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Entering a U.S. college or university?
Congratulations!
Wondering how you’ll afford
U.S. life? You’re not alone.
We’ve gathered dozens of ideas
and resources to help you through
your international experience in the
best possible financial health. Also
see our Living in the United States
resources
page for links to sites that can
help you save during your travel and
U.S. study.
To save on tuition after you’ve
started college, explore the possible
existence of merit scholarships awarded
for high grades. Some state institutions
offer out-of-state tuition waivers
under certain circumstances. Some
institutions offer scholarships or
tuition reduction to students involved
in cultural or leadership programs.
All of these possibilities can save
thousands of dollars—research
them.
Many U.S. undergraduate programs
will award credit toward your degree
for successful completion of examinations
demonstrating your mastery of college-level
knowledge. While some of these tests,
such as the Advanced Placement examination,
need to be taken during secondary
school, others, such as the College-Level
Examination Program (CLEP) and
DANTES
Standardized Subject Tests (DSST)
typically can be taken and accepted
for credit at any point during your
enrollment. All AMIDEAST EducationUSA centers can administer CLEP and DSST tests, and many colleges and
universities have also have test centers
that offer these tests. Speak to the
admissions office at your school about
policies and local test center availability.
At some schools, tuition rates are
lower during the summer sessions than
during the academic year. Earn credits
then, not only to take advantage of
the savings but also to reduce the
amount of time it will take to earn
your degree. You may also want to
consider taking summer or night classes
at a local community college or other
institution with lower tuition than
your own college if your college will
accept the credits.
Be realistic about your limits in
terms of the number and types of classes
you take. Hurrying through a noncredit
English program in order to take for-credit
classes or trying to take too many
classes at once can be a recipe for
trouble. If you have to retake classes,
not only will you be frustrated but
you will have to spend more money.
Employment of international students
is strictly regulated and limited
in the United States. You will be
restricted to twenty hours per week
of work during the academic year,
and during your first nine months
of study any job you take must be
on-campus.
Even after that time, off-campus
employment involves fairly complex
legal requirements and limits—discuss
this issue with your international
student adviser. Look into whether
your college has a “cooperative
education program” or can provide
information on off-campus internships
related to your field of study. Unfortunately,
you can’t expect employment
to pay your way, but it can help with
your day-to-day expenses.
You need to manage your job schedules
carefully so that your employment
makes the best use of their time.
Try to get a job that promotes your
academic progress (for example, compiling
databases for the business school
or working in the chemistry labs).
Such experiences look good on your
résumé, and may also
allow you to study while working (particularly
some positions in the library or computer
lab).
Where you live will be your biggest
expense after tuition. Living off
campus is sometimes less expensive,
sometimes not. If you are in your
first year of study, you will almost
always be better off living in campus
housing, not only because dormitory
life usually provides good support
for the adjustment to U.S. life but
also because it requires local knowledge
to find and furnish a cost-effective
apartment in a safe neighborhood.
Rent may be lower than campus housing
fees, but expenses such as utilities,
heat, computer access (campus networks
are generally superior), security,
and transportation costs may add up
to make off-campus life more expensive.
Many universities have cooperative
houses or apartment-style housing
that can provide an ideal compromise
for those who prefer the privacy of
off-campus living or have family members
coming to campus with them. New international
students can often apply for such
housing. Be sure to ask as early as
possible since such housing options
are likely to be in high demand.
Meal plans in campus dining facilities
are generally more expensive than
cooking for oneself. However, consider
if you will indeed be willing and
able to cook for yourself regularly—campus
meal plans will provide cheaper (and
generally more nutritious) options
than a restaurant diet can.
Some other options for saving on
housing and meal costs include the
following:
- Sharing an apartment with friends
or fellow students and splitting
the rent. Be realistic, however,
about how many people and exactly
who you can live with comfortably.
Beyond the fact of housing codes
(which limit the number of people
who can legally share living quarters),
you will need some private space
to pursue your studies. Roommates,
especially those with different
habits and priorities than your
own, can be amazingly stressful.
- Becoming a resident assistant
in college or university dormitories.
(This opportunity, which involves
helping other students adjust to
campus life and resolve housing
concerns, is usually open only to
graduate students or undergraduates
who have already spent several years
on campus.)
- Living off-campus with relatives
or family friends. Of course this
is only an option if you're lucky
enough to find a suitable university
near people willing to host you.
- Taking part in a “homestay”
if these are available at the campus
or community where you are located.
These will not provide permanent
housing but can help you get settled
and give you a taste of life with
a U.S. family, free or for low cost.
Building a good relationship with
your “host family” also
often helps to reduce long-term
costs. Host families may be able
to offer you a place to stay over
during holidays, provide transportation
to a dentist on the other side of
town, or provide advice on the best
places to shop.
- Students on some campuses may
be able to work in the dining hall
in exchange for “all you can
eat” free food.
Buying used books is a crucial skill
for budget-conscious students. The
keys to success are to get to the
bookstore early in order to get the
best deals, and to make private deals
at the end of the semester with students
who just completed a course that you're
about to take.
You can also often sell your textbooks
at the end of a course, but you need
to remember to keep your books in
good shape in order to get good resale
prices.
Using the campus computer labs is
less expensive than buying your own
computer, but at the end of the term,
these labs will be crowded with last-minute
writers. If you're dependent on the
campus lab, you must be disciplined
and not a procrastinator.
Before you leave home, have a dental
and optical checkup, and take care
of health needs. Health care will
generally be more expensive in the
United States than at home.
Skimping on health insurance is the
worst possible way to save money.
Health insurance is very expensive
in the United States, but it’s
worth it. It will cost you much, much
more if you become ill or are injured
without sufficient insurance coverage.
Don’t compromise.
Try to minimize transportation costs
by either staying as close to campus
as is possible or by staying where
most of the services that you will
require are located. Do not try to
own and operate a car unless that
is an absolute necessity where you
are located. Keep in mind that the
purchase of a car is only the first
expense—required insurance as
well as repairs will add significantly
to the cost. If you do need to buy
a car, take a car owner’s maintenance
and repair class at a community college
to cut down on mechanic’s charges.
Get advice on mechanics from someone
familiar with the area so that you
are not overcharged by an unethical
mechanic.
Winter clothing can be a major expense
for students from warmer climates.
Talk to experienced students about
how to buy that all-important winter
coat, how to dress in layers, which
fabrics retain heat most effectively,
and what kind of footwear protects
your feet against ice and snow. Once
on campus, try to make friends with
people who know the community where
you are located—they can tell
you the best places to shop.
Purchase necessary items before entertainment
and desired items. Learn to get your
“extras” from free sources.
Many public libraries have movies
to loan for free. Read magazines there
as well instead of buying them. Seek
out fun activities available for little
or no money, such as free concerts
on campus or in the community, free
movies sponsored by campus groups,
picnics in area parks and forests.
Here are some other money-saving
ideas:
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E-mail, IM, and/or write home—only
phone occasionally or in an emergency.
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Consider what you can bring from
home rather than purchasing in the
United States. Research what basic
supplies are likely to be significantly
more expensive (or hard to find
at all).
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Shop in second-hand and discount
stores. Explore garage, yard, and
rummage sales for bargains.
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Buy generic rather than brand-name
items.
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When going out, take a limited
amount of money with you. Leave
your credit card at home.
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Think long-term. Avoid high interest
credit cards and loans.
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