Silly question about financial aid form....Do internationals stay over the summers generally?

I need to fill whether I would stay in US in the summers and what would my sources of funds be, on the College Board International Certification of Finances form. Just wanted to know whether students generally stay at the universities over the summers or the go back to their native countries? Might sound very silly though, sorry for that.

What will YOU be doing?

Some stay, some go back. But you do have to show that you have the funds to do either. Those who have family in the US often stay and the family vouching to support the student during the summer suffices. Otherwise you have to show how you will meet expenses during those months. If you go back, you need to show you have money for the transportation back there.

U can’t stay in the dorms & eat in the dining halls for free over the summer.

@Madison85‌ I am not sure…Some years I might stay back…Are we allowed to occupy the hostel dormitories over the summers?

@cptofthehouse‌ Ok…Thanks for the info

@GMTplus7‌ Ok…So that means I can stay over if I can afford to pay the extra housing and food expenses at my college for the summer…Am I right?

It’s not a silly quesiton, but an important one. It depends upon the school as to what summer facilities are available and the cost. It might be cheaper to just plan on coming back and find a target airfare or other transportation cost to cover as that might be less than room and board for 3 months. You can change your mind on that so you aren’t stuck. US immigration and the colleges do not want an international stuck here with no funds and no way to get back when summer comes so the money for some alternative has to be shown. If you are hoping for the schools to come up with that money, you leave it as a zero so that the school understands that the aid package has to include that contingency as well.

It will vary by the school. the majority of the dorms are closed over the summer because there are not students on campus. Many colleges only have limited dorms for summer programs that they run for high school students (if this is the case, you will not be able to stay). Most colleges will not let you stay in the dorm over the summer if you are not taking classes (you will usually have to move out before graduation, unless you are a graduating senior).

@cptofthehouse‌ Thanks a lot.

@sybbie719‌ Ok…I got it…Thanks

Typically, u can’t stay in the dorm unless u are enrolled as a student during that period.

Don’t u want to go back to your home country to see your family/friends? Wouldn’t it be cheaper to live at home?

@GMTplus7‌ Yes, I would obviously prefer to go back to my home country for the holidays. I just wanted to know.

You will need to check what your visa allows.

You can’t stay in the dorms usually unless you are taking summer classes. And, often those classes don’t begin right away and don’t end at the beginning of Fall term so you’d still be homeless during the non-school times.

It would be easier to simply use the price of a reasonable ticket home for the number. Once you are at a college, you might find opportunities to stay in the US if your visa so allows. There often are off campus sublets and shares that can become available around most college. Maybe make a friend who will let you stay with them for the summer. I don’t think you are locked into what you put down there.

@cptofthehouse‌ @mom2collegekids‌ Ok…I got it…Thanks a lot for the help everybody.