<p>Unless you get significant aid, I cannot think of a single US university that is cheaper and as good as Cal. Michigan and UVa are probably the only two public universities that come close to Cal, and they are just as expensive and do not give international students financial aid either. Top 25 private universities typically cost $5,000-$10,000 more, so even if they decide to be somewhat generous, I cannot see how they would end up being materially cheaper than Cal. </p>
<p>That said, there are many decent-good universities (not as good as Cal though) that are significantly cheaper, and many would give significant merit scholarships to international students.</p>
<p>Of course, should you be an exception students of a low-income family, you can always give a school like Dartmouth, Harvard, MIT, Princeton or Williams a try.</p>
<p>Unless you get significant aid, I cannot think of a single US university that is cheaper and as good as Cal.</p>
<p>Probably true, but if the family doesn’t have anywhere close to $200k to pay for Berkeley, it’s irrelevant.</p>
<p>2030 on my first SAT (took it again yesterday, expecting a 2200 or so hopefully). A total of 7 APs this year + junior year (I wasn’t in the american system before that). I’m an A student (GPA: 4.5W/4.0-3.9UW) and have some good ECs.</p>
<p>If there is a significant improvement with his/her SAT score, then options can be…</p>
<p>Reaches that give full aid to int’ls</p>
<p>Safeties that give big merit to int’ls.</p>
<p>Do we know how much the family will contribute? If not much, that will severely limit schools. I don’t think any safety schools will work if the family won’t contribute very much.</p>
<p>OP: Your SAT is below what would be needed to be competitive for a Regents, (which needs to be 2200+). Definitely apply, but recognize that your odds at receiving merit money are REALLY low.</p>
<p>And bear in mind that for students who do not qualify for need-based aid, the Regents at Berkeley (the most prestigious scholarship awarded by Berkeley) is an honorarium of $1,000/year. [UC</a> Berkeley Financial Aid Office: Undergraduates Types of Aid Scholarships Regents’ and Chancellor’s Scholarship](<a href=“http://students.berkeley.edu/finaid/undergraduates/RCbenefits.htm]UC”>http://students.berkeley.edu/finaid/undergraduates/RCbenefits.htm)</p>
<p>*OP: Your SAT is below what would be needed to be competitive for a Regents, (which needs to be 2200+). Definitely apply, but recognize that your odds at receiving merit money are REALLY low. *</p>
<p>Isn’t the most you can get from Regents something like $20k per year (and requires a 2200+ SAT)?</p>
<p>If the family can’t pay the other $30k per year (plus int’l travel), how would that be affordable even if by luck it was awarded?</p>
<p>As I mentioned and linked in post #24, immediately above yours, for students who do not qualify for need-based aid, the Regents is $1,000 per year. </p>
<p>There is no minimum SAT “required,” but that is a typical score for those awarded the scholarship.</p>
<p>never mind…found the website which clearly states CAl does not offer financial aid to internationals…</p>