Elvira

But as far as I know, most scholarships at private colleges are need based, not merit based. As such they are only open to USCs and PRs.

Bob

US costs do tend to include accomodation and food...which they don't in the UK...so depending on where you live, you can get stuffed....London student loan does get you more, but if you studied in another expensive city like in Oxford, your student loan really doesn't go very far...

Bob

There's a few exchange programs like Erasamus that help pay, but even then, mates that exchanged with San Fran still needed $10K in the bank to get the student visa for a semester....and the semester cost $3000....so much for an equal exchange eh

Bob

not to mention costs of applying ....$30-50 a place, adds up, no wonder people don't apply to loads of places...

Bob

read the small print...where the missus went, they often included a coupon that when included would waive the $50 application fee, but would be surprised by the number of people that throw it out and paid the fee...only know because the missus worked in admissions while studying...

snowbunny

Yes and no.

Private colleges and universities can base their scholarships on whatever-the-heck they want, including monies to attract qualified minority students to their school. Public universities, at least in the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, cannot use affirmative action in giving scholarships (I'm not arguing whether this is right or wrong, just that It Is). Private individuals setting up scholarships through endowments can specify the kind of student they want to receive the award -- an albino female who graduated 2nd in her class, for example.

However, there has been less federal *grant* money every year -- grant being you don't have to repay it. The ratio of loan to grant/scholarship has been rising rapidly. Financial need can sometimes get you a lower %age rate on your loan (in Texas the state will guarantee some of those loans).

First-year (undergraduate) students rarely receive scholarships unless they are National Merit Scholars or are targeted by athletics or the arts to "perform" for the school. After the first year, they have an academic record on which to base future applications for scholarships.

There are often scholarships available through community organisations in one's hometown, or perhaps through one's employer, etc. These are generally small but every little bit helps. For example, there is a scholarship available to children whose parents belong to / live in our electrical cooperative district!

Elvira

True, but from what I've read, most if not all of these 'funny peculiar' and other non-academic scholarships usually have something in the small print to the effect that it's only open to USCs.

The thing is, there is so much else involved in applying to college in the US, besides the purely academic. Kids who do not have clued up parents who are willing to help must be at a serious disadvantage.

snowbunny

Too true. Like everything else in this country it's those who either know the system or who try to learn it inside and out, who get the rewards.

I've never seen a designated scholarship go to a USC, but then again, I studied engineering, where foreign-born students are the majority and not the rule. The only scholarships I can see any justification in restricting to USCs are federal government sponsored ones (yes, I know foreign residents pay into the tax structure here on many levels, but).

Elvira

Are you referring to under- or postgraduate scholarships? I know there is plenty of money for graduate students, irrespective of citizenship/status. Or maybe engineering is different, even for UG? Must look into this - one of my little darlings is thinking of civil eng.

snowbunny

What I am speaking of is UG....and I would think that these days there might even be private scholarships designated towards USCs, or at least those who graduated from a US high school.

Yes, there is money for grad students, IF they are awarded a research or teaching assistantship. Other than that, they are just as screwed as UGs. Both have to work and borrow their way through.

janj

I have one daughter in college and another applying at the moment. We've found that applying to those colleges (private and public) for which you exceed the average SAT and GPA means you're most likely to be offered merit scholarships. Don't need to apply for them - they offer you, say, 50% off tuition to entice you to attend

Thydney

I've got a green card

frrussre

My son is a HS senior, we drove 3548 miles this summer visiting Universities from NYC (Where we live) west as far as Atlanta Georgia & south to Miami & back to NYC. Total of 8 Uni's. 2nd trip to Maryland & back about 500 miles.

4 years of Out of State or private University + Accommodation + food package + books + Cellphone + Car + spending money etc can easily be $35,000 to $55,000 per year. One Uni we went to, you have to buy their Laptop (Can't use your own) + if doing Business studies Software is $1800.

We just paid a $40 application fee to one Uni. We just sent them another $25 fee to reserve a dorm in the campus. Funny thing, they have not offered him a place & he has not totally decided he wants to go there. They said, if he gets a place "All the dorms, maybe gone, so need to reserve one in case". These Uni's get thousands of App's & Millions of dollars in fee's, from families, who never get into the place.

Still, a Brit friends (Lives in USA) daughter wants to go to NYU Dentistry school. Glad not my kid. Look at these costs.
http://www.nyu.edu/dental/academicpr...dds/costs.html

Reg. Frank R.

Angry White Pyjamas

Shhh...wrong name wrong forum.

Bob

Schools do that, but then a lot of scholarships take that into account and thus give you less money...so it all levels out...