Hello
I am here to ask for help on my decisions about college.
First of all, I will be providing all my info for more accurate analysis and advice, so please be patient in reading!
I am currently a rising senior for 2015-2016, which means I am preparing college apps over the summer.
I live in Virginia, and my family immigrated here in 2008.
My dad had to go back, so I am living with my sister and my mom.
Briefly, I have always had great grades, all A’s in advanced and AP classes, but this junior year, I fell into a slump (for personal reasons…) and messed up my grades.
After I got out of it, I worked my butt off and got good grades in second semester, but I wasn’t able to make up for terrible grades in first semester.
As a result, I ended up with 1 C, 3 B’s, and 3 A’s…
Fortunately, the classes I got bad grades in are mostly those that I have no interest in; I want to do engineering, but those classes were history, biology, and english classes.
I know those classes are important, too, but I showed that I improved much in second semester, so hopefully it shows my effort…
The thing is, I have many things that will look very good on the college app.
I am attending the Governor’s School for Science and Technology, and I do lots of activities and volunteering.
I also have many leadership positions and areas that I have showed interest in for a long time.
My SAT score is exactly 2200, and I have generally good AP scores.
My GPA is definitely above 4.0, probably around 4.4-4.5 (waiting for my transcript, but my counselor’s out till August…)
I am a full Korean, which means I have a disadvantage in competition with so many other Asians in applying for good schools, and my family is currently on H-4 visa and on the process of getting green card.
I am totally legal, but I highly doubt I will receive the green card before I get into college, which puts me on a much worse position…
I am providing all this info because I really, desperately need help on my decisions! (so no personal negative opinions please!)
I have always been looking up to going to one of the top colleges, but I feel like my grades this year have ruined all my dreams…
Could you guys please help me and give me some advice on the following list?:
Do you think I still have good chance in getting in top colleges, like CalTech, UC Berkley, University of Chicago, etc.?
I know these are super great schools, and I know everyone has at least slight chance, but I want specific advice...
My current knowledge is that if I go to an out-of-state college, I become international, which means there are several disadvantages and insanely high tuition, and also that for out-of-state colleges, I cannot receive scholarships from public ones. Is this correct? (PLEASE only tell me 100% sure info or else tell me that you are not sure... I cannot afford to risk anything)
Please provide me all the info you know about financial aid for non-citizen and no green card people. My sister wasn't able to get any financial aid, but I am asking because it could've changed.
I have great interest in Mechanical Engineering, especially robotics. Could you provide me a list of colleges that are famous for this major? No other specific requirements; a huge list or a link to a page would be perfectly fine.
Sorry for this gigantic post guys…
But I really do work hard and don’t want to disappoint my parents who have sacrificed their personal life just for me and my sister.
It would really be great if you guys could help me!!
Thank you so much in advance, and please tell me if you want more of my profile (past grades and classes, high school, activities, etc.)
Are you a US permanent resident with a green card? If not what kind of Visa are you on? If not permanent resident, then you are international for admissions and can’t receive federal aid.
I am much more concerned about #1,2,4 because for #3, I was already almost certain that I couldn’t get financial aid, and I was just making sure…
But thanks for the info!
And I will only choose to attend an out-of-state college if I get full ride.
My family cannot afford any international tuition.
Honestly, my family will be able to somehow, but I will definitely not add another huge burden on my family.
Money is my secondary concern right now because I first need to see if I have good chance in making certain colleges (like the ones mentioned in the post).
Can someone provide me with realistic advice with this issue?
Do you think my profile sounds okay for them?
My primary dream school right now is UC Berkley.
Oh, also, another question: I heard that for international students, they cannot receive any scholarship from public schools. Is this true or does it depend on the school? And where could I find this kind of information?
Every college and university publishes right on its website information about whether or not scholarship money is available for international students. Use the search function to find it.
The UCs do not have good aid at all for international students or for students from out of state. You would almost certainly be expected to be full pay at all of them to the tune of some 50k+ each year. So stop dreaming about Berkeley. Find yourself a better, more affordable dream.
But I agree with harvardandberkeley that it might be worth taking a gap year to make sure you have your green card. If you apply without one, contact the admissions offices and ask if you can apply as a green card holder with the understanding that if admitted, it would be conditional on the green card coming through - or you’d defer until it did come through. Not sure if they’d accept this, but if you talk to one or two, you’ll get a sense of whether this strategy will work.
happymomof1:
Um, thank you for the advice, but please be more kind.
A dream school is a dream school.
I can dream about it all I want.
It doesn’t mean I will or won’t get in.
I am pretty aware that I won’t get full ride; that’s why I’m here to ask for help, to find better suiting schools for me.
So please don’t say things like that to my dream.
Thank you again.
N’s Mom:
I have considered a gap year, but I would rather go to any school than do that…
And my green card process is very frustrating and annoying because no one knows when it will be complete.
It should’ve come out like 2 years ago, but there was a misunderstanding between my lawyer and the labor department, so the case went into a civil court, which my lawyer said NEVER does anything on time, so my family’s been endlessly waiting…
So a gap year wouldn’t even guarantee that my green card will come out
As you have read from my post, I had to give up many of my desired schools because of my grade this year…
So my biggest concern is other schools that suit my dream of becoming a mechanical engineer but that I will be able to get full ride or tuition.
I am asking for help in finding them because lots of people tell me that there are so many schools out there that I’ve never heard of but are very good.
And my last back-up plan is actually William&Mary because they have a dual program with Columbia to which I can transfer to after 2 or 3 years.
I wouldn’t mind it so much, but I have visited most of Virginia colleges, and none of them I want to go to…
Not that they are bad schools (because they are good), but that I don’t seem to fit well.
So please help me find better colleges for me!!
Your SAT scores and your GPA put you in a range where admission at the places on your list is within the real of possibility. However your financial situation will determine where you can actually attend.
So, go ahead and apply to those places you are dreaming about. But do find at least one place where you know for a fact your grades and SAT scores will get you admitted, and that you also know for a fact that your family can pay for. That way you will have some place to study even if it turns out that your dream institutions are unaffordable.
I know that it is hard for many Korean parents to understand, but in the US where you graduate from college is not nearly as important as it might be in Korea. Provided your engineering degree is from an ABET program, you will be able to find a good job even with the OPT visa extension on a student visa. What you do after that is up to you.
Find something in-state that you can afford. Berkeley is a California public school and does not provide aid to OOS or international. Save up $55K per year for your “dream”. No, you will not be able to get instate tuition.
“Fortunately, the classes I got bad grades in are mostly those that I have no interest in; I want to do engineering, but those classes were history, biology, and english classes.”
So you do realize that you have to take GE courses at whatever university you attend? Some of the courses are in these areas. If you don’t do well in those courses, it will impact your ME GPA.
You really need to Google the schools that are of interest. Look at the admissions requirements (i.e. "history, biology, english, that you have no interest in) as well as the graduation requirements. No one on this site is going to do the work for you.
I understand that you have dream schools, but it is very unlikely that you will get a full ride to CalTech, UC Berkely, or UChicago based on merit. As others have previously stated, once you have your green card, you could qualify for need-based financial aid. I don’t think anyone posting here is trying to shut down your dream, definitely apply to your dream schools- who knows what will happen, but a full-ride at your dream schools is VERY unlikely.
UVA is an amazing school, and if you get your green card in time, could definitely be an affordable option. Based on your situation, I would be less focused on the prestige of the school.
You seem a little under-researched on a lot of very important facts. Take the time to research good mechanical engineering programs- don’t just look at the best of the best, also consider target and safety schools. You should also take some time to sit down with your parents and figure out what is feasible given your financial situation- that way you have an actual starting point for what is and isn’t realistic.
I don’t want to discourage you from your dream schools, but you need to consider safety schools. All the posters here are trying to advise you, not kill your dreams! Good luck!
Thanks everyone for replies.
I’m sorry about the sassy reply about my dream schools (I’m very sensitive about college matter these days…)
I didn’t mean to target anyone and be mean, and I definitely know that no one’s trying to kill my dreams.
And don’t be mistaken, I am VERY FULLY aware of my circumstances in admission to those dream schools.
And I have certainly done a lot of research, and I am NOT trying to make someone else do all the work for me.
I just need an objective view on my situation to see if there are better options and solutions.
I do have general, some specific, ideas about the concerns I gave, but everyone says talk to as many people as possible because they will all give me different answers.
I do already have safety schools, as I said in one of the replies.
My sister personally is attending William&Mary, and a lot of senior friends also are going this fall.
And I think I also already said this, but I definitely know that schools in VA are wonderful.
But not all great schools are great for everyone; even Princeton may not be fitting for someone.
I have carefully considered and visited UVA, VTech, and William&Mary, and I am not attracted to any of them.
But they are safety schools for sure, considering my financial problems.
I won’t comment about my dream schools anymore, so please, please be nice in replying.
I’m just asking for help, the facts and information, not personal opinions.
But thank you for all the feedback, I really appreciate.
Now specific comments:
I have seen several Korean people go to a college in Korea after graduating high school here, and it seems very painful.
And I don’t know how much you guys know about Korean culture regarding education and jobs, but it’s very, very cruel and unfair.
Going to a considerably good college is very difficult, and since there are only a few, competition is crazy.
You won’t understand unless you actually personally know about this issue; it’s really complicated.
But in conclusion, I am not including that as an option.
