<p>I'm from São Paulo, Brazil. I want to attend a college in the U.S, but i don't have enough money to pay for it, and I'm not eligible for many merit scolarships, I'm an average student, a 3.1 GPA, nothing exceptional. I've heard about the student loans for international students. How does it work? They said I need an U.S cosigner, how can I find one?</p>
<p>Thanks!</p>
<p>A cosigner agrees to assume responsibility for the debt. Do you actually expect a total stranger to agree to borrow $200,000+ for your education?</p>
<p>No, I don’t… I will not ask for that amount, no one borrow this money! Actually I want to go for a community college in California, so the total amount is going to be about $40,000-$45,000. I work hard, and I’m honest, I will pay it back.</p>
<p>Still, a stranger would not cosign a loan for you. Cosigners are most typically family members, but that only works if you have extended family or family friends in the US.</p>
<p>Have you looked into alternative funding options? For example, could your family borrow enough money for you at home to attend a community college in the US? (e.g. as a mortgage on their house?) </p>
<p>Could you attend college in Brazil and do a study-abroad year in the US? (e.g. through the Brazil Scientific Mobility Undergraduate Program) After you finish college in Brazil, you could attend graduate school in the US. It’s often much easier for graduate students to get funded than for undergraduates.</p>
<p>Or, you could come to the US for a purpose other than education initially. As an Au Pair or a Volunteer, for instance. If you happen to fall in love and marry a US citizen, you could get a green card. With a green card, you would get access to federal student aid (including loans that do not require a cosigner). You might also qualify for the cheaper in-state tuition rates. </p>
<p>But re scholarships: if you think you could do well on the SAT or ACT, it might be worth the time to prepare for those tests. Some colleges grant full tuition scholarships for a high SAT or ACT score without paying much attention to your grades. (Those scholarships might require a 3.0 GPA, for instance, but nothing extraordinary.) An ACT score of 30 should suffice for a handful of full-tuition scholarships. Higher scores -> more opportunities.</p>
<p>Adriel: If you take out a student loan, it has to have backing from someone YOU know, in the US, that will vouch for you and would be willing to pay it back in case you faulted on the loan. It’s usually a relative or a good family friend. It’s not based on your work ethic or honesty. It’s a US citizen that knows you, who has good credit and financial stability, and is willing to CO-SIGN a loan for you. There are no other loans that I know of for international students. As b@r!um suggests, take the SAT and try to get a high score. </p>