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Active: 12111 users

Should I and Could I Get US Citizenship

Blogs > Tazza
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1 2 Next All
Tazza
Profile Blog Joined May 2009
Korea (South)1678 Posts
March 14 2011 13:48 GMT
#1
I was born in Korea, moved to America when I was about 8, and came back to Korea when I was about 17. Its been 3 months since I came back to Korea. Now, the main reason I want to get US citizenship is not to dodge the 2 year military service, but to get a better chance at getting into a top university. While I was in America, I never wanted to get US citizenship, but the higher chances of getting into a top university is very appealing. This is another question. About how higher would my chances of getting admitted into a top US college be if I became a citizen? Would I be put in a category with dual citizenship then with Korea and America? Or would it just ask if I have citizenship or not?

So in total, I've lived in the US for about 9 years, I'm pretty sure I can pass the civics test, but I'm really worried about the qualifications to apply. I looked online, but it said that I should consult a lawyer or something.

About the military thing, I actually want to go there, and I was wondering if there is no way to go if I had US citizenship without enlisting in the army.

I'm an ok student, I take AP's had a 4.0 weighted GPA in my high school in the US. Working on getting a higher score in SAT. What surprised me though is that I'm getting emails from colleges like Brown, UPenn, Colombia, but I really think that those are just mass emails. Anyways, any info on the questions above would be really helpful.

tofucake
Profile Blog Joined October 2009
Hyrule19019 Posts
March 14 2011 13:52 GMT
#2
Honestly, you probably have a better chance of getting into a better university as a Korean citizen :|

But that aside, getting citizenship is pretty hard. You really should consult a lawyer about your specific case rather than come to TL.
Liquipediaasante sana squash banana
Stenstyren
Profile Blog Joined April 2010
Sweden619 Posts
March 14 2011 13:59 GMT
#3
Yeah, I would think that it's easier to get in as a foreigner student but I don't really know anything so don't listen to me.

The mails are most likely mass mails, have you tried answering them?
Quantum314
Profile Blog Joined January 2011
England217 Posts
March 14 2011 14:05 GMT
#4
I've got dual citizenship UK-US, and every time I've asked universities they've advised to apply as an american citizen. And from research I've done myself (with admission statistics) it is generaly 3-4 times easier to get in as a US citizen (assuming you're average in every way compared to the other students). So, if you do manage to get a citizenship, you can apply as an american (and generaly this is advisable, though specific circumstances may change your chances). Although the buisness of references, application and interviews are harder because you're not in the country, its still perfectly doable.
"Physicists are atoms way of thinking about atoms"
kukarachaa
Profile Joined February 2011
United States284 Posts
March 14 2011 14:42 GMT
#5
It took me about about 6 years to get mine, just something for u to consider the process takes a long long time.
Qatol
Profile Blog Joined November 2006
United States3165 Posts
March 14 2011 15:34 GMT
#6
Another thing to consider is a lot of US universities don't give very good financial aid (or any at all) to foreign students. If that is all a concern to you, it would seem that US citizenship is the way to go if it is at all possible.
Uff Da
Glacierz
Profile Blog Joined May 2010
United States1244 Posts
March 14 2011 15:45 GMT
#7
Citizenship is not a factor in getting in, but it does affect eligibility for financial aid from both the university as well as federal programs. Those emails are mass emails, they are just advertisements to attract more applications. If you weren't a citizen during your stay in the U.S., what is your status? visa? green card?
Froadac
Profile Blog Joined July 2009
United States6733 Posts
March 14 2011 16:01 GMT
#8
Also with my 4.16 GPA I get email from harvard.And Caltech. But I have a snowball's chance in hell at getting admitted.
iSometric
Profile Blog Joined February 2011
2221 Posts
March 14 2011 16:01 GMT
#9
Ignore those emails, yup.
strava.com/athletes/zhaodynasty
Phant
Profile Joined August 2010
United States737 Posts
March 14 2011 16:05 GMT
#10
Yeah I remember getting emails from all those guys. Saying apply apply! However most people have to mark that "need financial aid" box and there goes your hopes of getting in!

If you have the money, it does not matter what your grades are, you can get in anywhere, even MIT or Harvard.
Slaughter
Profile Blog Joined November 2003
United States20254 Posts
March 14 2011 17:05 GMT
#11
Actually the Ivies have been accepting more and more people who need aid. Most aid doesn't come from the school anyways but from student loans.
Never Knows Best.
ggofthejungle
Profile Blog Joined August 2010
Romania392 Posts
Last Edited: 2011-03-14 19:50:49
March 14 2011 19:49 GMT
#12
Are you a US resident? If yes, you don't need to apply for citizenship to get admitted. your chance will probably not increase. Actually, some schools have a quota of people that can be admitted (maximum % of students can be white, black, asian, hispanic, etc) - look it up.

There is no difference in admissions and government financial aid between US residents and US citizens.

One advantage to getting citizenship is if you get access to a few, very specialized scholarships that are only offered to US citizens (very rare).

Now, if you're not even a resident, it will be hard for you to get government financial aid. But you said you lived 9 years in the US so I'll assume you're a resident.

source: I'm a legal resident but not a citizen and I was admitted with the same rights as a US citizen to a university.
lixlix
Profile Blog Joined December 2009
United States482 Posts
March 14 2011 21:36 GMT
#13
If you already have a greencard, Citizenship won't really affect your likelyhood of admissions.

andrewlt
Profile Joined August 2009
United States7702 Posts
March 14 2011 22:13 GMT
#14
I'm just going to echo what others have already said, it makes no difference if you're a green card holder or a citizen.

It is easier as a citizen/resident in that universities will ask for proof that you can afford it if you apply as a foreigner. They're more need-blind when it comes to citizens/residents.
ItsYoungLee
Profile Blog Joined December 2007
Korea (South)227 Posts
March 14 2011 23:11 GMT
#15
The difference between a green card and U.S. Citizenship is almost minimal for actual applications. What that stuff matters for is for certain financial aid or scholarships at the private institutions that you speak of. Many of these scholarships require that you are a U.S. Citizenship for eligibility.

In terms of the benefits of U.S. Citizenship, they are definitely greater than the benefits of South Korean citizenship. You can travel to just as many countries, if not more, without as much hassle. I was very lucky to have been naturalized as a U.S. Citizen before the age of 18 through my parents. I would not doubt that I would have made the same choice if I could have made it for myself.
ePParamedico.160 (formerly ElParamedico)
Kamille
Profile Blog Joined September 2010
Monaco1035 Posts
March 15 2011 01:43 GMT
#16
You get a lot more money as a US citizen. It's something to consider if you need financial aid.
Priphea
Cr4zyH0r5e
Profile Blog Joined November 2007
Peru1308 Posts
March 15 2011 03:05 GMT
#17
Yeah dude as long as you're residing in the U.S. your chances don't vary too much.
As for citizenship. If you come back to the U.S. before you've been gone for 6 months and you're willing to pay the price for the test + go through the stupid bureaucratic process. You should be just fine. Becoming a citizenship is not that hard as long as you can prove 5 years of continuous residency + not leaving the country for more than 6 months.

I would still do it just so I don't have to do military service
Diamond 4 Jungle/Support - http://www.twitch.tv/cr4zyh0r5e/c/3051057 Zyra support 101
lilsusie
Profile Blog Joined August 2007
3861 Posts
Last Edited: 2011-03-15 03:22:45
March 15 2011 03:05 GMT
#18
On March 15 2011 06:36 lixlix wrote:
If you already have a greencard, Citizenship won't really affect your likelyhood of admissions.



Yeah, I had a Green Card at the time of college admissions and it's the same thing as having a citizenship. You're considered as an American, not a Korean.

Also, if you are a Korean citizen and you haven't denounced it before your 18th birthday, you'll still have to go to military (it happened to my brother) or not be able to legally work in Korea until you are 35 (or until you've done your time). Even with a US citizenship you may serve in the Korean army. The US is the only country that has that pact with Korea.

Having a citizenship, I think, is better - I got mine in 2003 and had been living in the states since 84. If you want to come back to Korea to work, you'll pay less taxes as a foreigner (gyopo) and can still get and F4 visa which is like a green card for Korea anyway.
Follow me on Twitter for pictures of cute gamers and food! https://twitter.com/lilsusie
lilsusie
Profile Blog Joined August 2007
3861 Posts
Last Edited: 2011-03-15 03:22:34
March 15 2011 03:06 GMT
#19
double post. oops.
Follow me on Twitter for pictures of cute gamers and food! https://twitter.com/lilsusie
Froadac
Profile Blog Joined July 2009
United States6733 Posts
March 15 2011 04:01 GMT
#20
On March 15 2011 12:05 lilsusie wrote:
Show nested quote +
On March 15 2011 06:36 lixlix wrote:
If you already have a greencard, Citizenship won't really affect your likelyhood of admissions.



Yeah, I had a Green Card at the time of college admissions and it's the same thing as having a citizenship. You're considered as an American, not a Korean.

Also, if you are a Korean citizen and you haven't denounced it before your 18th birthday, you'll still have to go to military (it happened to my brother) or not be able to legally work in Korea until you are 35 (or until you've done your time). Even with a US citizenship you may serve in the Korean army. The US is the only country that has that pact with Korea.

Having a citizenship, I think, is better - I got mine in 2003 and had been living in the states since 84. If you want to come back to Korea to work, you'll pay less taxes as a foreigner (gyopo) and can still get and F4 visa which is like a green card for Korea anyway.

Quite informative. In terms of moving to kroea as a non korean citizen, how do things berak down?
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