<p>I just recieved this letter from University of Rochester:</p>
<p>Dear (My name):</p>
<p>We have carefully reviewed your application for September 2005 admission to the University of Rochester. You have been identified as a potential scholarship candidate eligible for U.S. $10,000 per year. Although we believe you could be successful academically, we are unable to guarantee admission at this time.</p>
<p>All international studnets (those without permanent residency status in the United States) must demonstrate their ability to pay the estimated cost per year before an offer of admission can be extended.</p>
<p>The estimated cost of attending the University of Rochester for the 2004-2005 academic year is $41,010. If space is still available when we receive proof of financial supporting totaling U.S. $ 31,010 per year (plus travel expenses and summer maintenance), then we can reconsider your application for admission. However, we cannot reserve a space for you while you are still trying to secure additional funds. Please complete the International Financial Support Form, which can be obtained at <a href="http://www.rochester.edu/admissions/application/forms.html%5B/url%5D">www.rochester.edu/admissions/application/forms.html</a>, and any supporting documentation as quickly as possible.</p>
<p>We sincerely hope that you are able to secure sufficient funding and that you will decide to attented the University of Rochester if admitted. If you have any questions about your application, please contact us via e-mail at <a href="mailto:international@admissions.rochester.edu">international@admissions.rochester.edu</a> or by fax at (5XX)XXX-XXXX. We hope to hear from you soon.</p>
<p>Sincerely,</p>
<p>(Director of Admissions name)
Director of Admissions</p>
<hr>
<p>So, should I just accept this as a rejection letter and let Rochester go? It just SUCKS to be an international application all the while being poor. I'm just happy being poor, but these letters make me wish...</p>
<p>You'd think they would do you the courtesy of holding the spot open a fixed amount of time. I think it's pretty scummy.</p>
<p>Okay. Rochester is out. It sounds like they don't want me anyways.</p>
<p>This is a United States visa requirement, I am pretty sure from my former work as an immigration lawyer, and is a rule that goes back a long time. The student has to have means to study for the first year to obtain a student (F-1) visa. The rule applies to all applicants who don't have other visa status permitting entry to the United States, and largely explains why there aren't a lot more foreign undergraduates in United States universities: most foreign students have to wait until graduate school (when students are paid stipends as graduate assistants to study) before they can meet visa requirements to study in the United States.</p>
<p>this is why i couldn't apply to any Canadian schools</p>
<p>Linsaylu:
Canadian schools, even with the international fees, are relatively inexpensive. I believe UVic & UBC are no more than UCs, though you woud not be able to use a pell or Cal grant.</p>
<p>If your parents don't need that aid, then the cost is quite similar, possibly even less!</p>
<p>thanks for offering that info, somemom. We need all the aid as we can get though.</p>
<p>Beramod, i am sorry this happened. Those are the rules, however, and they hold for a number of countries. My husband has to provide a statement of support for his sister to stay overseas. They do not want her there without money. So the same is true with Americans who want to be more than tourists, as we found out. As I grew up in Europe, I never knew this was the case, but it is.</p>
<p>That is why internationals need to cast a wide net if they need financial aid. Though merit scholarships may be open to them, there are only limited financial aid funds, without this verification of support, you cannot study here. Hopefully, you have applied to some other schools where the cost is not as high and perhaps a merit award will come through for you that is not such a big gap. It would have been nice if Rochester had held the award for you so that you could see what else you could get in the way of funds, but experience has probably told them that this just does not often happen, I am glad that Rochester does award the scholarship to the best applicant, which you must have been, without regard to outside issues. You wonder sometimes if colleges do. Good luck, and hopefully something comes up for you.</p>
<p>I'm sorry that this happened as well. However, it shouldn't have come as a surprise. U of Rochester makes it clear on their web site for international admissions that ALL international applications will only be considered after the submission of the financial statement - it is a requirement that is to be submitted WITH the application for admissions. </p>
<p>Your application is not considered complete without it, just as if you didn't submit your grades or recommendations. It is not directed at YOU but at ALL international applicants to U of Rochester. It's not a matter of holding the spot open - they just can't complete your application review --or any international student's application review - without the financial information.</p>
<p>However, they also make it pretty clear that only the $10,000 merit award is available to international students. So, no, U of Rochester was not a realistic choice for you in to begin with if you need more than $10,000 in financial assistance. If you can afford to attend with only a $10,000 grant, then by all means rush the statement to Rochester and you will be in.</p>
<p>MORE IMPORTANTLY: If you have applied to other schools, I would suggest you carefully go back and read their requirements NOW to see if they also require the financial statement information in order to complete your admissions review. If you have any questions, contact the international admissions rep. If the financial statement is needed to complete your applications, make haste getting it to them!</p>
<p><a href="http://www.rochester.edu/admissions/application/international/aid.html%5B/url%5D">http://www.rochester.edu/admissions/application/international/aid.html</a></p>