<p>I continue posting usless threads in the CC forums, but I am very anxious.</p>
<p>I am an international students from Italy and my dream has always been living in the US.
Currently I'm in 4th year, and next year will be the last of HS.</p>
<p>I want to double major in Cognitive Science and Marketing, with honors, but none of these programs exists in Italy. Plus, univ. in Italy sucks, and the people who get out of there still cannot find work.
I talked with my parents about going in the US for the university.</p>
<p>At first they seemed doubious.. they were very shocked about the price (here Univ costs up to 10k Euros per year, and just the most prestigious.) but they also thought I was joking.</p>
<p>Later on the discussed this thing again, I asked them our budget and these things. Mom said it was not a problem, they we have the money.</p>
<p>Well, this is the thing. I feel kinda bad to put this weight on my parents, since I cannot work during 1st year of college.. we are talking about 55k per year.</p>
<p>Do you think I'm being a bad child? Should I stop considering USA, even if I did all the tests? I'm trying to find work here in Italy now, to help more, and I know we have lots of money saved.. But, I'm not sure this is worth it.
It is sure I'll go to grad school, so it will be more money again. </p>
<p>Sorry for my bad English, misspelled words or everything else.
And thank you for your time.</p>
<p>You sound like a considerate person. If your parents tell you it is not a problem, and they mean it, then I hope you can worry less about this.</p>
<p>Have a good talk with them about what they would want you to contribute. Will your parents pay for pizza and nights out at the movies or a concert, for instance? For transportation? Also find out if your parents feel that a US college or university will bring better opportunities later (I have no idea if this is actually true) so the expenses feel worthwhile. I am hoping that full communication with your parents will help clarify all this for you.</p>
<p>You could also go to school elsewhere in Europe. I know an Italian young man who went in England. (My own daughter is going to the Netherlands for a masters because it is so much more affordable than the US, yet just as excellent.)</p>
<p>p.s. My keyboards apostrophe is not working!</p>
<p>My problem is that Cognitive Science doesn’t exist at all in Europe! There are some degrees called “Cog Sci” but they do not cover all the subject (for ex. one is “computational cognitive science” or only psychology, only linguistic, etc…)</p>
<p>Moms said that they will be paying for everything (at least for the 1st year, when I cannot work). They don’t know anything about univs in the USA, I think there’s no possibily to know if university here will bring more opportunities. But still, I think yes, since there are so much internships available and research etc…</p>
<p>I will definitely not waste money - or time. I will be there to study, that’s why I want to move out of Italy. I’ll also try to graduate early and to find work asap.</p>
<p>I think I’ll talk to them after I recieve the admission letter(s), if I get them. I don’t want to talk too much about this (since I already talked much) and then, find out I’m not accepted.</p>
<p>Where in the US are you double majoring in Cog Sci and marketing?</p>
<p>And you need to figure out as an International, which of these internship and research opportunities you’ll be able to take advantage of on a student visa (i.e. not a Green card). Then in order to work here legally after you get your degree, you’ll need an American company to hire you and agree to sponsor you during your OPT period.</p>
<p>I think this is more complicated than it looks if your plan is to come here and stay after you graduate. Whether or not a US degree is more portable/valuable if you return to an EU company- you may need to do some research on that.</p>
<p>It’s up to your parents as to whether they pay or not. And up to you as to whether you take them up on it. You can look at the scholarship threads and see what schools might offer you money–make sure you are eligible as an international student, and give that a whirl as well.</p>
<p>I didn’t explain well, sorry. I was talking about working during school! (i know I can work up to 20h per week)</p>
<p>I still have to apply to school(s), but right now I’m thinking about U of Arizona, U San Diego and UT Dallas. I’m applying also to other schools (just for Cog Sci and/or Management)</p>
<p>The amount of money you could make working 20 hours a week–even assuming you could find such a job and manage your studies in two majors while working that much–would have only a minor impact on the kind of costs you are considering. Your parents would still have to bear a heavy financial burden.</p>
<p>If your parents say they have the resources and they are willing to pay after they recover from being shocked about the price, then take the gift. Make the very best of it. Work hard and get the best grades you can. Get a job to help with the cost-it may not make a huge dent but it shows you value your own education enough to commit to helping it be possible. And at the end of the day, if your parents are willing, you are not being a bad kid. </p>
<p>Most international students can work part-time on campus for the university. You can also apply, after your first year, to be a resident assistant in a dormitory, which will usually provide free housing. Once you are accepted at a university, speak to the international student advisor about working, etc. Most US universities have many foreign students and are very knowledgeable about work restrictions, etc. </p>
<p>In my opinion, a US degree is very valuable in any country. And, of course, you can work in any EU country after graduation (or the US if your company is willing to sponsor you.) </p>
<p>You could do your undergraduate work in Europe where it is cheaper with a major in Marketing and maybe minor or double in something related to Cog Sci (Psychology? Neuroscience?). Or at least apply to a few schools where you could do that as a backup plan if you end up with only unaffordable choices in the US.</p>
<p>Look at joint programs in the UK; if you speak French, the joint program at UPMC (a university in Paris); but most of all, you should work hard to get your ACT to a 32 or your SAT CR+M to 1400 so that you can get good merit scholarships plus apply to LACs that offer this combination (doesn’t Dickinson?)</p>
<p>Sorry, I don’t speak french
Plus, as I said, what I want to study exists basically only in the USA. idk my SAT score (out in 2 days), but not 1400 for sure. :/</p>
