US universities - does anyone have DC applying/studying/intending?

[CatherineofMumbles]

DS is interested in studying at a US university, but as a non-American I'm assuming that most of the financial assistance won't be available.
Would really appreciate any insights from DC currently involved in the process - the other threads seem to be several years old so would be keen to hear about recent experiences.
Do not want to dampen DS spirits, but kind of hoping he will decide for himself to stay in the UK - his school does not allow/support applications to both US and Oxbridge, so he would be cutting out the chance to apply to Cambridge if he went the US application route. Also, am not keen that US is a 4 years course and people have told us that Y1 is mostly stuff they have already covered in A level but that hey cannot skip Y1 as they need the credits for that year.
TIA!

My DD was offered a place at a US University. She was awarded a scholarship of $7000 pa but course fees were $40,000 pa. Campus accommodation would be at least $20,000 pa. Books and materials were needed on top of this, plus flights to and from university, as well as every day living expenses. UK citizens are not the best placed for getting jobs either. There are no loans available and UK students are unlikely to qualify for the myriad of scholarships available. An amazing array but a very prescriptive list!

We know very, very, rich young people who are studying in the USA but if you are an ordinary mortal and have no sports prowess or multi millionaire parents, stay in the UK. There is no finance available unless you are absolutely brilliant. I, and most other parents, were dismayed at the Fulbright Commission presentation for potential undergraduates. None of us could afford it!

This is when we might start to see £9,000 pa English fees as very good value or we might not have voted for this sodding government

This is when we might start to see £9,000 pa English fees as very good value
Funnily enough DH and I were talking about this last night!
Tho' having myself paid 8.5k this year for a decidedly substandard UK university course, will be getting the DC to scrutinise forensically exactly what courses are providing before they shell out...

Theas I did a PhD in the States, PM me if you want to ask anything.

Anyone whose DC are thinking of applying, particularly at undergrad, don't underestimate how hard it is to adapt to living in another culture - a lot of people think America will be easy to adapt to because our media is so saturated by US produced things - it is not easy at all. I found it much, much harder to socialise at my university than I did at my UK institution.

I think for undergrad it is much better to do a year/semester abroad - and that leaves the door open to doing postgrad study in the US. I think going out there straight from school is too much for many people tbh.

I think for undergrad it is much better to do a year/semester abroad

Yes. Although what you say about adapting to another culture is also worth keeping in mind. That's why we tend only to allow the academically strong (2, i average in the First Year) to do a year/semester abroad.

But those who do go & manage, have a fantastic time, and come back really strong & focused. It's much to be recommended.

I'm American and got my BA in the US and MA in the UK. My main concern would be that it may be difficult to have that undergraduate degree transfer to a job back in the UK if he isn't able to/doesn't want to stay in the US. Also, the cost is sky high. unless you have the money to spend it is far more sensible to do study abroad in the US as part of a UK degree.

Also, as previous posters have stated just because we so speak the same language doesn't mean he'll actually like it. Living in a place is very different to visiting it on holiday. The US is a very diverse place and many university towns may be a disappointment to a Brit who will no longer be of a legal age to drink.

The point about drinking is actually an important one. It makes the social experience a pretty different one to undergrad life in Britain - it generally means there is no campus student bar, alcohol is often banned in dorms and other places on campus, if you have friends who are older than you there are many places you can't go to with them because you don't have the ID to get in. It means that you are reduced to going to frat parties or hanging out in coffeehouses in the evening. It also means that when people drink WAY too much they are reluctant to seek medical help because they are afraid of being disciplined by the college - this leads to a lot of people getting really ill.

It's also really important to check out the town the college is in. Many really good colleges are in podunk towns and/or hundreds of miles from big population centres. Campuses can get very claustrophobic. Transport back to the UK needs to be considered too - there are many places even on the East Coast where simply getting to the nearest international airport adds an extra day of travel to your journey. That gets really old after a few years of doing it.

DD was offended a place at a Uni in Manhattan, New York, hence high living costs, but tuition costs were not particularly excessive. The Fulbright Commission are far more upbeat about doing a Masters or PhD in the USA when there is far more chance of getting funding. The reality of doing an undergrad degree there is very different from in the UK.

When we looked round colleges earlier this summer, it was very noticeable that there were no bars on campus. One place had what they called a subtree dorm, where everyone in it had pledged to be alcohol, tobacco and drug fee. To me, it seemed quite a strange concept!

But not sex free!!!! So they might just be normal students then?

*There are American universities that offer financial aid for foreign students. This is basically a waiver of all or part of fees and room and board costs, aka institutional aid. Foreign students are not eligible for US-government sponsored loans (Perkins and Stafford) that American students may be eligible for depending on income.

Awards of financial aid to international students can be based on merit or need or other factors determined by the university. 'Merit' means exceptional merit in most cases (the next Einstein)..

If you google American universities individually with a search term like 'Vanderbilt University international student undergrad financial aid' you will most likely find out each individual university's individual situation.

This is a partial list of universities that give financial aid to international students.

Top ten international student financial aid universities

*You can get a J-1 visa that entitles foreign university students to work and travel during the summer months in the US. This is perennially popular among Irish university students. Term-time work-study programmes under which students can get a campus job are not open to international students as they are federally funded afaik. If an international student wanted term time emloyment, he or she should check the terms of the student visa very, very carefully.

The advantage of A levels/AS levels is similar to that of AP courses for American students -- yes, you will be doing core courses or general education required courses in a US university in your first year, but you will not be taking those courses at 100 level if you have a 5 or a 4 on your AP exams, or excellent results in your A levels.

*Geography is unknown as a subject in either US high schools or universities. The closest you might get to it is social studies in elementary school or earth science/environmental science/biology/sociology in high school. Some universities offer Geography majors.

*The disadvantage of the A level system for British applicants to American universities is that a prospective student who gave up maths at 16 would be faced with possibly mastering Calc 3 before an American university would let you graduate. Or for a student who thought his days of English Lit or composition or foreign language were over, think again. Good US universities turn out graduates who can use statistics, read and write effectively, and are versatile.

*An example of a Wellesley's offerings for majors. (Wellesley is a women's college).

University of Chicago majors offered
Core curriculum at Univ of Chicago aka 'where fun goes to die'.

Unofficial at Univ of Illinois Champaign Urbana no drinking my eye..

*I think he would need to have started earlier on the path to the ACT and SAT and SAT subject exams but I may be wrong. Be aware that US students commonly do test prep courses to try to squeeze a few extra points out of their tests.

ACT and SAT

*Collegeboard.org is the website to use to find out pretty much all you need to know.