OP- you are missing my point. I am not worried that you will be locked in to a package at NYU you can’t afford- I’m worried you are getting locked OUT of a terrific package somewhere else. I’m not sure what the appeal of NYU for International Relations is- but it has sidetracked you from some wonderful colleges which are likely to be more affordable for your family.
And you need to verify the UNC residency… I’m not sure you have interpreted the calculator correctly. Don’t rely on a website- pick up the phone and call the university, lay out your situation, and get someone to verify that you are indeed considered in-state for tuition purposes for 2018-2022.
“I can afford it with loans” means you/they can’t afford it.
Ask your parents what they an afford out of pocket, from their current income and savings.
For freshman year you can get 5.5K in loans, and a Pell grant if your EFC is low enough.
Check that you do have North Carolina residency. (Seconding the above - it’s REALLY important you call now/ASAP, lay it out, and ask for an email verifying you’re considered instate for tuition purpose.) Thousands of expat citizens have no state for university purpose.
If it is, apply to UNC but also to NCSU and either to UNC Asheville or UNC Wilmington. You cannot count on UNC. Apply by October 15.
BTW NYU isn’t a good choice for International Relations because it’s an impacted (selective) major, meaning you can get into NYU but you may not be allowed into IR, and you don’t find out when you start, only after freshman year. In other words, you may get in debt for NYU without any chance at the major you want.
Anyway NYU isn’t that good for IR, better schools for that subject and with no restrictions would include Macalester, American University, Tufts, Dickinson, Middlebury, UDenver, Wellesley… Good safeties for IR would include Kalamazzo and Hobart&William Smith.
Apply to as many universities EA as possible.
DO include Ole Miss Sally Barksdale Honors College along with the Crofts Institute. Absolutely Top-notch and you’d get a good scholarship.
@blossom Ah you’re right, I did misinterpret your meaning. As for NC schools, I completed the form on ncresidency.cfnc.org and was confirmed a resident, so I’m set on that front. I can still call but I assumed that since I completed the official forms thats all I needed? Is that untrue?
@MYOS1634 I would like to apply by October 15, but the earliest SAT date for international students is October 7th, and my scores won’t be out by then, and I’d really like to get my SAT up. Do you still recommend early action for Carolina schools?
@MYOS1634 For clarification – I was referring to the sophomore year International Relations honors course. I’m also applying to American, UDenver and Tufts.
This may mean that you are not domiciled in NC? Are your parents renting a home in NC?
While you can have many residences, you can only be domiciled in one place.
Do your parents own a home in Nigeria?
Also remember, that you will be looked as a US citizen/Permanent resident for financial aid purposes. Because you attend school in Nigeria, your application will be read with the international pile be the admissions rep, who reads Nigeria. You will not be read by North Carolina because you are not attending school there. This minimally is going to flag your application and they will request additional information.
With your stats there is no way at all that NYU will provide you with anything close to the aid you would need to attend. So applying ED is a waste of an application fee - if you are going to apply ED anywhere, consider a school that is more likely to meet your need … or forget ED. There are hundreds of excellent schools where you can study international relations and a take a pre-law curriculum. But for both career goals you need to consider grad school expenses. Law school is super expensive, and and generally for a career in international relations its preferable to have at least a master’s degree, and most master’s IR programs are unfunded as well.
Just to update this thread: I got into the honors IR program @ NYU Early Decision with close to a full ride! I’m currently in contact with the FA office to see if I can get it a little closer to a full ride, but I’ll be happy with my initial offer. Thank you all for your advice
@sybbie719 it is all covered by scholarships and a grant, or “free money” as you dubbed it. i’d be happy to share more details over PM, as NYU and I are still working out my final financial package. lets just say the gap is insignificant enough that my family and I can afford it without loans
Be sure you understand in advance what costs are covered-- sometimes there are things like student fees and insurance that get tacked on later. From what you have posted before, I don’t think that would be a barrier to attendance, but it could catch you off guard, so it’s best to be prepared for that in advance.
