I need help, please...

[carle_85]

Hi everyone,

I have a problem with finding the right school for me. I have almost 3 years searching for one and till day of today I've inquired information about 40 to 50 different universities.
And I would like to know if someone can help me find my way to take or so.

Ok, here I go.

I want to study Fashion Design.
I'm enrolled and accepted already in a University in Florida.
But obviously my problem comes with my second visit there just before getting acceptance, but after submiting my portfolio, diploma, etc,etc.

And the problem is they ask for a bank letter or statement with certain amount of money on bank account as proof that I have money for studies. I have no problem with this procedure. But they didn't tell me about this in my first visit there. Instead they gave me a schedule of how I can pay that huge amount of money.

Ok. Then as my acceptance is for this year in Fall, I can just see that in few months it will be too difficult or almost impossible for me to get that amount for bank letter while finishing high school and get everything done which comes along when you're an international student.

Maybe I can just call and say I can't begin this year anymore and if it's possible for me to go next year or so. But then I can't, as I know that for 1 year difference I won't get a bank letter that shows such big amount in one time which is almost the full tuition. So, I decided that I will cancel my application there even it has always been my dream of studying in USA and they've accepted me even before finishing my high school.

So, I can't study in USA as I don't have money for it. I've been looking at many different universities in USA and all the prices are too much. And all ask for bank letter now.

Seeing that USA is out of my reach, I started to search for more universities and institutes all around. Mostly in Europe.
Till now all of those that I've contacted in Italy told me that they give a diploma not a degree.

And I won't search in many places of Europe as I don't know their languages and it takes time to learn and understand a language and to get lessons of a subject in a different language is bit difficult. It will be too difficult to learn a new language while keeping up with classes in a weird language for me and that too trying to adjust myself in a new place and alone! .

So, my problem short said is as follows:

- I don't have money to study in USA and get a degree.
- Prices in Italy would fit my pocket but then I won't get a degree and I don't know anybody there, so I would be completely alone and that scares me.

- Here at my place they don't give scholarships or financial aid. They only give these to study in Holland.

And when it comes to studying in Holland I have problems again!
In Holland they won't accept me as I don't have the subjects they put as requirement. And also as I was so sure that I would study in USA I was really concentrating a lot on my english and left my dutch a bit at side, so it got bit poor.

So, my question here is basicly: Can anybody help me?

I don't know what more to do or where to go.

I hope someone can help me.

thanks in advance,

Carlene

[BruceF]

I'm not sure how it works with international students, but have you asked the people at the school if there are any forms of financial aid they can offer you?

[Danny]

I went to school in the USA . The good thing about A-merica is there are government grants you can apply for. That's how I went to school. Also there are scholaeships. You can find a lot of imformation about this online. So don't give up yet! :)

[carle_85]

Thanks for your reply Bruce and Danny.

I really don't know anyone around me who went to study in USA, so I'm really dumb with this :p

But I've seen some of the universities in USA say clearly that they don't give scholarships to international students.
And I guess I would need this bankletter anyways, as it's a requirement to get a student Visa.

Also to get a loan or so in USA I would need an american person to sign, etc, and I don't have

:(

Oh my,
Danny, how exactly should I look up for that in the internet? Give me a hint, please

And Bruce I'll make sure to ask them.

Thanks for your comments,

Carlene

[Axl]

Carlene,

Sounds like you're in a real pickle with this one. But I think that you definately have the possibility to go forth and go to school and get your degree, regardless of all of these problems you say you are having. Despite your problems, there are many oppertunities in what you are saying, that perhaps you are overlooking. These are just my thoughts about your situation - perhaps they may not even be relivant, but anyways here they are:

You stress several times, that you don't want to go to places in europe because you are afraid of having to go to school alone, and you don't want that. But, you have to remember, no matter where you go, unless you and your best buddy have the exact same idea about the schools you want to attend, that you most likely won't know anyone at school, regardless of where you are going - in europe or in the USA. But that doesn't mean you can't make friends, and keep in touch with the ones you already have. Think of it as an oppertunity to meet many more creative and talented people, just like you, and give them a chance even though you don't know them at first. you will all get to know one another as you go through school, and you will end up wondering why you ever worried about it in the first place.

Finances I think are a problem for any student who wants to go to school. But there are many ways ot getting around that. If you are worried that you won't have enough cash in the bank to get into school right out of highschool, have you considered taking a year off just to work fulltime, and put all of your money in the bank, so when next year rolls around, you'll be prepared? Having work experience under your belt will definately help you in the real world after school, so you might as well start getting that experience ASAP. You can even *move* somewhere to work - to a different country. If there are places you want to go to school in in europe, but don't know the language, go there to work, learn the language, and that'll help prepare you for your school year. Also, you said that some schools in the USA don't give scholarships to international students - some not all! So you can't get into some, but you can get into others. Look into grants and bursaries, and sign up for all the scholarships you can that don't even look at where you are going to school, just at the fact that you are going to school. There are many places out there willing to give you money - even the smallest amount'll come in handy.

Don't have anyone to sign your papers in the US? then meet someone who could! A relative, a good friend of a relative - ask around in your family if they have any good friends in the US, and get in touch with them.

Ooo. And did you ever consider going to school in other english speaking countries, other than the USA? Canada, Great Brittain, Australia.. they all have art schools too! Don't forget them!

Anyways, we're all routing for you!! We know that you can do it! You just gotta start thinking of all the ways you can get around your problems, and think of all this as a learning experience in its own, that someday you'll be able to help a future student in a similar experience with the knowledge you've gained from this.

Keep us posted. :D

[pinkbubelz]

Carle,
Feel free to PM me regarding your admissions info,
I work in admissions for a major university.
Perhaps I can help you with your problem...
I'll ask the international student admissions officer and see what they have to say.... :-)

My university does offer $1000 scholarships to International students, HOWEVER, the deadline (for scholarship consideration) is February 1, 2004, so there isn't much time! I'll PM you this info as well.


--Iris

[luvlorn]

See if there are on-campus jobs you could obtain when you start at a university (the catch is that student visa's usually only allow you to work 20 hours per week, on campus).