Financial aid and grad school

[Temi & Obim 24]

I have some questions about grad school, tried to Google for answers but got more confusing. We have sent my AOS, AP EAD in and biometric appointment is next week.

We understand it will take months before we get anything. So we are considering me going back to school for another masters degree 🤯😬I have been made to understand that my international degree doesn't count in the US because my wife did her undergrad in Nigeria too and she had to do it all over again when she got here and also I'm getting really bored staying idle 

 

1. Do I need to have my green card before I can go back to school or my SS is enough?

2. Currently using WES to convert my degrees from Nigeria, do I still need to take Tofel and Gmat?

3. Do I qualify to get financial aid or I don't because of the I-864 and my wife current income which is over 100k and I'm the only dependent.

 

Thank you 

 

 

[portorusa 431]

When you apply for a master’s program in the US, check the list of the necessary documents. Usually they require the transcripts of your undergrad studies abroad, Toefl and gmat or gre and letters of recommendations. Some schools require an essay, too (letter of interest). As to financial aid, it’s a separate matter. You cannot apply for any government aid due to your wife’s I-864 but it doesn’t preclude you from seeking private grants/loans.

[geowrian 22,337]

Your existing degree “counts”...but how you intend to use it is what matters. If it’s for something related to a licensed profession, the licensing agency may or may not accept it, or it may require certification/validation. If it’s just for employers, how the employer treats it is up to them.

 

1) No green card or anything else needed.

2) Depends on the benefit being sought what they will require. There is no general yes/no answer here.

3) You won’t qualify for public grants or loans, but private aid is fine. Your eligibility depends on the septic aid being sought - some are income based, some are accomplishment based, etc.

[Allaboutwaiting 2,503]

The easiest way to go is searching for the program first and then checking on the specific requirements. If there's further inquiries, you can contact them.

 

[Temi & Obim 24]

1 hour ago, portorusa said:

When you apply for a master’s program in the US, check the list of the necessary documents. Usually they require the transcripts of your undergrad studies abroad, Toefl and gmat or gre and letters of recommendations. Some schools require an essay, too (letter of interest). As to financial aid, it’s a separate matter. You cannot apply for any government aid due to your wife’s I-864 but it doesn’t preclude you from seeking private grants/loans.

Thank you, I'll do that because one the school that I called told me I I convert my degree first.

1 hour ago, geowrian said:

Your existing degree “counts”...but how you intend to use it is what matters. If it’s for something related to a licensed profession, the licensing agency may or may not accept it, or it may require certification/validation. If it’s just for employers, how the employer treats it is up to them.

 

1) No green card or anything else needed.

2) Depends on the benefit being sought what they will require. There is no general yes/no answer here.

3) You won’t qualify for public grants or loans, but private aid is fine. Your eligibility depends on the septic aid being sought - some are income based, some are accomplishment based, etc.

Thank you but I'm curious when do I get to qualify like in how many years?

40 minutes ago, Allaboutwaiting said:

The easiest way to go is searching for the program first and then checking on the specific requirements. If there's further inquiries, you can contact them.

 

I'll do that, thanks 

[geowrian 22,337]

1 minute ago, Temi & Obim said:

Thank you but I'm curious when do I get to qualify like in how many years?

Some aid becomes available once you get a green card. Federal aid can become available after 5 years of having a green card.

[Temi & Obim 24]

2 minutes ago, geowrian said:

Some aid becomes available once you get a green card. Federal aid can become available after 5 years of having a green card.

Okay, thank you. My current undergrad and grad degrees doesn't require certification (mass communication and business administration) do you think I can be able to get job in that field after converting them and I have EAD?? because honestly I don't want to go back to school yet but this idleness is much and now we have to pay out of pocket. Thanks  

[geowrian 22,337]

Just now, Temi & Obim said:

Okay, thank you. My current undergrad and grad degrees doesn't require certification (mass communication and business administration) do you think I can be able to get job in that field after converting them and I have EAD?? because honestly I don't want to go back to school yet but this idleness is much and now we have to pay out of pocket. Thanks  

I’m not familiar enough with jobs in those fields to know how it would be viewed, sorry (if they were IT related I could tell you!). I wouldn’t think where they were obtained would be a big issue, but I will defer to others in those fields.

[Temi & Obim 24]

2 minutes ago, geowrian said:

I’m not familiar enough with jobs in those fields to know how it would be viewed, sorry (if they were IT related I could tell you!). I wouldn’t think where they were obtained would be a big issue, but I will defer to others in those fields.

Thank you

[Liam2021 583]

You will be qualify for Federal aid( Federal Pell Grant, Federal Student Loan) right after you got your GC+SSN.

[carmel34 3,639]

15 minutes ago, Temi & Obim said:

Okay, thank you. My current undergrad and grad degrees doesn't require certification (mass communication and business administration) do you think I can be able to get job in that field after converting them and I have EAD?? because honestly I don't want to go back to school yet but this idleness is much and now we have to pay out of pocket. Thanks  

Business school dean here.  I would suggest that if you are fluent in English and have some work experience, that you use the time while waiting for your work authorization to look for jobs in business or communications.  Do research on jobs and qualifications in your area.  Degrees from universities abroad are less important than work experience.  Doing another graduate degree in the US would be expensive and the return on investment is not worth it unless you want to change to a different career path.  Talk to some employers, interview for jobs you are interested in and qualified for, and tell them that your EAD is coming in the next few months.  Ask them if another graduate degree would strengthen your resume.   Without knowing more about your background, work experience, and jobs you are interested in, it is impossible to tell you if you can get a job or not.  Good luck!

[Temi & Obim 24]

5 minutes ago, H&T said:

You will be qualify for Federal aid( Federal Pell Grant, Federal Student Loan) right after you got your GC+SSN.

Good, thank you

[geowrian 22,337]

To clarify my above statement - certain federal aid is possible. It looks like pell grants are possible as one such example. But be sure to verify eligibility with the specific program (not just that LPRs are allowed, due to the federal bar on most funds within the first 5 years).

[Temi & Obim 24]

4 minutes ago, carmel34 said:

Business school dean here.  I would suggest that if you are fluent in English and have some work experience, that you use the time while waiting for your work authorization to look for jobs in business or communications.  Do research on jobs and qualifications in your area.  Degrees from universities abroad are less important than work experience.  Doing another graduate degree in the US would be expensive and the return on investment is not worth it unless you want to change to a different career path.  Talk to some employers, interview for jobs you are interested in and qualified for, and tell them that your EAD is coming in the next few months.  Ask them if another graduate degree would strengthen your resume.   Without knowing more about your background, work experience, and jobs you are interested in, it is impossible to tell you if you can get a job or not.  Good luck!

Thanks so much for this, I was working with a newspaper before I left (2015-2019)  and I'm also a photographer 

[Temi & Obim 24]

1 minute ago, geowrian said:

To clarify my above statement - certain federal aid is possible. It looks like pell grants are possible as one such example. But be sure to verify eligibility with the specific program (not just that LPRs are allowed, due to the federal bar on most funds within the first 5 years).

Okay, thank you. I guess the best is to wait till I have my GC to know my chances and if I don't want to pay out of pocket