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It’s not part of my blog about gaming career.
I’m writing this in regards to get more information and share my feelings.
My English isn't good enough(especially in writing) so please take into consideration and if there are any grammatical mistakes please let me know!
After hearing valuable information from my friends, I noticed that real world is harsher than I thought. Even though If I make decent SAT and TOEFL scores, I would not be able to go regular 4 years Universities in the states because I might not be able to afford the tuition.
Moreover, living expenses are also unaffordable. The only choice that I have at this moment is going to Community College and transfer to 4 years regular school.
Since I am an international student, possibilities to get scholarship converge to 0.
I have to face with the fate, initiate another CHEESE for my life.
My current plan is prepare for the TOEFL test whenever my work is done and if I get decent score then I will apply for the CC.
The only advantage that I have at this point is my programming career.
If I fucked up in CC(drinking all day and mess up my GPA) then it will be end of my life.
I don’t want to live like a fool talking about heroic exploits and shit.
I’ve made terrible decisions ever since I quit gaming so I will make discreet decisions this time.
The bright side is that I saved most of my prices for the future and I have learned English and they are supporting me a lot. If I didn't save that money I would not be able to think about going abroad.
Thanks for reading. I only stayed in the state for 3 months so I don't have enough information.
I'm wondering if I go to CC and economize a lot, I can graduate CC with $30,000?
As far as I know, tuition for CC is less expensive than regular school, it only costs $10,000 per year which I can afford it.
I would like to apply for the spring semester if I can get decent TOEFL score.
when is the deadline for the spring semester registration?
If you have any tips or information that might help me, please share with me !! :D
twitter : @rainpsy
 
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I live in Texas, and I think $30,000 will cover tuition and living expenses for a 2 year CC here. Living expenses are not too high if you choose a CC in a smaller city. I attend Texas A&M University, and there is a small, less expensive college, Blinn, which allows students to take classes at both schools so it is easy to transition to A&M after 1 or 2 years at Blinn. At Blinn it is automatic acceptance into the school as long as you meet a few requirements, and I think you can register for classes right before the start of the spring semester (January). I'm sure there are similar programs elsewhere in the United States, but I know less about them.
I hope that was a helpful response, and I wish you the best of luck! Stay positive; I bet something great will work out for you.
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Hi Rain! I'm glad you're still updating us with your situation.
It's true that US universities are very expensive  Community college is definitely cheaper but unfortunately I don't attend one so I don't know the details. Are you in Korea or the US right now? Which city do you live/plan to live?
I don't think you'll have trouble getting into some college. There are a lot of people trying to get their lives together like you. As a former progamer, you definitely know how to work hard and if you do, you will succeed. Good luck and fighting!
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The question is where are you planning on going to school? $30K is enough money to attend and graduate Community College in some areas, but not in others. That amount of money is enough to pay tuition, but the cost of living in the area around the Community College is going to determine the affordability. If you pick a place with a lower cost of living, you should be fine.
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@Ideal26 / @slowbacontron
Thanks for your answers.
It helped me a lot and I sincerely appreciated it!
My original plan was going to California and transfer to UC universities.
I heard there are some advantages if you graduate CC and transfer to university in the same states.
However, one of my friends says there are so many Koreans in California and it will interrupt learning English so basically I'm planning to go to the countryside 
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Not a CA resident, but I've heard of a lot of successful transfers from CC to a UC, so I think that would work, esp. if you work hard. However, you should also look up the chances of getting financial aid as a transfer student (and as an international). $30k is fine for a few years of CC, but if you are planning on transferring, you'll also need to keep in mind the future expenses at the UC.
Anyways, here are a few useful pages I found:
http://admission.universityofcalifornia.edu/transfer/requirements/index.html
http://admission.universityofcalifornia.edu/international/index.html
http://admission.universityofcalifornia.edu/counselors/files/tag-matrix.pdf
Only students transferring directly from a California Community College are considered for a TAG, including international students (those with a visa). The University of California defines a CCC transfer student as: one who has completed at least 30 semester (45 quarter) UC-transferable units at one or more California community colleges; and the last college the student attended in a regular session (fall/spring or fall/winter/spring) before admission to a UC campus is/was a California community college. All UC TAG campuses require students to meet this definition. (from third link, talking about guaranteed admission from California CC to UC).
Will you be staying with family/relatives while you're schooling in the States? I would heavily advise it, since you can cut down on a lot of housing expenses.
I don't think you should worry so much about there being too many Koreans in California. Just heavily insist on speaking English or hang out with people who insist on speaking English! ^^
EDIT: I will add that another possibility is to attend a college in Korea that has a partnership with a USA college. This will enable you to do study abroad in the States if you wish. Obviously, I don't know if that is harder/easier than getting into a US college, but it's probably cheaper. >_>
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Hi Rain.
I am a former California resident, and have gone through the U.S. university system. I can recommend two good or very good community colleges: De Anza Community College and Foothill Community College. Both are fairly inexpensive, and I understand that they offer guaranteed admission into a UC, if you finish successfully. Which UC you go to depends on your GPA, but there are several world-class universities in the UC system, including Berkeley, UCLA, and UC San Diego.
As an aside, why have you ruled out normal universities because of price? It is very common in the U.S. to take out loans to fund education. While this is not always worth it, it can be a good value, particularly if you have the opportunity to go to a top-tier school rather than a community college.
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On November 11 2013 13:51 Random_0 wrote:
Hi Rain.
I am a former California resident, and have gone through the U.S. university system. I can recommend two good or very good community colleges: De Anza Community College and Foothill Community College. Both are fairly inexpensive, and I understand that they offer guaranteed admission into a UC, if you finish successfully. Which UC you go to depends on your GPA, but there are several world-class universities in the UC system, including Berkeley, UCLA, and UC San Diego.
As an aside, why have you ruled out normal universities because of price? It is very common in the U.S. to take out loans to fund education. While this is not always worth it, it can be a good value, particularly if you have the opportunity to go to a top-tier school rather than a community college.
As an international student, he'll probably have to pay the full sticker price (likely $30,000+ per year). While some loans are not bad, that's just brutal, even if you're going to a place like Berkeley. Unless he can get accepted to the really top-tier schools like Harvard, Williams, Stanford, etc. that do offer decent aid to internationals (but only after a brutal admissions season), I don't think it's financially feasible (nor advisable) for him to complete all four years at a four-year university, unless his parents are willing to shell out the money for him.
A better question is this: Rain, is there a reason why you don't want to attend college in Korea? Sorry if this is too personal a question, but it just strikes me as much more practical. =X
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Thanks for your answers @esReveR, @babylon and @Random_0
It helped me a lot!
The reason why I don’t want to attend school in Korea is because I used to stay close with international student and I don’t like systems in Korea.
Actually, I secretly stayed at Cornell dormitory for a while.
During this period, I met a lot of genius international students and it stimulated my fantasies in US University like American Dream lol.
Also I’m really interested in learning English.
There won’t be any family/relatives in the states.
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Ahh, I see. I have a Korean friend who also doesn't like the system in Korea either. He wanted very badly to get out, but he didn't have the financial means to do so (even though he was accepted to some really good private universities). He ended up going to KAIST for undergrad (and will prob. continue there for grad school), but he's still harboring hopes of somehow leaving Korea. I don't know if it'll ever work out for him though. He'll probably stay in Korea until he completes his PhD, but that is several years down the line. :/
Sorry for the depressing story. Attending the typical four-year school in the States as an international student is almost hopeless unless you're incredibly smart and/or independently wealthy. Most of the international students who were at my college for undergrad were either filthy rich (and so could afford it) or were on scholarship deals from their governments. I don't know if the Korean government offers scholarships like that, but you could look into it; there was a Singaporean guy here whose government was paying him to study English at my school, but the catch was that he'd have to graduate in three years, and then go back to Singapore to teach English for 2-3 years. (The rest of the funded Singaporeans were studying economics, lol.)
If you have nobody to stay with in the States, it could be very difficult financially. Cost of living is different in each area, of course, but unless you're willing to live in progaming teamhouse-like conditions, you'll probably have to pay something like ~$5000+ a year for an apartment (and that is pretty low already)*. On top of the money you will have to pay for your classes and then smaller expenses for food, it'll be pretty tight, I think.
* I don't live in CA, so I don't know the exact cost of living there, but that's low for my area (Chicago).
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On November 11 2013 11:42 Rain wrote:
It’s not part of my blog about gaming career. This isn't a blog about my progaming career.
I’m writing this in regards to geting more information and sharing my feelings.
My English isn't good enough(especially in writing) so please take that into consideration and if there are any grammatical mistakes, please let me know!
After hearing valuable information from my friends, I noticed that real world is much harsher than I thought. Even if I make decent SAT and TOEFL scores, I would will not be able to go regular 4 years Universities in the states because I might not be able to afford the tuition.
Moreover, living expenses are also unaffordable. The only choice that I have at the moment is going to Community College and thentransfer to 4 year regular school.
Since I am an international student, possibilities of getting scholarship coverage is 0.
I have to face up to the fact, initiate another CHEESE for my life.
My current plan is prepare for the TOEFL test whenever my work is done and if I get a decent score then I will apply for the CC.
The only advantage that I have at this point is my progaming career.
If I fuck up in CC(drinking all day and mess up my GPA) then it will be the end of my life.
I don’t want to live like a fool talking about heroic exploits and shit.
I’ve made terrible decisions ever since I quit gaming so I will make better decisions this time. Discreet is usually used when you don't want to offend. In this case, I think making better decisions is a better word choice.
The bright side is that I saved most of my money for the future and I have learned English and my parents/family are supporting me a lot. If I didn't save that money, I would not be able to think about going abroad.
Thanks for reading. I have only stayed in the States for 3 months so I don't have enough information.
I'm wondering if I go to CC and save a lot, I can graduate CC with only $30,000?
As far as I know, tuition for CC is less expensive than regular school, it only costs $10,000 per year which I can afford.
I would like to apply for the spring semester if I can get decent a TOEFL score.
When is the deadline for the spring semester registration? The deadline varies from school to school so you'll have to find out which school you want to apply to find that out. I know my student's deadline for Fall 2014 semester is about March 2014 so its always 6 months or so before.
If you have any tips or information that might help me, please share with me !! :D
twitter : @rainpsy
Hi Rain,
I think your English speaking skill is good overall. I've added comments in italics and mistakes are underlined. Currently, I'm an English teacher in Vietnam at the moment and actually tutor a private student on the TOEFL test. Some advice I would give you about applying to University in America:
1) It's great that you're looking into CC which a lot of international students choose. In America, not everybody goes to University 4 years. Many transfer from a CC after the first two years then do their specific degree program during the last 2 years at University.
2) If you are crunched for money, you also have the option of working while you are studying. You can make pretty decent money while studying as long as you plan wisely. Focus should be on school first then making some extra money on the side.
3) Choosing a low cost CC and University are good ideas. Keep in mind that a lot of your money will go into your living expenses (about half). The lower your living expenses, the easier it will be for you to afford. Choose a place that has low rent/close to University/good public transport, etc. Also cooking at home, not drinking beer, smoking, sharing a room with roommates, etc. will all save you money in the long run. Depending on what major you choose to pursue as well so choose a school that has a strong program in your major.
4) With the TOEFL test, it's both a measure of your English skill and test taking skills. There are many resources online. Currently I'm teaching from the Complete Guide to TOEFL which has audio CDs available so you can practice writing, listening, and reading. Everything is timed so you should practice in the same time constraints. Don't be afraid of taking it 2-3 times, because as you do it more, it will be easier as well. The higher your TOEFL score, the less remedial English you'll have to take which will save you money.
Some questions I have for you:
Are your parents able to help you any?
What major do you plan on studying?
What colleges/Universities are you looking at?
Where in the USA do you want to stay?
Do you have friends currently studying somewhere?
What do you plan on doing after you finish? Where will you look for a job?
Good luck in your efforts!
Henry
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Ever thought of Canada instead? 
It seems much more affordable here. It's pretty much the same thing ;D
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Thanks for replies !
@htn2481 Thanks for specific information.
here are my answers.
Are your parents able to help you any?
Not for 4 years, but I think they might can support me for 2 years tuition.
What major do you plan on studying?
I'm currently interested in Computer Science.
What colleges/Universities are you looking at?
Well, I know it might be hard, but my goal is most top 20th schools
Where in the USA do you want to stay?
California
Do you have friends currently studying somewhere?
I have a couple of friends in the states and one of them is attending North Western for the graduate degree
What do you plan on doing after you finish? Where will you look for a job?
Probably have to do military service in Korea, unless I get married with US Citizen xD
The best scenario is find a decent job in the states where can sponsor me to get permanent residency.
I know it sounds pretty silly because my goals are too big.
However, I think I can make it that's why I decided to put all of my properties in studying overseas
First of all, I have to improve my English skills, mine looks really bad compare to yours ;(
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I graduated from UCSD, and you can go to a community college in CA and transfer to a UC school or a California State school. I can't speak for the CS system, but UC's have been pretty rough lately. Ever since the budget cuts and tuition increase, a lot of students have been hard pressed lately. Also, the sad reality is how the enrollment (at least in my school) got a lot more competitive. Luckily, you are planning for a transfer, so you got a good shot (at least, in UCSD, I have met a LOT of international students and transfers)! :D
Nonetheless, I think being in a Community College is a good call. I think if you just work your way up, you will be fine.
Also, if you are interested, UCSD and UCLA have a pretty strong Korean presence. It's basically like a community there. So, if you are still not confident with your English after doing well in Community College, you should check out those schools because the Koreans speak Hangul a lot and collaborate on their studies (Computer Science is no exception).
I hope we can hear more from you very soon, so we can help you as much as we can! :D
If you want to know more about the UC schools, PM me!
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yo rain, many of my friends are from Korea and are doing exactly what you are trying to do. Some of them came to the United States earlier in their life to make it easier to get into the 4 year university. However, many are taking the community college route like you desire. This is completely doable and simple. All it takes is that visa and finding a Korean home stay family you can live with while you conduct your studies. After 2 years in CC, you can transfer to the 4 year if you wish and if you get good enough grades. Even if you stay in the CC for 4 years and graduate, your opportunities will be A LOT better than if you stay in Korea and graduate from a mediocre Korean university. trust me, you want to get out of the Korean system unless you want to end up working overtime for shit pay the rest of your life at some dead end job.
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Norway28678 Posts
Your English is improving really fast from what I've seen. I can see clear improvement from your first blogs until this one, if you keep practicing like you have been doing so far, then it's not gonna be a factor holding you back from studying. I don't have any real information regarding studying in the US (I am Norwegian) but I think your plan sounds realistic and I wish you the best of luck.
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Korea (South)11583 Posts
There are a lot of scholarships available to students studying in America, especially international students. And, sometimes if you are a very promising student you can receive reductions / etc...
Don't give up! The application period for community colleges last until the semester starts, although you might have to apply earlier for visa etc...
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Rain, if you want to improve your English skills the best advice I can give you is to read more and to write more. Write blogs as often as possible. Write essays on topics that you find interesting or that you just want to write about and post them on TL. Have people help you edit them and explain why something should be changed or how it could be made better. With lots of practice you'll improve a lot.
The only other thing that I have to offer is that you may be eligible for financial aid if you go to a 4 year university. Going to a community college and then continuing on to a 4 year university may assist you in qualifying for financial aid, so don't eliminate that as a possibility. Good luck with going to college though. If you keep progressing this quickly in English I'm sure that you will do very well in college.
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Hey Rain ! Your english is improving by the minute, congratulations :-)
Any reason on why you absolutely want to study in the US ? Have you considered Europe, too ? It's usually fairly less expensive than the US.
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I've been reading your blogs and I just want to echo what others have been saying, your English is really good and you can even see the improvements on each blog. Keep up the good work and thanks for writing these.
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EPT
