I applied to the UCs and I am very worried because I filled out my parents income (about 20k) and I am worried the sole reason I will get rejected will be because of my financial situation.
For some context: I am an international student on an f-1 (high school boarding student) and have a 4.0 UW. Very good extracurriculars and honors. I think I have good essays?
I will probably have a sponsor for attending university but I forgot to add this piece of information to the additional information section, hence my concern.
The bigger question is….how will you pay the full cost of attendance at the California public universities…at the OOS cost of attendance…or even the instate cost of attendance??
UCs are not need-aware in the usual sense, but will not offer purely need-based financial aid to those who are not California residents or in certain special categories (that do not include those on F-1 visas).
UC merit scholarships that will make UCs affordable to a student with parent income of $20k are rare and very hard to get.
If you are at a boarding school in the US you should be working with your guidance counselor to find college options that may be affordable if you are admitted. The UCs will not offer financial aid (if your sponsor will cover the full cost of attendance then that isn’t an issue.)
I would advise you to apply to colleges in your home country as well.
UC’s are need blind so your financial situation will not be considered for admission purposes. That said, UC’s do not offer financial aid to International students so you may be admitted but will receive little to NO financial aid to make it affordable to attend which is currently $74K/year. If your sponsor can cover your costs if admitted, then it should not be an issue.