I am a Nigerian Student who has received various admission packages from various schools in the United States of America. However, I chose to attend the school with the largest financial aid package. Recently I found out the financial aid I have received is not enough as I am 10k+ outstanding. I have requested for a payment plan but without a document from the bank saying I can pay for the full tuition the university can’t proceed to process my I-20, without the I-20 I can’t get my visa and without a visa I cannot attend university. Now I’m faced with two options, defer my entrance till January or maybe next year this means another year off school. I’m am 19 years old right now and I never expected my life would take a detour in which I could never recover from. The other option is to take a year in another country like Australia, Mauritius, Cyprus or somewhere else. I feel like if I do that I could very easily forfeit my opportunity to go to a great American university. I also know transferring after a year is another journey which I know nothing about. Could someone out there give me some words of advise? I’m really confused about this right now.
If you go to a university anywhere, and then reapply to a US university, you would be considered a transfer student and your funding opportunities would greatly diminish as a transfer.
You could take a gap year and reapply to other US universities. In your gap year, you can work or do internships but you cannot attend another university (anywhere) if you plan on enrolling as a US freshman student.
Did you not see the overall cost of attending the university that admitted you?
Sometimes the schools with large scholarships are already expensive to begin with; they give you a large package that discounts their heavy tuitions, but you still have to come up with the rest of the money.
^^^
Also, you can find something to do if you do decide to take a gap year - get a job, start a business, write a book, take online courses. 19 years is pretty young to me, so I don’t see what the rush is.
Contact the university and see if they have need based aid for international students, or explain your circumstances and see what options they offer. Doesn’t hurt to try.
Good luck!
The visa requirements are not going to change. You will need to show sufficient financial resources to support yourself while you are in school. If the financial aid packages are not enough, you will need that money in the bank before you come. You generally cannot work for the money once you arrive in the US. (Some schools will give an on-campus work-study job for a portion of the amount you owe, but most employment would be illegal.)
I just finished taking a gap year, I can’t be home for two years that is very irresponsible. I had hoped my parents would be able to fund the rest but unfortunately, that is not possible at this time. I’m really confused, by deferring can I loose my current financial aid and scholarships?
I already have a need-based zcholarzhip. My parents are scared that if I ask the financial office for more aid that if I still can’t pay the rest and defer they might not keep my spot for fear that I would not be able to pay the following year az well.
I know … hence me asking advice about my options
Will you be able to pay in another year?
Some schools won’t hold your spot. Is this your second deferral with the school? You can ask them if they will hold your spot. Otherwise, reapply to more affordable schools this fall.
It is not considered irresponsible if you can’t come up with the money.
Thousands of US students can’t attend their schools because they lack money as well. Many are unfamiliar with how financial aid works; there are no full rides. Many of them take a gap year and reapply to more affordable schools. You may have to do that.
In US colleges, there are no age limitations.
Other countries have rules about proving you can support yourself, too.
yes
this is my first deferral, I already took a gap ear to reapply. this is my second set of applications. There are no age limitations in America but in Nigeria when I am looking for work they will see the 3-year gap on my cv. Even though i worked they are all menial jobs nothing concrete.
I know … the exchange rate from other currencies to mine is more affordable zo my parents can pay but to the dollar, not zo much…
What is your next best alternative to studying in the states? If you’ve done two application cycles and have not gotten an offer you could afford to accept either time, that’s not a good sign. What exactly can you do in the next year that would make your results significantly different? 10,000 per year is a very low cost for an American college. Even if you want to leave Nigeria to study, there may be a better option than the USA.
I’m looking at Australia at the moment, the first time I didn’t get any scholarships or aid. I don’t know at this point that is why I am thinking about deferring. 10,000 left not the total amount. here do you think is better than the USA?
You can’t have been doing nothing. Everything counts, even if you classify it as self employment on your CV.
Also, contact the school. Seriously, do it right now.
contact them to say what exactly?
Im just going to reapply again … i dont really have a choice
You do have a choice; there are other universities in other countries that you can apply to. You don’t have to attend a university in the US. Why does it have to be a US university? Thousands of US students can’t afford to attend colleges in the US, so they don’t attend. You can’t force something if you don’t have the resources.
@aroundhere is absolutely correct:
In addition to the banked money, you need to pay for your flights, personal expenses and health insurance.
If you apply to the same schools, you will get the same results. There is less and less money each year. As an international student, your chances of full rides in the US are extremely limited because the schools don’t have excess money. Each year more and more international students apply with better statistics. You will be competing with those candidates.
Next year, do you want to be in the exact same position?
@Feeeyyyiii
Contact them to ask whether you can defer for a year, and start Fall 2018. Explain it’s because the $10,000 your family was supposed to find hasn’t been found, in part due to currency fluctuations that have made the US Dollar much more expensive to buy than when you applied.
They should reply, either with a request with the new currency amounts, or with a deferral, or a request to reapply. YOU cannot decide that now. You MUST contact your admission counselor and the International adviser today (right now!)
In addition, even universities that are tuition free such as in Germany or France will require you to show proof you can pay for your own room&board+books, and that’s likely to be equivalent to $10,000 too.
Finally, DO NOT ATTEND ANY COLLEGE, as an international transfer does not qualify for financial aid.