<p>I’m highly stressed at this moment and crying inside my head but here is my situation:
I’ve been living in U.S. for about 10 years, yet I did not receive a visa to stay in the U.S. and have to return back to the country I was born in. I’ve attended school since early elementary years till late high school (practically I’m a citizen at heart even if I were born somewhere else) around and now my father recommends that I must graduate early from college. I’m torn because I love school and want to complete it and not scurry along. Plus, its jeopardizing my dream to be in an ivy league institute. I’m a rising junior and I had things set but now I’m completely clueless. Since I’ve been reading the ivy posts for almost 4 years (but did not post anything up till now in any thread) I thought to begin here. Up till now I don’t believe I’ve done enough special things to stand out in my application but am just beginning to. Please tell me what to do please (I would much appreciate if a fellow ivy alumni or someone attending an ivy league school give me some advise on this). I’m a very studious person and am down to earth with all things in respect and what’s surprising about me is that I decided my career at the age of 7 and nothing can change my mind.</p>
<p>um, not all ivies are the same, and if you only set your heart to get into any ivy, not a specific one/few, you wont really be able to show the passion for that certain one in your essay, and since you said you dont really have any special things in your application, that passion is key.</p>
<p>Wait, are you saying that you are already in an ivy league school, or that you are looking forward to it?? </p>
<p>What is the problem here - why does your father want you to graduate early? Is it because of the money? If so, consider schools that are need-blind for internationals. . . HYPD (for example)</p>
<p>As for your residency status, call up each college that you are interested in and ask them if that is going to be a problem - many schools have different policies on how they determine a student to be international or domestic (e.g - UVA considers those who’ve attended school in Virginia for quite a bit as Domestic, even though they may not be permanent residents)</p>
<p>Good luck.</p>
<p>Wow, never thought I see someone else like me on here. I’ve also been living in the US for almost 10 years now, still no green card 
Last year during applications I had my heart set on Cornell because of this one program in CAS. I crafted my essays to show my desire for Cornell and low and behold, I was accepted. I also applied for full financial aid. This probably held me back since I was wait-listed everywhere else I applied (Northwestern, WashU, Michigan, etc.) Even though Cornell accepted me, I did not receive a single dime in financial aid. My parents are trying to refinance our house to get me money. But I am going.</p>
<p>All I can say is, if you really want to go to a school, let your passion be seen and if it’s meant to be, you’ll get in. If not…well, tough luck.</p>
<p>I hope to get my green card next year so I can apply for financial aid. Because bluntly put, 60k a year blows.</p>
<p>60K a year blows?? there are other schools. I really resent that. I and my husband have paid for 4 years for one child and are now paying 4 years for the 2nd. PLUS making donations to contribute to finaid for students who can’t avoid the tuition - students like we were 35 years ago. However, you knew going in that finaid for Int’l students wasn’t a given.</p>
<p>tingsquared, you don’t happen to be a Canadian, do you?</p>
<p>I know there are other schools…it’s not like I don’t feel bad enough. I feel guilty enough for sure and don’t my parents know it. They try to tell me everyday that I should just to go a state school since I’m dumb anyways. We make around 60k a year, so yeah, it does blow. And yes I knew going in fin aid wasn’t need-blind for international students, but I thought because of that, I’d either get in with fin aid or get rejected/wait-listed like all the other schools I applied to.</p>
<p>And no, I’m not Canadian or Mexican. I know they get considered same as US students. I’m just really hoping that the green card will come through. Otherwise I get 1 year at Cornell and that’s it.</p>
<p>tingsquared: Are you serious? I thought you could apply for like a student visa, right?</p>
<p>Tingsquared,</p>
<p>So you were not eligible for any type of financial aid? I heard that they do give some international students(not MX or Canadian) scholarships, but I heard that these are veryt limited. Have you tried to talk to financial aid? PM me if you want to talk about this.</p>