<p>In the United States, there is also a financial support requirement for issuance of a student visa, so if you don’t have the money, you just can’t study here. See [post</a> #11](<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/1062262187-post11.html]post”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/1062262187-post11.html) for one result of that policy.</p>
<p>“Where I come from, parents stop supporting their children at 18, since we get support from the government to study.”</p>
<p>You are very lucky to be able to return to a country where you can get a free college education. </p>
<p>Obtaining a college education is a financial sacrifice for the large majority of American families. Sorry, but I don’t have sympathy for you. Here in the U.S. , the majority of students go to college within 250 miles of their hometowns. Their going out of the country to college wouldn’t even be something that they’d dare dream.</p>
<p>If you tell me which country u are coming from…</p>
<p>I will give u the advise.</p>
<p>Do not get sucked in to the dream of capitalism.</p>
<p>Education &</p>
<p>Health care costs d not have any controls.</p>
<p>Saamie–I guess I am understanding your situation a little differently–correct me if I am wrong. I believe you said you are already 2 years older than most students would be when entering a USA college. I also know some people who live in Sweden and understand the desire to experience the USA. I do agree that taking $50,000 from you parents without a 4 year plan does not make any sense. I think you need to contact the school you want and find out if there are any other options–such as work/study and any other available grants. Communicate with them before you give up on your dream. And then sit with your parents and discuss what they truly feel about the situation and how the $50,000 will effect them. I think you need to take a few more steps before you throw the towel in. And I do not think you are immature or silly for wanting to find out if anyone here has any ideas that might lead you to a solution.</p>
<p>Some of the comments are rather caustic and unfair to the OP… Giving up a dream is incredibly painful after all, especially one you’ve dreamt about for years and years… I think the OP is not willing to modify her dreams and attend a significantly less prestigious school because then she’d be better off staying at home anyway, where she can attend a very respected school. Knowing this, however, I would also encourage the stay-at-home plan. saaammie, I suspect that you’d be too worried about your parents and guilty about costs to really enjoy college in the U.S. anyway, especially when you have such a good alternative.</p>
<p>Yes, my comments were very caustic and pointed, deliberately so.</p>
<p>The thought that a foreign student would consume scarce resources needed by our own people fills me with rage. </p>
<p>My customers are putting good workers on the street with no medical insurance and no prospects of ever finding as good a job. </p>
<p>Need blindness in college admission has been abondanded by all but a very few institutions, actually if not officially.</p>
<p>The OP is lucky to live in a civilized country that doesn’t allow the “alpha caste” to exploit and diminish the rest of society.</p>
<p>Big G,
Your point is well taken. However, there is no evidence that your daughter didn’t get into a better school because of financial aid. You don’t know what kind of recommendations or essays these kids had, what their circumstances are or what kind of enthusiasm they showed to their chosen schools. Most schools are need blind. They might admit someone and not offer any financial aid so that it would be impossible for that person to go, but that is not the same as rejecting them outright. Those are two different issues.</p>
<p>Big G: I understand how you feel, but I know many kids who went to State U’s did very well and transferred to privates. I know others who excelled at State Us and went on to top grad or professional programs or good jobs. I’m not sure it is fair to conclude that the state schools really offer less than most, even top 25, privates, or are dream killers. S2 is looking at colleges and his top choices so far include a mix of private and public with some top tier and others not, and I am quite fine with that.</p>
<p>I have to admit that I, too, am ticked that a person who could get a free education in their own country is complaining about not getting financial aid from U.S. schools so as to be able to achieve their dream of studying here. Many American students just dream of getting a college education at the community college down the street, and they and their families have to financially sacrifice a great deal just to achieve that modest dream.</p>
<p>Here’s another thought: I know that a foundation associated with the Reader’s Digest offered a special scholarship to students from Scandinavian countries to study at Macalester for a year. (A cousin of mine from one of the countries in question won it.) Try to get that.</p>
<p>I, too, find the flood of internationals looking for big FA when they could go to university at home for little or nothing infuriating, I must also admit. US students are not getting any FA in Europe or Britain, to my knowledge. It’s simply out of the question.</p>
<p>My friend U should use your money wisely.</p>
<p>Get a college degree in your country for free.</p>
<p>Apply for a Grad program in the U S A.</p>
<p>American students are not that much interested in grad programs because they will be paying their college loans .</p>
<p>U will always find fin aid for grad programs .</p>
<p>Grad programs are cheaper.</p>
<p>U will be ahead of all of your current plans.</p>
<p>Thank you for all your advice and support and I’m sorry if I offended anyone.
I have a right to a dream and I’m not trying to cheat anyone. I chose to apply to American universities even though education here is free. Don’t you think I had good reasons to do so? I started this thread because I was heartbroken and wanted advice. I’m not perfect, I’m only 19. I’m still learning. But acting like I’m an idiot or responsible for all the wrongs in the world isn’t fair to me. You know nothing about my reasons for not wanting to stay here and why I’d rather go to America. Don’t be too quick to judge. Maybe I should have written my post better or said smarter things. But as I said, I’m young and not perfect. I do my best. </p>
<p>For those I offended or annoyed, be happy. I’m not going to America.</p>
<p>I’m going to France this fall to study French, I haven’t decided where yet. I’m going back here to work in the spring and take part time classes in Dutch, my mother’s language.
After that, I’m probably going to the school I mentioned, and if fates are good, to America for grad school. I don’t want to give up on that dream entirely.
I’m not happy yet, because losing a dream, even if it’s a far-fetched one, is hard. But I will be. This will mean new challenges and new dreams, hopefully. And I’ve always wanted to learn to speak French properly.</p>
<p>Thank you again. Best of luck to you all.</p>
<p>See if you can spend a year abroad in America–you might be able to spend all of your junior year here without spending too much more money than you would have at your home institution.</p>