High schooler with H4 Visa. Will I be able to get scholarships and how can I reduce the college fees? Please give me tipAnswered
I am a junior in high school. I need help in how can I reduce the amount of money. So, that I can study in U.S. to pursue in the future. My family gets like 89k per year. It's really hard to manage the college fees as a H1B visa and H4 dependent. Please help me with information that will help me. Anything helps!!!! :)
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3 answers
As an H4 visa holder, you may be eligible for scholarships and financial aid to help reduce the cost of college. However, the specific scholarships and financial aid options available to you may vary depending on the college or university you plan to attend and the state where it is located.
Here are some tips that can help you reduce college fees and increase your chances of getting scholarships:
Research scholarships: Look for scholarships that are available to international students or H4 visa holders. You can search for scholarships on websites such as Fastweb, Scholarships.com, and InternationalStudent.com. You can also contact the financial aid office of the college you plan to attend for more information.
Apply for financial aid: You can apply for financial aid by filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Even if you are not eligible for federal aid, the information you provide on the FAFSA may be used by colleges and universities to determine your eligibility for other types of financial aid.
Consider community college: Attending a community college for the first two years can significantly reduce the cost of college. You can then transfer to a four-year college or university to complete your degree.
Look for in-state tuition: If you have lived in a state for a certain period of time, you may be eligible for in-state tuition. Check with the colleges and universities in the state where you reside to find out if you are eligible.
Work-study programs: Some colleges and universities offer work-study programs where students can work part-time on campus to help pay for their education.
Consider online programs: Online programs can be less expensive than traditional on-campus programs, and may allow you to continue living at home while you study.
Private scholarships: Look for private scholarships offered by local organizations or businesses in your community. You can also check with your high school guidance counselor for scholarship opportunities.
Remember to start researching and applying for scholarships and financial aid early, as many have deadlines and limited funds available. Good luck!
If you are a top student, most colleges including Ivy League schools , Elite colleges like Stanford and top Liberal arts colleges like Colgate or Pomona, have a graduated scale of free tuition. Some schools like Columbia award need-based free tuition to families earning up to $100,000. I think the same is true at Harvard, Yale, Rice, Colgate and about 25 others. So at 89K, you would still qualify for FREE TUITION and maybe even get some more supplemental aid to cover part of your room and board.
Free tuition at top colleges if your family earns up to the following amounts
Stanford - $125,000
Dartmouth - $100,000
Columbia - $100,000
Yale - $100,000 (Average award up to $100K is $70,217 which is more than free tuition)
Rice - $140,000
Colgate - $175,000 (up to $175K, I think you only pay 10% of your income and don't have to take out loans)
The bottom line is that if you are smart and get into a T25 - T40 schools most of your college costs will be covered.
But it will probably cost you more to attend community college and a state school since they are state and locally subsidized and not mandated to help persons in your situation. The awarded respondent got this part wrong. It might cost you close to zero to attend a school like Colgate but $30K to go to your to your in-state college with room and board.
Good luck.
I know that many in state colleges offer full scholarships or some scholarship money depending on your gpa and/or ACT or SAT score. However, it mainly just depends on which state you live in and which college it is.
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Unfortunately, H4 visa holders are not eligible to complete FAFSA (therefore not eligible for federal aid). However, that doesn't mean you would not qualify for private scholarships. Tip: When searching scholarships, check if a completed FAFSA is required or not. If it is, then you can just skip over applying for that particular scholarship.