Please help a desperate international

katiemang · 11-05-2009, 05:57 AM

I applied to Wharton ED, but I didn't include a FA, because my chance would decrease as an international. My parents are telling me they will pay for everything, but it will kill them to do so, so I really need help. Where can an international student--who is residing in US but not a citizen or a resident--receive financial assistance from places other than the school itself?

Will FAFSA work for me? Are there any other organizations, etc to help students like me??

PLEASE, HELP ME!

Thanks everyone!

thumper1 · 11-05-2009, 07:31 AM

You cannot file a FAFSA as in international student. The fafsa is used for federally funded need based aid and you are not eligible for that.

You might see if there are any organizations in YOUR country that provide scholarships for students who study in other countries for college.

Since you checked NO on the Wharton ED application, you did so because you thought it would give you an "admissions" edge.

Advice to others: If you NEED financial aid to attend a college, it does you NO GOOD to be accepted to the college if you can't pay the bill.

I know the OP says the parents "can pay but it will kill them".

Perhaps you can change your application and apply RD and then also say you want to change that little box to "YES".

mom2collegekids · 11-05-2009, 08:51 AM

Katie,

If you want to go to school here, then you need to let your parents pay. There aren't organizations that would give you the amount that you'd need to relieve your parents. you might (after looking desperately, find some organization that will give you a small token, but what good will that do?)

katiemang · 11-05-2009, 01:47 PM

I was looking into the eligibility section, but my sister was saying i MIGHT be able to receive a little bit of financial aid, because although I am an international student, I submitted my files to be registered as a permanent resident in US (but it would take about 4 years to actually receive that status).

Btw, if it makes any difference at all, I go to a school in US, have been living in California for the past 7 years. my whole family's either a citizen or perm. resident, except for me.

Would these make any difference at all??

mom2collegekids · 11-05-2009, 01:58 PM

Your international status is what counts. It doesn't matter that you have citizens as relatives. It doesn't matter that you live in the US.

Since you did not request F/A, you won't get any. Schools don't offer F/A to those who don't request it (especially since you haven't submitted the F/A forms). And, they don't like it when people apply and say they don't need it, but then ask for some.

Your sister shouldn't have said that. Ivies don't just throw out some aid here and there when no one's asked for any. You haven't submitted financial info, so for all they would know, they would be throwing out money to a Bill Gates family. UPenn would have no idea that your family would be struggling to pay, cuz you haven't done the paperwork.

mom2collegekids · 11-05-2009, 02:06 PM

Just wanted to add...

If you're concerned that your parents will be too harshly stretched...then...

withdraw ED and go RD and ask for aid

work as much as you can between now and next fall (especially in the summer) to earn as much as you can.

If your parents are residents (which you suggest) have them take out a student loan that you will be responsible for when you graduate.

katiemang · 11-05-2009, 02:32 PM

Thanks, mom2collegekids. It's just that my parents probably can pay for everything but I don't want to burden them with that responsibility for 4 years, you know? Of course, I'm not saying that my parents are filthy rich or anything, but they would be living under a very tight budget, so I would really like to get any help I can find--even if it may be a small fraction of the whole cost.

.. so there are virtually no FA for internationals at all? I've been googling for the past 2 hrs, but I'm not really seeing anything bc most of the grants/scholarships pertain to specific majors or religious groups :/

Thanks for the responses though; I will definitely look into student loans with my parents' status.

mom2collegekids · 11-05-2009, 02:46 PM

In your case, no, since you indicated that you don't need any.

Yes, you might find some odd tiny one-time award scholarship from one small time group, but that won't be much worth your time and effort.

Again, if you want to "lighten" your parents' burden, work full time this summer and earn as much as you can.

hmom5 · 11-05-2009, 03:24 PM

It's unlikely you would get anything other than directly from Wharton. And that would be tough, they give very little to internationals.

Having lived in CA for 7 years, right now you would qualify for in state tuition at UCs. Have you considered Haas? There is however the possibility that the CA Supreme Court will overturn this--the case is pending.

swimcatsmom · 11-05-2009, 03:37 PM

Quote:

.. so there are virtually no FA for internationals at all?

FA for international students is available but it is provided by the schools as institutional aid. Saying you don't need aid when you do is not a good idea. As Thumper said, what is the point of being accepted if you then cannot afford to go. And most schools will not let Internationals change to saying they want FA once they have been accepted.

thumper1 · 11-05-2009, 05:30 PM

Quote:

my parents probably can pay for everything

If your parents CAN pay for everything, you probably would NOT be eligible for need based aid anyway. Wharton is in excess of $50,000 a year. If your parents have that much money to put towards your education annually...what kind of NEED BASED aid do you think you would be eligible for?

You might want to run your family figures through an EFC calculator using the institutional methodology to get an estimate of what the schools would expect your parents to pay. If it's in the $50,000 range...you wouldn't get need based aid even IF you were able to apply.

Wharton does not give merit aid. If your family contribution is estmated to be very high, the only aid you might get from any college here would be merit aid...if the school offers it to international students. Wharton does not.

alamemom · 11-05-2009, 06:59 PM

As you and your family have lived in California for 7 years, you very likely qualify for in-state tuition at the UCs and CSUs. The exeption would be if you are here on a non-immigrant VISA.

Quote:

Students holding nonimmigrant visas (F1, J1, etc.) may not establish California residency for purposes of fees.

University of California - Admissions

It would be sensible of you to change your application to RD and investigate other opportunities that are more affordable for your family.

happymomof1 · 11-05-2009, 11:25 PM

"my whole family's either a citizen or perm. resident, except for me."

Then just exactly what has your immigration lawyer been up to so that you aren't a permanent resident yet yourself? If your parents are, and you are a minor, you should have been included in their paperwork. Pick up the phone. Call the lawyer. Get this fixed.

mom2collegekids · 11-05-2009, 11:52 PM

>>>>
It's unlikely you would get anything other than directly from Wharton. And that would be tough, they give very little to internationals.
<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

She won't get anything from Wharton because she didn't request FA, nor did she file FA forms. Therefore, Wharton will assume she's got a lot of money, so why give her any.

thumper1 · 11-06-2009, 07:22 AM

Also...just FYI...you are not "desperate" if your parents CAN pay the $50,000 plus that Wharton charges.