Permanent Residence

Paying for College
1

<p>Hey,</p>

<p>I'm currently a junior and I'm looking at colleges. Unfortunately, I'm a Canadian citizen living in America for the past 8 years, and I'm still on a visa (its renewed every year). Because of that, I don't have permanent residence, and so I can't get student/federal aid (loans, grants, etc). My only other option is going to school in Canada, which I would prefer not to do. Anyone here in the same situation/know anyone in the same situation? Any advice?</p>

2

<p>colleges give aid to canadian citizens, u just have to make sure the colleges u want to apply do give aids, call the FINAID office.</p>

3

<p>Thanks for your reply,</p>

<p>I meant in the case that colleges do not give enough to cover all the tuition costs. I plan on applying to several ivies, duke, etc, and in case they can't cover all the tuition costs, I'd be left with several thousand left to pay, but no help will come from the federal government; which blows cause my parents still pay all the same taxes.</p>

4

<p>Those taxes your parents pay do NOT support the private colleges that you are listing. The Ivies, and Duke are private institutions of higher education. They are not government funded schools. In other words, your family's taxes are not paying for them. The federal aid you are talking about would be a drop in the bucket for the annual cost of attendance at these schools (someone else with more knowledge can put the maximum amounts of the federal aid...including Pell grants etc). </p>

<p>I guess I wonder about your comment about Canadian schools. Several of my son's friends just love McGill...and a couple of people he knew didn't even get accepted there. It's a fine place.</p>

5

<p>Those taxes your parents pay do NOT support the private colleges that you are listing. The Ivies, and Duke are private institutions of higher education. They are not government funded schools. In other words, your family's taxes are not paying for them.</p>

<p>Oh yeah I meant financial aid from the government.</p>

<p>There's no doubt that there are really good Canadian schools, like Mcgill, U of T, and Western Ontario, but I really would much rather go to school here, and Canada would be more of a last resort.</p>

6

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<p>Yes....and I commented on that federal aid too. It's not as much as you think, and unless you are a low income student, you may not even qualify for some of it. I'll let those who know more about the maximum fed aid comment here...if they want to.</p>

7

<p>Even for US citizens, there are very few schools that meet 100% of need, and federal financial aid also covers very little, if you're even eligible at all. In addition, even the 100% colleges use their own definition of "need", which is rarely the same as the student's definition of need, leaving kids scrambling to find additional funds.</p>

8

<p>Well, my parents make less than 50k, but I'm guessing even though we're low income I still wouldn't get much due to nonpermanent residence. Would I be able to apply as an international student?</p>