Hey CC I am a rising senior living in Japan who has never lived in America before. I’m not an international student though, it’s just that my dad has been stationed overseas in the military throughout his whole career. So anyways, since I haven’t been to the states in a couple of years, I haven’t been able to do college tours or anything like that. I was wondering if you guys can help me find some good colleges that I might be interested in. So here are some things about me:
-I am looking for a college in Missouri or Florida; I have relatives living in St. Louis, and my dad has state residency in Florida.
-I am planning on majoring in computer engineering.
-I am at the top of my class (rank 1/130 or so)
-I would like it if the college was close to a large city, or if the place has a lot going on all the time
-I don’t have a preference when it comes to a large or small school
-My dad has a GI Bill that will pay around 20k tuition each year, or pay all the tuition for an in state school
20k tuition each year, anywhere? If that’s the case, good deal! I’d suggest that you google around this discussion board and elsewhere for good colleges in computer engineering, including private universities. Then run the Net Price Calculators on the admissions pages to get a good sense of what you could get in merit aid and grants with your stats. You will start finding out that a college that seems to cost 50k (tuition plus room and board) may really be half that (or less) with your stats, and since you have 20k per year as a baseline, it could become quite affordable. So you’re not limited to Florida or Missouri.
Also, I understand that U of Missouri is unusual in that it allows anyone to establish residency after a year of living there, even if you moved there for college. Financially it could be an option almost equivalent to Florida for you. (But you’d have to look into specifics.)
Since the government will you resident status at any public college, it’s better for you to attend a college in California. You class rank can help you get into UC Berkeley, UCLA, UCSD, and UCI. These colleges have strong computer engineering programs. And you can easily go back to Japan from California with a nonstop flight for the holidays and breaks.
Off course, you should explore private colleges that give good financial aid too.
Is your family still going to be stationed overseas after you leave? If so, good thinking to stay close to family. The other posters’ suggestions for schools seem good.
Also, before you resolve to use the GI Bill as your payment for college, make sure you are getting all of it. Many of my friends whose parents are in the military are getting only a portion of their parents’ GI Bill, with the rest going to their parents or siblings.
California residency policies are strict, even for military dependent so, unless your father was ever stationed for a period of time in California, you probably will have to pay some sort of OOS fees.
P.28 http://www.ucop.edu/general-counsel/_files/ed-affairs/uc-residence-policy.pdf
Check that to make sure before you apply in California.
@“aunt bea” thanks for telling me that, I’ll try to contact them and get more info on that. I know UC schools are very good, so I may think of applying if I find out more.
I’d also look at Georgia Tech (Atlanta) and U Michigan-Ann Arbor (Engineering). Both have top 10 CE/CS programs and are public, so no tuition costs for you, plus have relatively low housing/food costs. St. Louis is a cheap flight away on Southwest/Airtran, and both cities (Ann Arbor is 30 min from Detroit Airport) have non-stop flights to Tokyo. Airport access is via bus from Ann Arbor, and subway in Atlanta. Both fit your criteria (lots to do or big city). You can look at their web sites to get a living expenses and books/incidentals estimate. Students from both schools are very heavily recruited.
Missouri and Florida public universities do not have highly rated CE programs, and the best school in Missouri (Washington University/St. Louis) is private (so may be unaffordable).
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and are public, so no tuition costs for you,
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I don’t think that Post-9/11 VA benefits pay all the tuition of any public.
I don’t think OOS Publics are free tuition to those with VA benefits. I think that VA benefits will pay the amount of the instate rate. The OOS portion is not covered. However, some OOS publics offer the Yellow Ribbon program and those schools will pay part or all of the OOS portion for those with post 911 benefits.
Can someone chime in who knows about this and clarify?
all resident tuition & fees for a public school
the lower of the actual tuition & fees or the national maximum per academic year for a private school
Your actual tuition & fees costs may exceed these amounts if you are attending a private school or are attending a public school as a nonresident student.
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So the post 9/11 benefits are for the “resident tuition” amount, not the OOS portion.
I still believe the OP is eligible for California in-state tuition. The link aunt bea put up was written before the national law requiring states to grant in-state tuition for military dependents came into effect.
Of course it’s best to check with California, though. These things can be pretty confusing. I used to be in the Air Force, and am thinking the base’s education office also might know the answer.
Look at the 4 year scholarship info for University of Alabama (with ACT 31, HS GPA 3.5+, studying CS which is in engineering and you would qualify for additional scholarship). Check also on school web site for any additional benefits or services/assistance you may have with being a dependent; active Veteran Service Office.
Sounds like you are wanting a good fit school that fits in your budget, and perhaps also close enough to relatives?
Students at UA are from all over, and friendly student and parent networking. That can be a help when you will be so far from your parents.