<p>Relevant personal background: I’ve known many, many immigrants over the years. I’ve seen how things work in various immigrant families. I also have family ties to PA.</p>
<p>There’s a decent chance that your parents don’t really want you to stay in the USA. Many immigrants come to the USA to work without desiring to fully integrate into the American culture. When the immigrants have children, the children basically have to come along for the ride. But then, if the children spend most of their childhood here, they’re usually going to be more influenced by the American culture than their parents’ culture. Some immigrant parents may not really have wanted this. They might really want their children to be part of their own culture and possibly to return to their own country.</p>
<p>Sending you to university in the Philippines accomplishes this to a greater extent than is immediately obvious. If you want to work in the USA, or Europe for that matter, going to university in the Philippines is a trap. When your university isn’t respected in the places you’d like to work, it’s very difficult to work in those places.</p>
<p>The limitations on your green card are another trap. I wouldn’t be surprised if your theory in post #27 that your parents actually want you to lose your green card is correct. That would ensure that you wind up back in the Philippines even after university graduation. It would be very hard to get back into the USA legally, even with a temporary immigration status.</p>
<p>As a side note, if you lose your green card, there’s no guarantee that you’ll be able to even visit the USA. Only citizens and green card holders have the automatic right to enter the USA. Also, if you apply for a temporary visa to study or work, the visa officer might assume that you really intend to return to the USA permanently because it’s the only country you’ve known. But for a temporary visa to be granted, the visa officer has to be convinced that you will return to your country - e.g., the Philippines - when your immigration status expires. So you’re actually at high risk for not being allowed to visit the USA even temporarily. That said, your immigration situation is complicated enough that you should really speak to an immigration attorney about it. Some attorneys offer a free initial consultation.</p>
<p>We also can’t rule out the possibility that if your parents can’t persuade you, that they will force the issue. Thus, you might also want to talk to an immigration attorney about whether your parents can move back to the Philippines and force you to return with them if you’re not 18 yet. If this is potentially a problem, it might be wise not to argue with your parents about universities until you turn 18. You might need to actively play along and go through the motions of planning to go to university in the Philippines. Then, when you turn 18, you just suddenly change your mind.</p>
<p>Also, if you don’t think Penn State is the right environment for you, you’re probably right. The big, party state schools just aren’t for everyone. If they’re not for you, it can work out really badly. I know this firsthand. You’re fortunate in that PA has several good public universities. Even without the merit scholarship noted, Pitt costs about the same amount as Penn State, so there’s no reason not to go to Pitt instead. Temple is another option, and while it’s a notch below Penn State or Pitt academically, it’s also a notch cheaper.</p>
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<p>It’s also possible that your parents think differently than you or most other Americans because of cultural differences. Your thinking is influenced by the American culture which surrounded you for most of your life. Your parents’ thinking is influenced by the Filipino culture which surrounded them during their formative years. It’s easy to underestimate the impact of culture on how people think.</p>
<p>Now, I’m not saying your parents are right. Frankly, I think they’re not. But it’s important to understand how they think so that you can respond effectively.</p>
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<p>QFT.</p>
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<p>QFT. This could be part of the parents’ thinking. They’re acting like it’s really about money. But maybe the real issue is reintegration into the Filipino culture and society. Regardless, spideygirl’s quote is exactly why you need to find a university which will help you become who you want to be.</p>
<p>@ClassicRockerDad: Good catch about the full ride scholarship at Pitt. Pitt is likely far stronger than most universities which offer full rides to top students.</p>
<p>As a final note, if your true goal is to stay in the USA, it might be worth considering staying here even if you can’t afford university right away. If you stay here, you’ll eventually find a way to get through a US university. You might have to start at a community college. You might have to work multiple jobs to save money. It may not be easy. But there will, eventually, be a way. If you go to the Philippines, you might have a hard time coming back, especially if you lose your green card.</p>
<p>Good luck!</p>