PLEASE HELP: Non-citizen

Paying for College
1

<p>Okay so here's my problem:</p>

<p>I emigrated to America when I was 10 years old. My parents applied for Sibling-to-Sibling U.S. Citizenship (one of my aunts is a citizen) so we could become legal residents and after 5 years of that, U.S. citizens. </p>

<p>In case you weren't familiar with the process, it's very, very long. </p>

<p>The National Visa things sends out a bulletin every month. Currently, they are working in the Sibling-to-Sibling petitions of 1998. Every month, they advance one more month. </p>

<p>My case has been approved. Meaning me and my family are legally here and legally waiting. All we need is time. That's it. In about 5 years from now, they'll reach my case and then they'll give me my green card, SSN, etc. </p>

<p>But Im applying to college next year, and I was wondering if I qualify for ANY financial aid. </p>

<p>For the moment, I only have my approval form saying my case has been approved and Im in waiting list. That's all. </p>

<p>And unfortunately, that's all I have to go with in my college app. I also have no cash for college, as my parents wash cars for a living and make approx. 16,000 per year. </p>

<p>I am really poor and Hispanic. My #1 choice is UPenn. I am also applying to Stanford, Harvard, and Princeton. </p>

<p>But is there any way I can even GO to college? I don't have a cent and I don't know what's going to happen because I know that I am not becoming a "citizen" anytime soon. </p>

<p>PLEASE HELP. I am freaking out. =(</p>

<p>Thanks.</p>

2

<p>One of the things that you must remember is that colleges ask for your status as of the day you file your application. Since you will not be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident, you will be in the international pool of candidates. Since Penn, Stanford & Haverford are not need blind to international students, your ability to pay will be a factor in the admissions process and the harsh reality is that Harvard and Princeton will deny admissions to ~90% of the applicant pool.</p>

<p>Haverford states:</p>

<p>
[quote]
The number of international students we can help is limited. The College can provide funding for only three international students per class who have need.

[/quote]
</p>

<p><a href="http://www.haverford.edu/financialaid/faq/international.php%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.haverford.edu/financialaid/faq/international.php&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>It is good that you are looking into options now as you will have to plan very carefully. Because of your status, you probably will not be eligilble for College Board fee waivers for testing or applications.</p>

<p><a href="http://www.collegeboard.com/student/testing/sat/calenfees/feewaivers.html%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.collegeboard.com/student/testing/sat/calenfees/feewaivers.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>YOu will definitely have to cast a wide net of schools. I would suggest looking at schools that you stand a good chance of getting merit aid, some schools that are SAT optional (see fairtest.org) and schools where if you apply on-line the fees will be waived.</p>

3

<p>What type of visa do you currently hold? That determines whether you are in the international or domestic pool of applicants.</p>

<p>Each institution determines how to award their aid -- but unless you are a US citizen or permanent resident (with appropriate visa) you will not be eligible for federal financial aid.</p>

<p>Here is some very helpful information from the federal government on eligibility:</p>

<p><a href="http://www.ifap.ed.gov/sfahandbooks/attachments/0506Vol1Ch2.pdf%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.ifap.ed.gov/sfahandbooks/attachments/0506Vol1Ch2.pdf&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>read this throughly -- it has quite a bit to say and will be a good starting point.</p>

<p>best of luck!</p>

4

<p>MetdethGNR, I have the same problem. kinda I am asian though.</p>

<p>I would suggest doing Harvard, Princeton, Yale, MIT, Williams, and MIddlebury. Those are the only schools thatgive need-blind to internationals. </p>

<p>Stanford is complicated becuase they only offer 20 full rides to internationals who need aid, it's all or nothing. </p>

<p>Also, you can change your status anytime before decisions come out! :)</p>

<p>and are you grades/stats really really high? becuase then you don't have to worry about anything.</p>

5

<p>I am wondering what is need-blind .
Thanks for answering .</p>

6

<p>need-blind means the school will not consider your financial condition in their admission process. Whether you can pay or not is not a criteria that will affect your chance of admission. A non need-blind school, on the other hand, will factor in your ability to pay into their addmission process. They might decline admission to an otherwise qualify candidate simply because he/she might not be able to afford the expenses needed, tuition etc., to attend the school.</p>