<p>I think the international tuition was a lot cheaper couple of years ago. Currently, total estimated costs for international is around $45,350, compared to $34000~38000 for non-residents. It gives me a strong impression that the university is accepting a lot of internationals just for the money (the more they accept, the more money for the university). Perhaps the situation might get better after the Brilliant Futures campaign.</p>
<p>UIUCEngrDad - you have nothing to resent- veryyyyyy few internationals ever get a merit scholarship in state schools. And those who do are extremely brilliant-much more then the regular students at that university.</p>
<p>the extra fees from international students goes to funding the finaid and other things of the regular students.</p>
<p>And as to your tax money- colleges take international students on aid only when they feel they are brilliant enough to make it big after which they get much more then they spent on the student in the form of endowment.</p>
<p>they do give out very less scholarships.....and ever occur to you that we ask for the discount not because of the joy of grovelling but because maybe we cant afford to 'shut up and pay' to study in the one of the good universities...and just because we dont have the means...should we sit back and forget about studying in a top university?</p>
<p>If you're coming here is study, then pay for your education the American way - borrow the cost of tuition!</p>
<p>Since you're all so brilliant, I'm sure you'd have no trouble getting a high paying job here in the US and could repay your LOAN.</p>
<p>UIUCEngrDad</p>
<p>What is your real problem? Do not under-estimate the intelligence of the UIUC admission officers.</p>
<p>I hope you don't represent the majority of the Americans.</p>
<p>My "problem" is with students (international or not) who write as if they are ENTITLED to an education. The US educational system is NOT an entitlement program and our government has never promised an education to anyone!</p>
<p>I am not sure that I see an issue with the school charging more for international students -- the same logic applies to non residents. I will be paying 3 times what a Illinois resident pays if my daughter chooses to go to UIUC. Fact of life.</p>
<p>I agree with UIUCDAD -- You are complaining about lack of funds. I do not see any reason why the taxpayers have to subsidize international students. You can borrow or work to put yourself through school. If not, there are some great alternatives in India --- go to an IIT or St. Stephens or a Loyola College -- you can get a decent education for a throw away price.</p>
<p>And guys before you start hurling abuses at me -- I am also a "Madrasi" as one of you so eloquently put it -- been there, done that and experienced it -- just a generation before all of you.</p>
<p>"I am not sure that I see an issue with the school charging more for international students"</p>
<p>A school charging more for internationals was never the issue here- the issue was a school bringing down its admission standards for international students for their money. </p>
<p>you 'tax payers' are not subsidising any international's education. As i said and repeat- each state university has several laws which specifically state that tax revenue money cannot be used for international students. Infact usually even normal scholarships are given out from endowments and all international scholarships are definitely given out from endowment money usually donated by internationals who studied in that college.</p>
<p>I don't see whats the issue here-
first of all - an international student who cannot pay his fees will probably not end up going to a university. loans, work study etc etc might help. but since internationals have to show funds when they apply- i don't really see how people can suddenly 'not afford' to go without a scholarship.</p>
<p>secondly internationals want quality education and university wants money and diversity. Its a two way relationship which benefits everyone.</p>
<p>showing that we have funds merely shows the university that if we end up attending we will somehow or the other pay them....it hardly covers the fact that thier may be more kids at home who have to be put thru school and college and any other expenditures that a family just mite have at hand...
as far as IIT is concerened...there is no question that getting even a low ranking seat at an IIT is about 10 times tougher than getting into any American university ..be it MIT or harvard or UIUC.
I will be appearing for IIT this year...if I get in, I have no qualms about going to even the metallurgical department...but if not...i would like have to have the maximum possible academic credentials....I'm not saying that the university is obliged to give me a scholarship...but if It does..it would facilitate me...
as far as getting a job and repaying the loan is concerned , I'm pretty sure I won't have a problem in that area...since despite any sarcasm intended Indian students are brilliant and thats a fact....only that would be an additional burden on my head for all the while I'm in college, but if that's whats required I will do it...but for the record , if I do end up getting a scholarship, it will be because of my credentials and what I take to the university...not because they mean to torment taxpayers in any way</p>
<p>sherlock- there was a student here on cc two years ago- you can search for him- his name was shash_rao, he had near perfect stats- he didn't get into either MIT or Princeton (the only two colleges he applied to) but got into IIT kanpur in computer science, so you can guess that he must have gotten a rank in the top 100.</p>
<p>IIT admission is a lot of luck as is the US admissions process. you can't really say what is tougher though JEE is the world's most difficult entrance exam.
But you can't say that its easy to getting into harvard ,princeton, yale, mit in comparison to get a average or a good rank in jee.
thats because this admission is a much more holistic view of a student rather than just a 6 hours exam. though there's no denying that the people who get in are brilliant at physics,chemistry,maths and more then that are very hard working.</p>
<p>well your point regarding funds of course is valid - i just assumed that people applying to UIUC would know that its not really the place to look for aid of any sort.</p>
<p>If UIUCEngrDad resembles the majority of people in UIUC, please let me know so i wont make the mistake of accepting my admission.</p>
<p>Faresx25x, I share exactly the same feelings as you do. </p>
<p>Originally UIUC was my number one choice. However, if the majority of the UIUC students are like UIUCEngrDad, I definitely won't go to UIUC.</p>
<p>Don't let one person's demeanor discourage you from attending the school. Most people here are nice and could be easily befriended.</p>
<p>Sherlock -- "despite any sarcasm intended Indian students are brilliant and thats a fact...."</p>
<p>With all due respect, that is a sweeping generalization that makes no sense. You seem to imply that all indian students are brilliant which is a ridiculous statement. Also, implicit in that statement is that US students are somehow not so brilliant -- which also makes no sense. </p>
<p>Please look at the innovation that has come out of the US & compare it with what India has delivered.</p>
<p>I hada similar attitude when I was coming here & have been humbled a number of times since then, by the brilliance of the people that I have met in this country from all parts of the globe. </p>
<p>Shreya gives a much more rational explanation</p>
<p>^ i thought exactly the same thing when i read sherlock's post. That is very good advice to people who are going to college with such an attitude. </p>
<p>I have heard many horror stories of Indian students going to the U.S. and then finding themselves incapable of adjusting to the high standard of education especially in a system where you are supposed to think for yourself as opposed to the rote learning which happens in the Indian education system.</p>
<p>Faresx25x and Weedeg, You have your opinion and I have mine - that's what makes this country so great! </p>
<p>I have the solution for both of you - Stanford (which has a better ranked engineering school than UIUC) has now eliminated tuition for all students with family incomes under $100,000. I imagine your scores are much better than the average UIUC engineering student and getting accepted to Stanford should be a "slam dunk". This would enable you to afford the best possible education and not have to put up with people like me that have contrary opinions on financial aid.</p>
<p>I just stumbled on this thread and could not help add my thoughts to the discussion. I was myself a foreign student and am very familiar with UIUC. First of all, there are two tuition rates: a) In-state for students who are residents of Illinois; b) out-of-state for students who are not residents. So, any US student resident outside of Illinois will pay the same tuition as any international student. The vast majority of students are Illinois residents. Only a very small percentage comes from out-of-state or abroad, as compared to Michigan, for instance, which was mentioned in the discussion. At Michigan about half of the students come from out of state. Do your own math before judging... It is clear that attending college is expensive, but exactly because it is a very important investment, one should choose the best possible school. I am going to send my children to UIUC because it is hands down the best value in the country for engineering. Period. When it comes to rankings, it is very difficult for them to give a good picture of what the school has to offer. I have visited all the major engineering schools in the US and it is difficult to find anywhere the same breadth and depth of curricula and quality of facilities that you find at UIUC. I am not talking about just research labs, but also instructional labs. But you have to visit the place and compare for yourself. Sure, Stanford is a beautiful place, I go there all the time, and MIT is quaint. But these are much smaller schools, especially MIT, and have fewer educational opportunities, not too mention that cost of living there is astronomical.</p>
<p>its not a sweeping generalization....and absolutely no offence to any other country....I don't say that all Indians are brilliant obviously...nor do I indicate that Americans are not...I have immense respect for the education system and the way it provides facilities to everyone who has potential. </p>
<p>As far as IIt exam goes...all I meant was that people study really hard for 2years...some for 3years and still don't even qualify for IIT...whereas hardwork is always rewarded as far as american universities go. I suppose I meant to validate my point and got a bit carried away....my apologies..</p>
<p>If a university is providing quality education it is entitled to charge for it, and as need based scholarships are not given out, I will be treated like any other student in this scenario...It's a fair system and I have nothing against it.
din't mean to sound pompous or irrational....</p>
<p>Just a little reality check for the internationals, and I am not one who believes you should all stay home and not have an oppurtunity to come to UIUC or wants to get involved in the above discussions. As far as merit scholarships go, there are few full rides. However, for both out-of-state and international, there are many partial tuition relief type scholarships where you can get anywhere from $4,000 per year to enough where you are paying only the in-state tuition rate. So there is some chance of getting something but don't get hopes up of getting more than some partial tuition relief.</p>
<p>Hey,
Just graduated from UIUC and the Engineering program is definitely killer!! As far as scholarships are concerned, there are plenty for merit and need based and many of them have no criteria besides being a student at the school. Contact financial aid ASAP!</p>