<p>Hi all. My name is Alex and I'm debating whether I should continue my undergraduate degree in the US or transfer to a university overseas. As a first generation college student, this is a new experience for my family. I have 2 semesters left at community college so I am going to have to transfer soon. The cost of community college is manageable, but the cost of some prospective universities I am looking at are overwhelming. The price range falls right around $30,000 per year. I would possibly be graduating with ~$60,000 in loans. Should I be concerned with where I graduate from? The schools I'm applying to are Rutgers--New Brunswick, SUNY Binghamton, SUNY at Buffalo, and SUNY Stony Brook. I would be transferring as a Geology Major. </p>
<p>Ultimately, I keep asking myself, is it worth it? I know of good quality public universities in Brazil (where I am also a citizen), France, and Germany where the cost is low and manageable. In other words, I would not be graduating with debt. What concerns me about transferring overseas is the compatibility of a degree from outside the US. Does a graduate from outside the US have to retake courses or just pass an examination to practice their profession? On the other hand, I have heard that obtaining a degree from a school in the US gives someone greater flexibility and a better standing (in regards to employment) in other countries. Is this true? </p>
<p>So in your opinion and better judgment, which is the wiser choice? To graduate with ~$60,000 in loans with a degree in geology from the US, or to graduate with no debt from a school of similar quality outside the US? </p>
<p>Are you considered as an international student? If not, what state would you be considered as in-state so you could pay lower tuition. You would be eligible for FA if you are a resident of US.<br>
Whether you get a degree in the US or not depends if you want to work in the US after graduation. If you want to go on to graduate school after college, your degree overseas may translate. We just hired a graduate student from a top US uni who got her UG degree from S. Africa.</p>
<p>Hello Alex,
Are you in-state in New York (did you graduate high school in New York State? are you a permanent resident (with or without papers?) If so, it will be much cheaper than $30,000.
Cornell is very good with transfers and financial aid, and luckily for you geology works in collaboration with the college that accepts 2/3 transfers (CALS)!
<a href=“http://cals.cornell.edu/”>http://cals.cornell.edu/</a>
<a href=“http://cals.cornell.edu/admissions/academics/majors/science-of-earth-systems/”>http://cals.cornell.edu/admissions/academics/majors/science-of-earth-systems/</a>
In short, your choice may not be between huge debt and going to Europe or Brazil, but between different affordable solutions in the US and different solutions abroad.
If you get a degree from abroad, you’ll need to complete a Master’s degree in the US or get a US degree in order to find work here. (It’s not illegal but it’s unlikely you could find work in the US if you don’t have a US degree and haven’t completed some internships in the US.)
What’s your EFC?</p>
<p>I am not an international student. I live in New Jersey. I considered the SUNY schools because their tuition wouldn’t be much greater, even as an out-of-state transfer. They also have decent geology programs. </p>
<p>I don’t plan on living in the US much longer, but in case I return, I don’t want to be left out of the workforce because of a degree that I got outside of the country. Some Brazilians I’m close to advised me to graduate in the US because it would be difficult to translate a degree from Brazil to the US standards.</p>
<p>When it comes to Education, America overall if much, much better than European Universities (on general) apart from Germany if you’re interested in engineering ect.</p>
<p>Get your degree from U.S. Later you can go to Europe ect with that degree</p>