Am I an international student?

b_r_um
Sat, 21 Apr 2007 05:51:35 +0000

Yes, you would be considered an international applicant if you don’t become a permanent resident until you apply to college; some colleges however will consider you a domestic applicant if you show them that you will be a perm resident by the time you start college. The international status does not entail any real advantages.
The one big disadvantage is that you are not eligible for federal financial aid.
Thus you are not eligible for financial assistance at most colleges and universities (as the college would have to pay all your aid - including loans - out of their own pocket) and virtually no college is need-blind for internationals (except for Harvard & Co). At most schools the admission rate for international students is currently about half as high as for domestic applicants, and you might have to pay out-of-state tuition for your in-state university (I do not know your visa status).
When you do need financial assistance, the schools that you would normally consider safeties become your matches and matches turn into reaches.
International students can apply ED virtually everywhere as long as they don’t apply for financial aid.