Hey, so I got accepted into Berkeley (completely wasn’t expecting it)- but now I’m not sure if I should go. As an international, I get absolutely no financial aid- so that’s about 57000 USD a year- or because I’m from Canada, 4 years of undergrad = $293000. The number scares me so much. My family can afford it (i.e. we won’t need to take out loans, we have an extra appartment we can sell), but is it really worth it? I also got into McGill, UBC, and U of T in Canada. I would only need to spend ~10 000/ yr there…
In particular, if anyone could give me insight onto working as an international student in the US, I’d be really grateful. It’d be a waste to not be able to get a job in California after undergrad and to have to return to Canada, but I understand there’s the whole issue of work visas and such. So is going to Berkeley worth it? I’m scared I’ll regret not going. But I’m also scared I’ll waste 300 000 for nothing.
There are no guarantees that you will be able to work in the US after graduation. Paying $300K for 4 years is really too much money for an undergrad education.
That’s a lot of money… I don’t know about the work visas so I can’t comment on that. But I think a big problem is graduates being able to afford the outrageous rents in the California Bay Area!
I’m facing the same problem here… me being an international, my family is currently discussing whether the schools I got in are worth the money. I’m pretty upset about it after all the hard work on the applications but oh well we just have to deal with the reality.
aiee thank you for all the responses ^.^ I know how you feel @islander1108 - my dad says to just reapply for graduate studies- BUT THEN WHAT WAS THE POINT OF STRESSING OVER HIGH SCHOOL dies internally
@gummylemons exactly, what’s the point of all the fuss! I had to put up with twice the workload my friends had just to apply to both schools in the US and schools in my country…now it feels as if all the efforts had gone to waste…
I was an international student at Cal too paying the full fees.
If money is a major concern, it’s better not to go to Cal. If it isn’t, Cal would offer you amazing and valuable experiences that you wouldn’t otherwise experience going to your local university.
At face value, a Cal undergraduate degree is reasonable. But then again, that is all subject to your capacity to pay.
@ababon money’s not a major concern, but at the same time, there’s a lot of other things I could do with the money xD Did you have any trouble finding a job after undergrad by any chance? My intended major is cognitive science- maybe not the best choice, but it seems interesting
Plenty of International students stay after graduation. Plenty were then able to secure a green card. As for my case I got a sponsor visa and stayed for a couple more years before I went offshore. It shouldn’t be hard for you to stay and remain in the US with a Berkeley degree.
@gummylemons and @islander1108, I am in the same boat as you guys. I’m planning to go into business at Berkeley (and hopefully get into Haas), and my family isn’t sure whether Berkeley is a better choice over top Canadian business schools…
@BarrelBlaster @islander1108 you guys have to let me know what you choose @-) My parents are leaning towards Berkeley right now… I’m sort of excited but there’s also a sort of pressure to make the most of 300k
@gummylemons My parents have decided to let me go abroad, considering that I am probably going to study either design or architecture. I am super excited, but now I really cant decide between UCLA and UVa…
(completely wasn’t expecting it)- but now I’m not sure if I should go. As an international, I get absolutely no financial aid- so that’s about 57000 USD a year- or because I’m from Canada, 4 years of undergrad = $293000. The number scares me so much. My family can afford it (i.e. we won’t need to take out loans, we have an extra appartment we can sell), but is it really worth it? I also got into McGill, UBC, and U of T in Canada. I would only need to spend ~10 000/ yr there…
