<p>phuriku is total right about the meal plan. I don't buy into the idea of meal plans anywhere. What i do is pretty much common sense, I go to the grocery store, spend about $30 per week, sometimes less and if need be i can always stop in somewhere and grab a bite to eat, not extravagant juts something to nibble on. Just from avoiding meal plans you can save a load of money, as long as you know what your doing. Also bout the living on campus thing, i totally agree, but for my first year i think that its a good idea to live on campus so that i can become accustomed to the various thing on campus and feel like i am more apart of the school. But after the first yer i would more likely than not move into an apartment w/ roommates. its just common sense and financially smart.</p>
<p>I know I said by would have a lsit of international scholarships by today, but unfortunately its gonna have to wait a bit :(</p>
<p>I just found that UC doesn't offer financial aid for internationals</p>
<p>Oh, I'm so sorry qiao272002. What options do you have in light of that news.</p>
<p>I have had some experience with financial aid for international students (I now have Permanent Residency, so I get FAFSA). There are very few options for the college itself to help you out, no matter where you apply; colleges like this as they get more cash. You are left with, essentially, private scholarships. There are many out there, though they are competitive.
Are you currently in the US or at school abroad? Depending on where you are from, your home country may help you out.
If you want to pursue this, you have your work cut out for you, qiao. You should contact UC FinAid and ask for advice. If you need a hand, you've always got us on this forum.
I hope that it works out for you!
Phuriku, are you currently attending UC? You seem to have the inside info. I agree with you on the budgeting, but also with Rhode in that I would take on that expense for a year in exchange for ingratiating myself better.</p>
<p>Maisser, I completely agree with Phuriku. Though the story drawn on here does not have a happy ending (ultimately) for this guy, he did get in to UC which is all you need be concerned about right now. Look at the phrasing Cottrell used in his essay - he was able to turn his past into a positive trait. You don't need a BS degree to do this, just write from the heart. Your essays and interviews will take an added weight and as long as you can show that you have taken a new path, you stand a good chance. Just put your soul into it. It sounds from your entry that you see all the same things in UC that I do; just keep that as your motivator. </p>
<p>The more I learn about UC, the more I want (need?) to go. I sincerely hope that we can all meet in person there next year!</p>
<p>I have 800WR 790CR 660M in my SAT1 but I am a science intent (ultimately psychiatry). Should I worry about the math letting me down and take it again or the ACT (I have done only one SAT and no ACT) or leave it as is? Any advice, guys?</p>
<p>Oh I hope that we all meet at UC next year as well PatriotUSA. As for the SAT/ACT question, I am in the same boat, I have no idea. When u figure it out please tell me :)</p>
<p>I hope I can meet you all, too. Thanks for your advice. I'm currently attending a US school without fin aid. But I really don't want put more financial pressure on my parents. I'm trying to find more scholarships outside school.
For the SAT, I think I will take it again, because of my low verbal score last time. As Rhode said before, it really matters if you had taken too many times before. PatriotUSA, since you took only once, I think it's fine to take it again.</p>
<p>It would be a shame if we had all of this desire and ambition without getting there, eh? Its a long time away yet and, honestly, it is really unlikely to happen LOL but the sentiment stands.
i would say that any increase in score can only be a good thing, no matter how they see the SAT. So, Rhode, I wouldn't call that figuring out anything, but I suspect that it will be the answer you get from admissions. I think that applications are best served by the candidate as being seen to be a "good fit", alongside college work, with standardized testing last. They say that themselves, don't they?
I think I will take it again, qiao, I just need to be cautious about all of this - I'm going to need to put a lot of work in elsewhere too.
One thing I plan on is getting in touch with someone in admissions who will help me through it all and whom I can get to know (having my counselor on my side was a godsend last year) and in asking my university academic advisor (or admissions if he can't help) about my CV and what I can do to beef it up. Something for you to look into, perhaps. I'll keep posting with develoments.</p>
<p>Hope you're having a good, productive summer!</p>
<p>Just to clarify, thats asking my current Uni about how I come across as a candidate.
I understand your situation with FinAid, qiao, I have a similar problem. I am in ND mainly because their FA was the best I could get. Luckily I can take loans out by myself so I won't be too much of a burden.</p>
<p>Phuriku, what school did you go to?</p>
<p>And thanks for the pep talk. I've always been told that I was bright but I couldnt focus at all in high school because my mother suffers from severe depression. Sometimes she would be the most wonderful person on the planet and the next thing I know she would be throwing my copy of P&P around and calling me whore and telling me I was stupid. </p>
<p>But yeah, wanted to ask another thing: How do you think the school would feel about letting me in after one year of community college? I mean, by then I'd have a 4.0 GPA for SURE because A) I wont settle for anything less and B) my mom is finally getting REAL treatment and I may be moving out.</p>
<p>I have a problem in selecting classes, can anyone help me?</p>
<p>The school I will attend has two different classes in first-year compostion, which is required to take. One is for normal students and one is for international student. I looked up the usual classes system, some other school has this class but only eng 106. And I looked Chicago's, sigh, it doesn't even have eng 106.
If I take eng 106, I'm not confident that I can a high gpa, but if I take eng 106i, which is easier, I'm not sure whethr the credit can be transferred.
Any advice?</p>
<p>Sorry to hear that about your mom, Maisser, but glad that she is getting treatment. With regards to admissions, it depends on how you "sell" yourself. What helped for me was taking inspiration in tone/style from some of the best admissions essays out there; you have to watch out not to plagiarize, but as a stencil it can be very useful - just use it as a launchpad and then draw on your emotion.
A high GPA in community college is necessary but not sufficient, in my opinion. See how much you can juggle outside of tests. Get involved in the 2008 campaign (as a volunteer myself, I know they'll be glad to give you all the responsibility you can take) and push yourself to the max. From what I have read, big name colleges are often quite willing to take on students like yourself as long as they show their stuff. UCal Berkeley is one that I know for sure actually prefers to take transfers from community college. Are you in Illinois?</p>
<p>Ask your community college. They almost expect bright kids to leave and will be willing to help.</p>
<p>Qiao, just take the toughest courses you can. You can't always get equivalency in your courses; all they need to be is similar "enough". Don't fixate on numbers.</p>
<p>Thanks Patriot =D</p>
<p>So wait, are you a student at UChicago?
Yeah I live in Chicago.
Yeah, I know UChicago isnt all about numbers and I'm completely ready to do anything (ethical and legal) to get in.</p>
<p>No probs, Maisser.
Me, I am in Indiana and will try and transfer this year (if you look back through posts you will see my story).
Being already in a community college in the area is good news. I don't know about UC's policies on CCs or if it makes as much of a difference as it does for state schools (like UCal) but its in your favor.
Thats the spirit. Just make sure that you are seen to have taken the most challenging options, and then excelled. If I were you, I would take some more standardized testing to show your potential.</p>
<p>Thanks PatriotUSA, I'm in Indiana too, in Purdue. I'll think about my class selection again.</p>
<p>Just to let you guys know, the essays for UC are now up on their website, and their Common Application seems to be available too (though they do not have any supplements up yet). The essays might be something to get working on this summer - they are vital - and don't forget that you will answer the usual "why transfer?" and "why UC?" questions also.
If you want to run any ideas or whatnot by me, I'll be glad to help, as ever.
Good luck and take your time - you have until March - and remember that the Fall semester will be the clincher (Spring results will arrive too late, I gather) so you need to hit the ground running.
If anyone has more info on the requirements, etc (minimum GPA for consideration?), I'd be grateful, I only have an iPod to browse the net from and its pretty slow.</p>
<p>My ideas for the "why transfer" and "why UC" essays have a theme going. In the first, I will show why my current school doesn't quite offer what I seek, while implicitly lining up UC to be the place that does; then go on in the second essay to show that explicitly. Example: current school doesn't share the commitment to <insert core="" uc="" benefit="" here=""> which I need for a thriving intellectual life; UC offers <benefit> which is exactly what I am looking for.
Show a need, then identify them as the solution, playing to a hope (UC) rather than a fear (staying put). I've got to play to UC's strengths and show not only that I want them, but that they want me (ie I fit their student profile).
I'm thinking that the above is the template? If anyone knows the ropes to any of this or someone/somewhere that does, a link would be great.</benefit></insert></p>
<p>It's nice to be back, I was so busy all week and had a little hospital scare. PatriotUSA i am writing my essays in a similar fashion. Hope you all are having a wonderful Saturday and go Maroons :)</p>