I am sophomore at a local public university in Georgia, US. My situation is complicated as I am neither a “true” international student nor a regular residential student as I moved in United States during my freshman year in high school but dont have a green card or have a “residency.”
My dad works, with H-1 visa, for another local HBCU university and I went to the local high school where I spent all my four year where I graduated with around 3.9 GPA (class of 2015). I did get accepted to all colleges in Georgia where I applied to including georgia tech and UGA but I couldnt go there as I would have to pay out of state tution and didnt qualify for any financial aid (as I am an international student). We are in process of getting greencard but that would take a while and I am planning to tranfer for fall 2017 as, although I get a good amount of scholarship and it is way more cheaper than other colleges in georgia, I cant really afford the university I am attending because of the out of state tuition. I was wondering if there are any colleges out there that would be viable option for me that would help me get need based or merit based scholarship that would allow me to only pay 1k-3k max per semester. Any colleges are fine. Doesnt matter if its not in georgia. I have a 3.9 GPA right now in college and have taken all the core science courses (I am a bio major but planning to change it to bio-engineering), my old format SAT score was 1850 but I am taking the new SAT soon and actually gonna try getting a good score. If there are any other students/ former students who are/ were in my situation, please let me know what I should do and what colleges are best to transfer. If there are any other people has any knowledge on colleges that would financial help a transfer international student, please let me know as well. Any help would be appreciated.
This is a case where you are going to have to pick your poison. Currently you will not be eligible for any federal or state aid. As an international transfer student, there is going to be very little if any institutional financial aid available to you (as aid for Domestic transfer students can be challenging).
Also keep in mind as an International student, your ability to pay will be a factor in the admissions process. If you are a student who needs a lot of aid, it will hurt you in the admissions process. You post that you need your out of pocket cost to be $1000 - $3000 max. Financial aid will be based on your parents income/assets and the school will determine what you can afford to pay. There is also very limited funding for international students. It could literally take years before you get your green card.
Right now, if you can get tuition remission at your Dad’s school, take it and make it work. IF grad school is required, see if your bio major can align with something in bio-engineering.
If you are determined in having such a narrow option, then you may have to write your own check to achieve what you want.
The others are right. You need to decide what you want…a possible degree in a major that might not be your first choice…or not continuing with school until you get green card status.
There just aren’t funds available for int’l transfer students. if your parents can’t pay, then you need to make a choice.
There are no jobs that require a degree in bio-engineering. NONE. The bio-engineering jobs will hire those with MechE degrees, ChemE degrees, Bio degrees, BioMedE degrees and so forth.
If you don’t like MechE, then what other E disciplines does the school offer? ChemE?
The thing is, my dad is also think of quitting his job at the university and accepting a job offer from a private company. So might not be able to benefit from going to his university if he does accept the private job. I was thinking of going to medical school after getting my bioengineering degree. But I am not certain about that decision.
I have been looking into if my financial need would affect a college’s decision in accepting me and found out that there are some need-blind admission programs out there. So if I applied to some of those colleges, I dont have to worry about not being accepted in their program because of my financial need.
There is also the factor that my dad is thinking about quitting his job at the university for a job offer from a private company. So its kinda lose-lose situation for me right now :-<
Jheepu- you need to better understand what need-blind means. yes- you don’t have to worry about being accepted. But many of them won’t give you enough aid to attend. So what good is it to get accepted if you can’t go?
You’re right about colleges not having enough funds for international students but not continuing my study is simple not a choice for me. I might be able to change major to something else but I have taken so many of core classes in hope of getting the bio-engineering degree and I simply dont want to do any other engineering degree.
I wasnt really going for jobs that directly correlates to bio-engineering but was planning to get into medical school using the degree.
My current university does not offer any engineering program as of now. The “engineering department” at my current university has an agreement with Georgia Tech in regards of transferring their student but sadly I wouldnt be able to afford tech.
True. But I was hoping some of colleges like colby college would give me full financial aid (as written in their website) as an International student. But there are so many factors that I am not even sure anymore.
That was just an example. There are colleges like Amherst with both need blind and high financial need admissions. And colby is need aware so I think I would still have a good chance getting in. And I think (I am not sure), they have a dual degree agreement with some other colleges for engineering program.
I was going to join the military as I would already have my green-card by the time of my graduation. There are certainly many military programs that would financially aid me in getting me through the medical school.
Amherst, like Colby, takes very few transfer students, not to mention that it is one of the most selective schools in the country. If Colby has a dual degree agreement, what school is it with and how would you get back and forth? The Colby campus is fairly isolated and the Waterville, Maine area doesn’t exactly have the best public transportation.
I’m sorry if it sounds like I’m throwing cold water on all your ideas, but you really seem to be grasping at straws. You need to honestly assess your situation and do some real research, instead of spitballing to see what might stick to the wall.
I mean all the colleges that give full financial aid are very selective. And I am confident I can compete. The only thing that is dragging me down as of now is my SAT score but with the exception of that, I like to think I have a pretty good chance. The dual degree agreement is between Dartmouth and Columbia university. They are pretty far apart but I would assume, since there are no specific descriptions on their website, you can take specific engineering courses during summer or during semesters that does not include any courses in colby’s main campus so you dont have to travel back and forth between the two institutes.