International Student wanting to study AI in the US, but doesn't have much money

International Students
1

Hi, I’m asking for a friend since I can read and write English faster. She’s a prospective international student. Her dream is to study AI, preferably in the US.

Right now she’s just about to graduate from a one year school in Japan that specializes in preparing students to study abroad. They have partner schools in the US that she would be almost guaranteed to get in to, but none of them are very good, and they’re also a bit expensive. The only one that seems like it would be in her budget would be LSUS, which seems like it is a bit unsafe (in terms of crime, especially for someone used to Japan) and not that good of a school.

I told her that going to community college in California and then transferring to a UC is a viable path, but honestly I’m not that familiar with US colleges.

Given the goal of studying AI in the US, her current academic history (1 year in a speciality school that prepares for international study), and limited/almost non-existent budget (her parents won’t pay for her school), what are her best options?

2

Money would be the limiting factor.

Honestly, her best options would probably be Japanese unis where she can work her way through college.

Or else a distance degree through University of London International: http://www.londoninternational.ac.uk/courses/search/?solrsort=sort_title%20asc&filters= tid%3A557

3

A viable path for students who can spend $200,000 over four years on their college education, but not a viable path for someone with a “limited/almost non-existent budget.”

If your friend has her heart set on US colleges, she may still have a few options, especially if she can achieve top scores on the SAT or ACT exam.

  • If her parents don't have the resources to support her, she could apply to colleges with need-based financial aid for international students. Liberal arts colleges are often the path of choice for needy bright international applicants who are not quite competitive enough to get into Harvard.
  • Independently of her parent's finances, she could apply to universities with merit-based scholarships. If you poke around the CollegeConfidential forums, you can find multiple threads where people list out universities with significant merit-based scholarships..
4

Does she have strong scores in the Japanese school system?
UEdimburgh and UWaterloo are world standard bearers for AI. They have some scholarships but no full ride. And of course there’s the fact neither is in the us.
How has she paid for the special school? Is it certain her parents won’t help? Has she taken the sat or act? If so, what were her scores? What universities does her school have ties to and do they offer scholarships?