HELP! Overseas U.S Citizen Going to French School

International Students
1

<p>I’m a citizen of the U.S currently living and going to school in France. The school is a small local French school, and has no international program of any kind. This makes it difficult for me to judge which U.S schools I might get into, since I have no interest in studying in France. I do have relatives and friends in the US that have given me suggestions, but I would really like an outsider’s opinion: what schools do you recommend? I would prefer them to be in the Texas/Virginia area. </p>

<p>ABOUT ME:</p>

<p>For those who know a little about the French system: </p>

<ul>
<li><p>I am doing a Bac S with SVT as my specialty. I’ve had a 14 average with “Felicitations” for my freshman and sophomore years, and a 13 average in my freshman year with “Encouragements” and “Felicitations” in the second and last trimesters, respectively. </p></li>
<li><p>I am in the "Section Europ</p></li>
</ul>

2

<p>As a US Citizen, you are eligible for federally determined financial aid as determined by the FAFSA [FAFSA</a> - Free Application for Federal Student Aid](<a href=“http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/]FAFSA”>http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/) It will be easier to complete the form if your parents file US taxes (which they should be doing if they are citizens or permanent residents), but there are directions for completing it with foreign taxes. Dig around a bit in the website if that is your case. Depending on the colleges/universities that you apply to, you may also need to file the CSS Profile financial aid application <a href=“https://profileonline.collegeboard.com/prf/index.jsp[/url]”>https://profileonline.collegeboard.com/prf/index.jsp&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>Since you will have a foreign secondary school record, your application may need to be processed by the international admissions officers at the colleges/universities. Don’t worry about this. They’ve seen cases like yours before.</p>

<p>You should read the EducationUSA website [International</a> Students - EducationUSA](<a href=“http://www.educationusa.state.gov/]International”>http://www.educationusa.state.gov/) for some ideas about choosing and applying to colleges/universities in the US. You also should make an appointment with the advising center that is closest to you. Here is the address of the one in France:</p>

<p>FRANCO-AMERICAN COMMISSION FOR EDUCATIONAL EXCHANGE
Mailing Address:
FACEE - Centre Education USA
9, rue Chardin
PARIS
FRANCE 75016</p>

<p>Walk Up Address:
9, rue Chardin
PARIS
FRANCE 75016</p>

<p>tel: 0892 680 747 (France only)
e-mail: <a href="mailto:doc@fulbright-france.org">doc@fulbright-france.org</a>
website: [Fulbright</a> - Education USA Advising center](<a href=“http://www.fulbright-france.org/htm/page.php?id=256]Fulbright”>http://www.fulbright-france.org/htm/page.php?id=256)</p>

<p>You may be able to consult with them by phone if you can’t visit in person. Many of the volunteers who staff these offices are US citizens living abroad, and they will have good ideas for you.</p>

<p>Wishing you all the best.</p>

3

<p>You also need to find out if you qualify for in-state tuition/fees at public universities in any particular state. Each state sets its own policies about this. Usually your parents must live in a state for a certain period of time in order for you to qualify, but in some cases owning property is sufficient. If your parents own a home in the US, and pay property taxes there, that may be enough.</p>

4

<p>Thank you all for your help! The EducationUSA site was a great find!</p>