<p>I think Drusba about covered it all.</p>
<p>Here are a few more comments for you:</p>
<ol>
<li><p>Do carefully investigate each state’s (and sometimes each public institution’s) policy. In Maryland, your daughter would be in-state for the community colleges after your family had been here for three months [Montgomery</a> College Catalog](<a href=“http://cms.montgomerycollege.edu/EDU/Plain.aspx?id=2070]Montgomery”>http://cms.montgomerycollege.edu/EDU/Plain.aspx?id=2070) but the public universities here require 12 months. If your daughter begins as an out-of-state student, she will need to petition for a change of status when she does qualify for in-state rates. If for some reason you would need to move out of that state, there is the chance that she would lose her in-state status because of your move.</p></li>
<li><p>Enrolling at a community college and completing a program that is part of a formal articulation agreement with your in-state public university is one of the most cost effective ways to complete a degree. Here is a link about that topic from our local community college: [Counseling</a> & Advising | Transferring](<a href=“http://cms.montgomerycollege.edu/edu/tertiary1.aspx?urlid=67]Counseling”>http://cms.montgomerycollege.edu/edu/tertiary1.aspx?urlid=67)</p></li>
</ol>
<p>Chances are that the biggest issue your family will face is money. Since your daughter is a citizen, she can file the FAFSA which determines eligibility for federal aid, and which will allow her to apply for student loans even if your family doesn’t qualify for other kinds of aid. Read up on FAFSA at [FAFSA</a> - Free Application for Federal Student Aid](<a href=“http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/]FAFSA”>http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/) To get an idea of how much the colleges/universities will expect your family to be able to pay, you need to run your financial information through the EFC calculators at [FinAid</a>! Financial Aid, College Scholarships and Student Loans](<a href=“http://www.finaid.org%5DFinAid”>http://www.finaid.org) and at [College</a> Calculators - savings calculators - college costs, loans](<a href=“College Board - SAT, AP, College Search and Admission Tools”>Calculate Your Cost – BigFuture | College Board) If you want to understand how the FAFSA is calculated, or if you want to test out different scenarios, you should print out <a href=“http://ifap.ed.gov/efcformulaguide/attachments/111609EFCFormulaGuide20102011.pdf[/url]”>http://ifap.ed.gov/efcformulaguide/attachments/111609EFCFormulaGuide20102011.pdf</a></p>
<p>Some private colleges/universities use the CSS Profile in addition to the FAFSA. Each institution determines which factors are important, so it is harder to predict what your institutional EFC could be. You can read more about it at <a href=“https://profileonline.collegeboard.com/prf/index.jsp[/url]”>https://profileonline.collegeboard.com/prf/index.jsp</a></p>
<p>In India, some of the best advice for maneuvering through the college search and college application process is to be had at your local office of EducationUSA. [EducationUSA</a> - Find an Advising Center](<a href=“http://www.educationusa.info/India]EducationUSA”>India | EducationUSA) If the advisors there haven’t worked with a US citizen lately, their colleagues in another office will have.</p>
<p>Here at CC, you will find help for lots of your questions. In particular, you should take a look at the Financial Aid, Parents, and International Student Forums.</p>
<p>Welcome to the adventure!</p>