<p>So I was born in India and moved to the US when I was 3. We then moved back to India when I was 6 and moved back to the US when I was 9, so we were late to the game in applying for a green card. As a result, I am now 16 and I am not a green card holder. We've been traveling to India and back with our EAD. I have no idea when we'll get our green card, so will this affect my college admissions? Will it be tougher for me to get into schools because of my green card status?</p>
<p>If you apply as an international and ask for substantial financial aid, it will be MUCH tougher to get into a good US school. If you are an extremely accomplished student and applicant, you should be fine. If you ask for aid and are a good student, you should look at the 6 need blind schools that meet full need for international applicants. They are Harvard, princeton, yale, MT, dartmouth, Amherst College. </p>
<p>@student970, I’m more of an average student. I take hard classes and I’m getting A’s and B’s. I do a lot of extra curriculars. I’m definitely not a slacker. I’m not planning to apply to Ivy Leagues…I’m applying to UVA, VT, GMU, those kids of colleges. Will I be okay?</p>
<p>The financial aid part is the major problem. If you need it, it will be tougher to get it as an international student. If you don’t need any financial aid, most schools that you list would be happy to take you, and probably many more (depending upon your exact grades etc.)</p>
<p>Not being a citizen is only a penalty for certain schools and in terms of financial aid, in my opinion.</p>
<p>Not being a citizen is not usually any problem at all unless you need money. If you are full pay, no problem. You need money, big problem.</p>
<p>You won’t be eligible for financial aid at most of the schools on your list and you’ll have to pay full OOS costs - 30 to 45k! (unless somehow VA considers that graduating from HS is sufficient). If I were you, I would do my utmost to get that permanent resident papers in order ASAP in order to make your life easier now on. </p>
<p>Wait, will I have to apply as an international student? I’ve been living in the country for most of my life! I lived in India for a total of 6 years, and the US for 10!</p>