<p>Hi I'm an Irish student studying in Ireland, but am considering spending a year of my degree in UC. I'm just wondering what kind of financial aid (if any) I can claim? And if thats not possible how do students over in the states fund their college degree? Like can I get some sort of loan that I don't repay until after I graduate or better still after i finish my post grad work? </p>
<p>I'm really lost in the american system, its so confusing for someone who is used to a completely different system, so any help would be greatly appreciated!</p>
<p>You most likely will not be eligible for any financial aid as an international student attending UC. You are not eligible for in-state tuition, you are not eligible for US federal aid or California state aid. Unless you can come up with about $50k, you will not be attending the UC.</p>
<p>The UCs have a number of programs where their students study at universities abroad and pay the usual UC fees to the UC school and they receive their usual financial aid.</p>
<p>Does your university in Ireland have anything like that?</p>
<p>If you go to any of the schools mentioned here, you might:</p>
<p>*how do students over in the states fund their college degree? *</p>
<p>There are many misconceptions about this. College is expensive here. Many people think that there are all these sources to pay these high costs for students.</p>
<p>Most of the time, the parents/student pays for the costs. Often, the student commutes from home and goes to a local school. This often keeps the costs down to well below $10k per year.</p>
<p>Some schools have grants , but those are the hardest to get into.</p>
<p>There are small federal student loans for domestic students, but they don’t cover much.</p>
<p>For you, an international, you have few options. </p>
<p>A UC will expect you to pay all costs. You can’t get loans here without an American co-signer. You won’t get financial aid. </p>
<p>Leavenot-
You may have a better chance to get a fellowship(funded) to study here in the US during your grad school years.
You may want to find out the flexibility of spending a period of time in US when you choose your Grad school.</p>
<p>@calimami: We don’t expect it - but that’s certainly the way it SOUNDS like from the outside. No one talks about community college. People only talk about “getting a full ride to Harvard” without realizing how hard it is to get in, or how the financial aid there is need-based only. </p>
<p>The MOST expensive college I can think of has a tuition of about $18k per year. That’s the most expensive private in my country. There is no competition to get in. The cheapest university I can think of charges $3 to print your membership card every year because it is ENTIRELY funded by the government and admissions is cut-throat. Most of our education systems are completely different and many people simply assume the US gives out a LOT more scholarships to internationals than they actually do.</p>
<p>The truth is only a tiny number of int’l applicants get into schools that give full funds for undergrad. The majority get rejected or don’t get funding. </p>
<p>The truth is that most AMERICAN students don’t get this magical funding either.</p>
<p>The primary responsibility to pay for college resides with the family. Any need-based or merit-based aid is a gift. Most don’t get it.</p>
<p>There are very few scholarships for visiting students. Your best bet along that line would be to determine which institutions in the US your home university had exchange programs set up with. Many foreign universities do have these sorts of agreements. If your university does, you will be limited in your choices of exchange universities, but the cost for the year will probably be the same as it would be at your home university.</p>
<p>Honestly, Californian public education in general has gotten MILLIONS OF DOLLARS in budget cuts- I myself was really affected by these budget cuts and it hurt my academic record. </p>
<p>UC’s (as far as I know) don’t really give out a lot of financial aid to even american students let alone international students.<br>
As the other people said, you are an international student and will unfortunately be unable to receive american financial aid.</p>
<p>Some – the reason many US schools have kids pay their ususal tuition to them, is that the US tuition is as high as or higher than the foreign school. Its a way for them to raise money. When I went to college, we only paid the forieng school, much cheaper.</p>
<p>^ Mom2CK’s words were incorrect but I think she really meant grants. Many students take out loans which would fit the definition of aid in the article.</p>
<p>Many students get grants too. The article says 52% of undergraduate college students received grants. And the state of CA gives a lot of aid for UCs-- but it’s really directed at their instate students. </p>
<p>OP, The American system is quite expensive for most families here. Most U.S. students do live at home and attend college locally. Some go away but can only afford a year or two. The way people usually afford is to piece $ together-- some grants, some loans, some savings, some student work. Even then, a LOT of people don’t graduate because of $ problems. International students who are not permanent residents often come from wealthy families. I have several coworkers who studied in the US as internationals but none did what you want to do (come for a year). One was accepted at a meet-full-need college and completed all 4 years. The other came to grad school here under a fellowship funded in her country.</p>
<p>At my (US) college, students pay the college normal tuition rates for the study abroad term(s). (Most financial aid does apply abroad). The college then pays the international universities. </p>
<p>You should check with the appropriate department at your university about its exchange programs + process.</p>