are in a good position. However, you would not be eligible for federal financial aid and many colleges would not consider you for institutional aid either. Your visa status may or may not preclude you from gaining in-state status for tuition purposes. You have to check the policies of your in-state public universities.</p>
<p>As far as your academic requirements are concerned, you would apply like your American peers. You won’t need TOEFL scores or the International Supplement to the School Report.</p>
<p>When researching colleges, you need to read the admission information for domestic students as well as international students because there will be policies in both sections that apply to you. </p>
<p>You should also investigate the potential advantages and disadvantages of switching to an F-1 student visa. F-1 visa holders are allowed to pursue limited employment (e.g. summer internships) while students on an H-4 visa may not work at all. On the other hand, switching visas might affect your in-state tuition eligibility (if applicable, see above) and it may not be advantageous at all if you anticipated gaining permanent resident status in the near future.</p>
<p>Thx B@r!um… but would my application be compared with people from the US or with the international applicants? Because I know that many colleges and universities accept far less international students, so competition is greater.</p>
<p>Academically you would (most likely) be compared to US students, unless you are competing with other international applicants for very limited financial aid. If you want to find out for sure, contact some of the colleges you are interested in and ask them if your application would be evaluated on different academic standards than your American-born classmates’.</p>
<p>As far as I know, admissions is not generally more competitive for international students than it is for domestic students. The two big exceptions are university with international prestige (Harvard & Co) and universities with financial aid for international students.</p>
<p>I see… well I’m aiming for those “international prestiges” like MIT… so we’ll see how it goes.</p>
<p>I took your advice and emailed them. Thanks!</p>
<p>Please sit down with your parents and/or whoever it is who will be helping you pay for your education. You need to know NOW how much money will be available so that you can find places that you can afford. Your financial safety may be in your home country.</p>
<p>@happymomof1 - my parents are willing to pay my full tuition if I am able to get into those top colleges. Right now… my only focus is getting into them and I am simply wondering whether my visa status will put me at a disadvantage against my fellow peers during the application process.</p>
<p>Your H4 won’t be a barrier. Don’t worry about that. </p>
<p>Do your best in your applications, and see what your results are. Also please find out how your parents feel about paying full tuition at places that don’t classify as “top”. Some parents are not willing to pick up a big tab for institutions that are “lower” in the rankings. If you and your parents are clear about the finances, you will be able to construct a solid list.</p>
<p>Thanks I really hope it won’t be a barrier, but I feel like I might be put in a situation where I would be accepted had I held citizenship… but I was rejected due to the stronger international pool of applicants.</p>
<p>If I don’t get into the “top” colleges, I will most likely just go to a UC because I am a California resident.</p>