<p>Hi, so I got rejected.. no surprise really, very expected.. International, kind of low scores, applying for aid... why would they want me :P</p>
<p>Got accepted to another university I really can't afford, at the time I also feel that I really want to attend NU..</p>
<p>So, I was thinking of transfer-options. Should I go to CC and try and transfer after two years or quickly apply to some cheap school(that I can afford) and try and transfer after one year.. </p>
<p>Which schools to you suggest, CC and university.</p>
<p>can I get aid as an transfer... I will try to get a job on campus to get some money and work on summers, but I'll probably need some aid...</p>
<p>Others more knowledgeable will soon chime in but I would caution you that few schools offer financial aid to International students and if then, you would have to have tip top scores. Transferring would only be possible if you achieved good/high grades in your first year.
Also on-campus jobs often are available only to financial aid recipients as part of their aid so don’t rely on a job to help pay your way.</p>
<p>This may be crazy, but can you live here in the States and attend a community college somewhere? That gives you a terrific opportunity to build up your grades, and earn low cost college credits, and maybe even establish residency. Would you still be “an international student”? I honestly don’t know if these are possible, especially the residency issue, but it may be your very best shot at earning a college degree at the lowest costs. I would also suggest, regarding your financial concerns, that you consider a public school.</p>
<p>One of the least expensive (but time consuming) ways to do this is to work as a nanny for a family where you’d take classes while the children themselves attend school. You can also take classes at night. I paid for classes for the young girl who worked for me.</p>
<p>Yes, I’m been thinking about CC. I’ve looked at Santa Monica, which I’ve heard good things about. They also have a great opportunity for tranfer to UCLA,UCB, UCSB and other UC schools which would be great second choice after Northwestern</p>
<p>But the cost att UCLA for an international is still about 45k(unless I somehow can get registerd as an california resident), which not that far from the coast at northwestern…</p>
<p>International students can never become a resident. They will be hit with OOS tuition plus an international fee. They also do not qualify for any federal financial aid.</p>
<p>Not all on-campus jobs are work-study jobs. You’ll just have to read the description. He’ll then have visa issues as an international.</p>
<p>Most of the issues will go away if he is a permanent resident, though.</p>
<p>So, my issue is money. Anyone know about scholarship opportunities?
I’m able to get a loan plus some contribution from the National Board of Student Aid in my country. And that goes up to about 25k/y.
That leaves 20k/y for UC schools and about 25-28k/y for NU.
I can probably go home during the summers and work… will not give much, but maybe a few grand
And. Does anyone have any comments about santa monica college? God/bad?
Any other community college suggestion? Preferably in an urban environment. maybe New York…</p>
<p>^I’m still a bit confused. Maybe it’s just me though. Why could you afford NU - if accepted now or the future- but not the school you got into? </p>
<p>I think you should broaden your horizons and not focus so much on NU as a goal. There are just so many other good schools out there- both in the US and lots of other countries (given you are international anyway!), with varying degrees of tuition and aid (and less restrictive selection criteria). </p>
<p>I don’t mean to be discouraging, but it seems so unfair (to yourself) that you focused on one of the most expensive college systems in the world, one of the most difficult college systems to compete in, one of the most expensive schools within that system…and you are international, with restricted finances, and not great scores. I really believe you could get what you were dreaming you would get from NU with lots of other colleges that you have much greater chances of getting into and/or at least less debt at the end of it.</p>
<p>Well, NU is my dreamschool and I don’t see why I shouldn’t try. And as a mentioned I’m still open for other schools. It’s not like I’m completly stuck on NU. But I do want to study in the US. That, I am stuck on :P</p>
<p>Well I think it is not wise at all for having one “dream school” (for everyone, not just you). I think ‘dream school’ is an illusion only. I think you shouldn’t try IF it means a) you may miss out on much better or equally fantastic schools and b) potentially go into a lot of debt unnecessarily. </p>
<p>It’s maybe a bit like you are in love with the beautiful varsity cheerleader, but she has said she’s not interested and not to mention, you only know her to look at her…you’ve never actually dated her (or actually any other women for that matter…but she looks soooo perfect, you just know you could live happily ever after with her). Now there are lots of other women who absolutely adore you, and who you’d fall madly in love with if only you got to know them, but you prefer not to date while you pine ‘for the one’ (and apologies if I have your gender or sexual preference wrong, just replace ‘varsity cheerleader’ with something else from a cheesy movie). And apologies for the lame analogy perhaps too.</p>
<p>Both outside and institutional merit scholarships are relatively rare for transfers compared to fr admissions. Phi Theta Kappa does have some scholarships, and that is just for CC students.</p>
<p>Even tough NU is my first choice of school… I don’t want get in a hugh debt just to go there. Can I get a better deal at an other great school, I’ll go with that… </p>
<p>And I’ll also look for outside scholarships… </p>
<p>So, suggestions on good community colleges? Preferably urban setting</p>
<p>OP,
I’m a little concerned about your college search process. The information I cited and linked to are readily available on the NU website, it shouldn’t be new to you since you are hoping to attend. As an Intl. student, you need to be particularly aware of FA & Scholarship policies for each school you plan to apply to; there’s no reason to apply and be accepted if you can’t afford to attend a school.</p>
<p>I’ll repeat, both outside and institutional scholarships are infrequent for transfer students, and even less so for Intl. transfers.</p>
<p>Picking a CC based on extended family is a good option to save rent money if possible, if not i would not focus on the large urban cities like Miami, Chicago and NY or to expensive states like California, the rent difference between an apartment in California and in Virginia for instance is almost double at times. </p>
<p>I would pick an area based on cheaper cost of living and a fairly large campus for better college job opportunities. There are great CC’s in every state, a majority of State Flagship Universities are great.</p>
<p>Universities that are cheaper for OOS and International comparatively and are great are,</p>
<p>University of Texas
Texas A&M
Virginia Tech
North Carolina State University</p>
<p>These are the ones i know for sure that are great schools are fairly affordable to international tuition standards, cost of living in those areas are pretty good as well, especially VT and NCSU.</p>
<p>Attending CC near a select school that has an agreement policy with the university that when you finish the 2 years you will automatically get an admit to your university of choice within the select school, many of these types of agreement policies around the U.S.</p>
<p>What do you plan to study? You have to think about your college as an investment, what is the return on your investment? Even going to CC and then to an affordable public while working summers will put you at least 60-80,000 in debt. Remember renting even a very modest apartment for ~600 a month for 48 months adds ~30000 to your expenses over 4 years.</p>