<p>I have a bit of a problem...</p>
<p>I was at a 4 year in-state university last year and hated it. When I say hate, I'm not sure hate does justice to how much I disliked the school/atmosphere. This year I'm back home going to a CC. Now my problem is kind of complicated. My parents won't pay for my college (because they don't have the money to do it) and I don't qualify for ANY federal aid (income is over $300K x_x + parents have some debt to pay off and their age: 60, 66 makes their income that much more important to their own future), and my dad who makes most of the money will not co-sign any student loans for me. My mom will but her income by itself is not extremely high. </p>
<p>I'm stuck between staying in state to finish my last two years, attempting to go to a school around Los Angeles (I figure the extra debt, around $10-20K total (and this is assuming I would get a scholarship or two or three) would be worth the connections that LA has and that Seattle doesn't), or going to a school in Hong Kong. I'm hoping to major in International Business/Relations with a concentration in Asian studies. </p>
<p>My stats are average, well maybe a bit below average with 3.5 gpa, 1920 SAT. I'll have my AA in the spring which is ~90-105 transferable units/credits. However my EC's are very Asian oriented, Chinese Youth Group, Korean Youth Group, International Club (in HS), Korean Student Association (in original college), Hong Kong Student Association (in original college), & editing essays for International (Chinese students) students. Those activities/EC's plus how I won a ticket through the KSA to visit Seoul. I'm hoping that my interest in Asian culture is enough to make the admission officers go "hey he actually IS interested in Asian culture." I can write a really good essay
so with that thrown in there I'm hoping it's enough, and I've been involved with athletics + relay for life since my freshmen year of HS. </p>
<p>I guess my main concern comes down to this. </p>
<p>US degree: USC (maybe if I get lucky and get admitted), University of Washington (which is instate) vs International Degree (Hong Kong University or Hong Kong University of Science & Technology) --> Is a degree from any US school still better than one from a very well respected school in Hong Kong? </p>
<p>US degree cost (USC = $53K per year without any aid, UW = ~$20-25K per year) vs International degree cost (HKU = $15K per year and I'm hoping to have a year of my studies transfer so I only have 2 years left as they have a 3 year program, HKUST = I'm assuming around the same, I couldn't find an actual figure...) </p>
<p>$53K vs $25K (in US) VS $15K (HK) per year </p>
<p>LA Connections vs Seattle connections vs Hong Kong connections. </p>
<p>Taking all three of these into consideration I would think that Hong Kong would be the way to go (even if a US degree is better the connections and affordability beat out the other schools). But is this the case? IF I got into one of the universities in Hong Kong would it be smarter for me to go there or stay in the US? Again I'm focusing on an International Business/Relations type degree.</p>
<p>I still have plenty of time to do all my applications but I'm just so uncertain... I hope this post makes sense...</p>