<p>This morning I composed a fairly long reply to a thread on this topic, but when I hit the post reply, a message appeared stating that the thread had been removed for violation of terms of service or something like that. So if you were the person whose thread was eliminated, here is a summary of my reply:</p>
<p>Start with the EducationUSA affiliate AVAA</a> - Home in Caracas. The counselors there help students like you all the time. I used to volunteer there when Happykid was small, and all evidence would indicate that the current staff are very good. This is a not-for-profit organization whose sole purpose is to help students find good places to study in the US and Canada. If you aren't in Caracas, contact them by email or telephone and get their advice.</p>
<p>Most colleges and universities in the US will consider you a transfer, but some won't. You have to ask each of them which application to use.</p>
<p>Almost all of the colleges and universities will require that your school records from Italy and Venezuela and your university records from Venezuela be formally translated (you can have that done where you are), and formally evaluated by one of the organizations that provides that service. Ask each college/university on your list which evaluations they accept. You might have to send the paperwork to more than one place.</p>
<p>Because you are a US citizen educated outside the US, different colleges and universities will treat your application differently. You need to email each of them, tell them your situation, and ask which application forms to use and which test scores to submit. Do not be surprised if each of them requires something different.</p>
<p>Money is likely to be an issue. But as a US citizen, you can get a job wherever you can find one once you arrive here. That will help a bit. Find out from your parents what they can afford so that you know which places are affordable when you get your aid packages next spring.</p>
<p>Lastly, if you are male, make certain that you are registered for the Selective Service. When you file the FAFSA usually there is a place to check so that is taken care of. You can't receive any federal aid if you are male and you aren't registered.</p>
<p>Wishing you all the best!</p>
<p>My thread was eliminated, but you were able to get the point of my situation and answer many of my questions. Thanks!!!
I will definitely get in touch with AVAA, in order to have someone that could guide me in the process, even if I am almost doing it by myself. About the translation of the transcripts, I have already heard about an agency called WES, so I will contact them. Despite of that, I have the following questions:</p>
<ol>
<li>I graduated on July from a local high school, where the spoken language is Spanish, so there is not any IB opportunities or something like that. So, I have a diploma from a high school down here (it is not an American Overseas school, in other words…). Could this be a problem? Are there any disadvantages on that? If I were in the States, I would be attending the senior year.</li>
</ol>
<p>2.I am really worried about how to pay college. How do I qualify for scholarship in a specific college? Before or after applying? I will definitely need some aid to pay the cost of attendance. How do I qualify/apply for a job, grant or loan in college, in order to pay a lower price?</p>
<p>3- I have already registered to take the TOEFL (pretty sure that is required in my case) and I will take the SAT for the second time on the 25th of January, in order to improve my score (around 1400/1500 in the first one). Are both required to me, or just one of them? Hope it’s not a bit late to send them to the Universities I am interested in, since the fact that they will be electronically available only on the 13th of February, and some of them require to send the scores on January. Would that be a problem? Should I send all my SAT scores or just the last one?</p>
<p>Let me know if it is necessary to give you the names of some of the colleges I am interested in.
(I want to apply for Fall 2014)</p>
<p>You could also try via the community college route where academic entry standards are much more loose and transfer in a year or two. Then you’d be on a par with US educated students. It’s also much cheaper.</p>
<p>Yes, but if I decide to go to a community college, I will have to live in a house since the fact that dorms does not exist in community colleges. Unfortunately, I don’t have the opportunity of living off campus or at home anywhere in the US. That’s why I will live on campus.
Another fact, I always thought that community colleges are useful in order to transfer credit and that type of things, but they are also a waste of time because you will get into a 4 year college after two years, and so you will graduate in 6 years… (correct me if I am wrong…). I know that it is convenient in terms of costs, but I had never liked the community college option, to be honest…</p>
<p>Some community colleges have dorms on campus. Also, if you’re not local, as with any 4 year colleges which don’t have enough dorms, you share with other students in a house or apartment.The college might be able to help you with this, especially since you’re coming from abroad. It’s also often arranged just over the internet- not everyone can meet room mates in person before term starts. If you have skype, at least you can chat face to face. </p>
<p>Community colleges save you money and don’t extend your graduation time (unless your classes don’t transfer). You spend a year or two, usually on general ed requirements. Then you transfer for the remaining three or two years of your undergrad. 2+2 is the usual format. </p>
<p>Many colleges have transfer arrangements with certain (usually state) colleges where transfer is easier or even guaranteed subject to GPA. </p>
<p>And community college is much cheaper for out of state/international students. </p>
<p>At the end of the day, employers will look at your graduating college, the community college will be as much interest to them as your high school record ie not at all.</p>
<p>Many international students apply to colleges an universities here every year. They are used to interpreting foreign school records. Don’t worry about that. A Titulo de bachiller is the equivalent of a US HS diploma. </p>
<p>When you apply to college, you will also apply for financial aid. You also need to ask each place about the paperwork that they will require, and which scholarships you might be eligible for.</p>
<p>Check each website for information about the full Cost of Attendance, and run the Net Price Calculator to get an idea about what your actual cost might be. Those calculators aren’t very accurate for people with foreign income, so be cautious about the results.</p>
<p>Ok, I understand… it is definitely something that I will consider for my application… thank you both!! What about the SAT scores? Will be a problem if colleges will receive them electronically from college board after the deadline established by the University?</p>
<p>For example: Stonehill college requires to receive the application not after the 15th of January, as well as the SAT scores, but I will take my SAT II on the 25th and be able to send the scores on the 13th of February. </p>
<p>Could that be a problem if the college receive the application on time but not the SAT scores(that will arrive after the deadline…)?</p>
<p>I’d be willing to bet SAT scores that aren’t available until nearly a month after the deadline are going to be too late for every school you are considering. Contact your schools and ask this question directly if their admissions websites don’t provide specifics about the latest tests they’ll accept.</p>
<p>I contacted the Universities that I am interested in, and the majority of them said that I will be considered a US citizen applying from abroad. It means that I will be considered a “domestic” freshman student, not an International, correct?
I have also some questions about the Common App:
Can I complete and send it before taking the SAT II?
For example: I would like to apply as an early action II applicant to TCU, and the deadline would be the 2nd of Jan, but I will be taking my SAT II, as I said, only the 25th, and the scores will be available only a month after. Is that possible or I must wait to take the SAT II? What do they require to send in the Common App?
I’ve already written my personal essay and my recommendation letters will arrive soon.<br>
I’ve checked the website but there are no good news…
[TCUAdmission</a> | Apply Now | Deadlines](<a href=“http://www.admissions.tcu.edu/apply/deadlines.asp]TCUAdmission”>http://www.admissions.tcu.edu/apply/deadlines.asp)
Should I wait and apply as regular applicant? In this way, I won’t apply as an early applicant anywhere…I don’t know how risky is that.
Last but least, should I create a CSS profile or is it enough with the FAFSA?</p>
<p>1) Being a domestic applicant does not also automatically make you a Freshman applicant. You need to find out from each place whether or not you need to apply as a Freshman or as a Transfer. </p>
<p>2) You need to ask each place what to do about the SAT II scores. </p>
<p>3) It is OK to apply Early Action. That just means you get your acceptance/rejection sooner. Since you will need to be able to compare financial aid packages, don’t apply Early Admissions.</p>
<p>4) You will need to file the FAFSA. Check each website to find out if the college/university also requires the CSS Profile or a financial aid application of its own.</p>