Transferring to US university from UK....?

Question

I was born in Hawaii. My parents are both Japanese and I've been in Japan until the age of 14. Currently, I'm in London about to start chemical engineering degree course from september 08. Because I'm classified as an international student here in the UK, tuition is so expensive and it's making my life difficult. But I really want to study in English-speaking environment. That's where an idea of going to USA came about. I was born there so I can obtain US citizenship if I want. But does this alone really make me a home student at an American university? I understand that public uni are much cheaper but still charge higher fee for out-of-state and international students. Can anyone tell me how I will be classified (in-state, out-of-state or international)??

Also, will American universities accept transfer student who has completed the first year of the course in other countries? Will I have to apply as a freshman if I decide to move over to USA?

Thanks in advance.

Answer 1

You will be classed as an out-of-state student and you will pay the out-of-state tuition prices. However, once you have resided in the U.S. for a period of 12 months and establish residency in the state, you will then qualify for in-state tuition.

So you can either move and live for a year without working and then apply to the university or you can pay out-of-state tuition for 12 months.

Depends on what course you are referring to, if you are talking about A-levels, then you may get partial credit, but it will not amount to a full associates degree.

Depending on the credit hours you manage to transfer will determine your standing (freshman, sophomore, junior or senior) in college.

Your first task however is obtaining your birth certificate which proves you are in fact a U.S. citizen and if you have that, then there is no need to apply for citizenship, since you never lost it. I would also advise you to obtain a U,S. passport with your birth certificate, this can be done at the U.S. Embassy in the U.K.