How long the degree takes isn’t important: a degree is a degree. The main reason for the difference in program length is that most US universities require ‘general education’ classes in addition to the subject specific classes (major). So, my collegekid’s 4 year physics degree in the US had pretty much the same classes as her pals in Ireland and the UK, who did 3 year degrees. The difference was that she also took some English, History and French, while they only took physics.
A bigger difference for you may be a difference in work experience (internships / stages) as your US Econ/Mgmt peers, who will mostly be doing them over the summer and in many cases during the term.
As others have pointed out, you may not immediately qualify for in-state status (esp in California, which is very touchy about people moving their to get into their university system), and the paperwork will almost certainly take longer than anybody expects.
Sooo let’s say I get my 3 years license in France (while my green card is being processed) , should I get a job /finish my masters in the US after being eligible for in state tuition? Just FYI, took a gap year to mainly focus on a job I wouldn’t have had the chance to get a bigger and more substantial profile for universities, what do you guys think about that game plan ?
The 3-year licence is not seen as equivalent to a 4-year degree unfortunately. You’d need to do 2 years at a us university first.
I asked about prépas because that’s where Mention Très Bien typically go AND because the year is seen as a PG, ie., you could apply as a freshman and have a shot at merit scholarships AND potentially transfer credits. Another thing you could do to speed things up is prepare AP exams to get credit (csu’s don’t give credit for the bac, at UCs it’s really a case by case basis- so that taking calc BC would allow you to skip two quarters of calculus rather having to go back and retaking calculus from the start).
Actually the credits in a prepa, to be valid, need to be confirmed by a french university you would like to enroll in, or have to join an école de commerce, which might be tough to do especially if u wanna transfer the credits to the US.
Yup but you would be considered a freshman for the purpose of admqsios and scholarshipsw which matters considerably. You wouldn’t transfer, you’d have advanced standing (it’s another process that allows you to keep your freshman status but receive up Toba year of credit). There’d be no need for a redundant university credit to go with it.
Financil aid varies by student and school. Merit aid (scholarships used to recruit strong students) is primarily offered to freshmen, but only at those schools that offer it. Need-based aid (money for those who are lower income) is more consistent, but some schools are need-aware and just don’t accept needy students if they don’t have financial aid funds available. And formulas can change from year to year.
It’s really too soon to figure out which colleges will give you the most money.
Studying in the US isn’t an option until you get that visa, so you need to focus on the educational options available to you. When you get a visa, you can figure out whether finishing where you start or transferring to an American college makes the most sense.
Yes. Domestic transfers get lousy aid. International transfers get nothing.
So, preserving your status (even if you’re in a prepa as a PG year and ask for course evaluation toward advanced standing) matters.