How is this kiddo going to pay for COLLEGE? Even if he moves here today, he likely won’t have instate status at any schools in this country, because his custodial parent lives elsewhere.
Even IF he got accepted to a college that meets full need for students when $0 EFC by their calculation…the schools will still expect a student contribution.
This poster has posted multiple threads about college affordability…and now he wants to add High School costs to the mix?
This plan has a lot of flaws.
^ graduating from a Texas high school qualifies a student for in-state residency for tuition purpose BUT it doesn’t solve the overarching issue of college costs since op wouldn’t be able to afford in-state tuition unless he gets merit scholarships.
I’m guessing this is a “desperate situation/desperate measures” scenario though.
Op: why can’t you use the plane ticket money to pay your school fees as some posters suggested?
OP might get dropped from the present school. He wouldn’t learn about 2019 admits til next spring. Meanwhile, he’s one of thousands of kids applying with the bulk of their education in foreign countries. Plus, a misstep here could blur his record. (And he’s supposed to navigate this, ensure best choices, while homeless?)
The most generous colleges will have many top candidates with top completed records and the rest of what it takes.
And we can be realistic about him googling the name of some church, any church, writing to them out of the blue and expecting the full support he needs. These relationships often start in the home (current) country, organizations there that represent this sort of help.
What happened is I got accepted into a high school for junior and senior year which is one of the most expensive and top high schools in this part of Asia with a huge merit scholarship. I was the only kid with scholarship here and the rest of the students had dads who dropped them in Benz, BMWs and Audi to school. The remainder fees amount was deemed to be affordable (by a stretch) but we had unexpected, critical expenses that is causing this issue.
@MYOS1634, the flight ticket costs a little under $1,000 but the fees is over 6 times this. I can’t scrounge this up.
Ok…you can’t afford this High School…but you think you can afford college in the U.S?
College in the U.S. is more than $6000 a year.
@thumper1, regarding the college finances, I have some good financial safeties in both countries.
OP said he’d work multiple jobs here. But that’s another unpredictable.
I’m not rejecting this move. But gads, let’s not assume a cakewalk. He has zero frame of reference, no info, no US contacts. I doubt he knows what a homeless striving life is like, in Texas, or much about realities there. The real help would be helping him connect to the right orgs. And the adult perspective on the threats and perils.
Maybe you thought of this already…Maybe talk to your high school’s FA officer to see if they could give you additional money because of unexpected expenses. What about going to different high school just so you could get a diploma?
@thumper1 - if this kid is a Val and has 800 scores then he should be able to get a full ride (merit aid) at quite a few schools. My kid didn’t have such stats and she received full tuition at a very good LAC without us filling out any FA application.
@GuessME5 You need to ask the school officials for some help - installment plan, or maybe some sort of other assistance. You need to finish high school wherever you are. Can’t you transfer to another high school - maybe a local government school , or a less expensive private or Catholic school? Yes, I realize that’s several tiers down from where you are right now, but you would have a complete record.
College in the US is still a stretch, for the reasons that thumper1 mentions, but at least it is in the realm of possibility. This dream that you have of coming to senior year in high school in the US is a nonstarter . The people on this forum have been very realistic in explaining this to you. It’s a tough world out here, if you have no place here to call home.
Relying on hope and a prayer and on the kindness of strangers in another continent is not the way forward.
I agree he might get a decent merit award…but not guaranteed. He will still have personal expenses.
I think he needs to figure out a way to pay for high school…or finish it elsewhere. Then apply to college.
He was already planning on using almost all of his mother’s savings from when she worked here years ago…and money from his grandparent…to pay for college.
This is his second year at the new high school…sounds like the money for him just isn’t there. I would agree, talk to the financial aid folks there. They might be able to help with high school completion costs. It’s worth a try.
I’m not quite so sure what experience with similar situations some other posters have TBH. I’ve seen kids with terrific stats (and US citizenship) get free rides, both merit and need based pending their situation. I know a student who graduated this past year who is getting a free need based ride with an SAT in the 1200 range (WASP male). He’s an awesome student (first gen) and a college recognized that.
For spending money, most need based high aid students get a job and live frugally. Food/housing is included, so it can be done.
Nothing is guaranteed because I’ve also seen a student who could have done just as well not succeed with getting enough aid, so not able to attend - and she’s now been on our local newspaper police blotter. (Talk about frustrating.)
However, it’s discouraging here to read so many folks tell the OP to not even bother trying. If the story is substantiate-able, it’s worth reaching out and trying. Perfect scores ought to get total merit based aid at some places for a US citizen.
@GuessME5 I’m on the road soon so will need to sign off, but if you can truly substantiate your story (scores, parents, etc), then send me a pm with what you have and I can run it through our guidance office sometime this month (folks take vacations in July, so I’m not sure exactly what day who is in).
On CC, look through threads with guaranteed merit aid and be sure to check with those schools to see what they need from this next year (high school box checking). There are homeschool options if your current school is unaffordable and some credits are needed.
Check with higher level schools too - esp those well known for meeting need and also those under the “tippy top” where your scores are appealing.
You also need to suggest a major you’re interested in to know which colleges better align with what you are looking for. It won’t help to contact schools without an engineering major if that’s your intended path.
Agreed, if OP can substantiate scores and GPA then he should be able to get a full ride at many private schools. He could work for spending money and get summer jobs to pay for his summer expenses. But what he needs is a high school diploma and it doesn’t need to be from the fancy high school.
Would getting a GED be a problem for college admissions with merit? Why not do that?
He would need to get a GED…here. He lives in India.
I completely agree that this student has great potential for a full ride someplace here…once he has his HS diploma.
IIRC, his dad lives in Texas with the dad’s new family. OP has had some very very minimal contact with the dad. Very minimal.
@GuessME5 at one point you mentioned HS on Singapore. Is that where younare, or are you in India. I would definitely talk to the folks at this high school. Most good high schools don’t want to lose an good student…and you are one. Perhaps they can help you with this last year if tuition and fees.
There is no need for a GED. Homeschoolers go without them all the time and do just fine (says the mom who homeschooled her oldest two for their high school years due to a subpar ‘for their needs’ local high school). Mine got acceptances and merit aid with no GED required. They had high ACT scores and As in some DE classes to substantiate what we did. There are folks who homeschool all of the school years and their kids get accepted into all sorts of schools (with both types of aid) as fits their situation. There may be one or two schools that still require a GED, but none of the well known schools do.
That said, I’m with others who suggest the OP check with their school to be sure they don’t have options. Most schools do not want to lose a top student, but one never knows when money is involved. If the school won’t help and you find you need credits, homeschool them. The internet makes it easy to do.
As I said, someone can offer specific leads, program names. Not, sure, just fly to Texas. Not assuming he can find a job, at 18, in a new culture, just for showing up.
He explained he can’t work at home, that there are no other schools he can afford or pay for. The sort of colleges that would try take him now won’t be full rides. The most generous are for next year and will want to see a completed hs degree (and no backslide in Tx.)
He did say he could take a gap, not a preference at all.
Have you looked at any early college programs, such as Bard College at Simon’s Rock? I’m sure there are others as well. This would remove the need for the senior year of HS. And merit aid is available. May be too late for starting this fall, but perhaps second semester? Or even next year if you do not finish HS in your location.
I am not familiar AT ALL with these programs so it may not be a solution, but I thought I’d throw it out there as a possibility to explore.
Why not finish HS at the local public HS? OP- you may not get the academics from the cheaper option but you will get a HS diploma plus continue to have a place to live. You can study for more AP exams on your own. You should have time for a job to earn the money to come to the US. You have excellent grades and tests scores, plus are a US citizen. This makes college applications with financial help a lot easier. You may not start college here the year you want to but you are much more likely to be successful in surviving and getting into a school that meets your needs.
You know the Indian system. You can finish HS there. From your stated record you have the possibility of getting scholarships to one of many excellent Indian universities regardless of your final HS. You will have time to do well on whatever tests to get admitted. With a native parent you should be eligible for whatever citizens are able to do. You will be a valuable commodity here for jobs as your Indian education will be acceptable plus you will not need any visas.
We all have dreams. Life gets in the way of them for most of us. Your dream is to return to the land of your birth. Do so when you have the tools to live the lifestyle of the smart, educated person. Have the patience now to step into the life you desire. Far too many roadblocks to achieving your goals coming here homeless and penniless. These will hurt you too much to make the move now.
btw- H is from India- he came here as a physician. Two thirds of his life here- decades. One more year in India will land you in a much better position in the US. Do not let impatience ruin your future.
@GuessME5 I’ll throw another idea out there. I’d suggest you email MANY US boarding schools, explaining your situation and asking if they would let you enroll for your senior year on scholarship. You’ve got a strong academic background and one of them may be intrigued enough to admit you and give you a scholarship. Do NOT just focus on the most prestigious among them; email a LOT of them. If you can get into one, that would solve your problem. Include the fact you have US citizenship, so you won’t need a visa. Also suggest that you are willing to work part time. Some may suggest a loan–but don’t volunteer anything about this until further in your correspondence.
I don’t know how recent this is, but here is a list of US boarding schools which still had openings for 2018. https://www.boardingschoolreview.com/openings-rolling-admissions-boarding-schools I’d also throw a “Hail Mary” pass to some of the top boarding schools as well, even if they aren’t listed.
Spend some time carefully crafting your email, include a copy of your transcript as an attachment, if at all possible. Boarding schools are more likely to be familiar with your current school than a local Texas high school would.
In choosing among boarding schools, I’d also look with favor on those that offer a PG year. PG means postgraduate, i.e., students in these programs have a high school diploma already. These students will be your age and if you are particularly advanced in any academic area, these schools may be better able to offer you appropriate instruction.
I’d also suggest, as others have, applying for colleges. However, at best, you’d end up starting in January 2019.