US room and board quote is always quoted for 8mths.
yes tuition is at $14K+.
U forget health insurance, ~$1K a yr, plus Uni fees (tech, library, recreation etc).

I don't understand U. let me Paraphrase and see if U think is right
- study for Bach degree
- upon graduation, work a few yrs
- study a Masters degree

Good luck with your plan! This action plan is extremely hard.
1, upon graduation U can apply for 1 yr OPT to buy time to find job.
job market in US do not favor undergrad degree from avg Uni. Finding a job isn't easy.
I guess U wanted to study Chem or Chem Engineering, yes around the twin cities area U find alot of big companies like 3M, Cargill etc
BUT 90% of the time they do not wish to deal with WORK VISA (H1) for a freshgrad.
the ppl I saw getting jobs either have a Masters (Research) or a Phd.

if U go to ulu place like Nebraska, where U wanna go find job? where is the closest Industry? if U do relocate at your own expenses, do u think the Uni name will catch empolyer's attention?
eg: if U study in NE, are U able to complete for jobs in MN?
if U want to research whats out there, use www.monster.com etc

I think Chem Eng offor terminal masters, Chemistry do not. if U want to study Chemistry U have to do a Phd program!
admission requirement for Chem is very competitive in UMN, without a GPA of 3.7 your chances are doing a program there is slim.

I can see your choice are either SUNY or Nebraska Lincoln
SUNY @ stony Brook - tuition is cheap at US$13K
http://www.suny.edu/student/paying_tuition.cfm
Nebraska Lincoln - this isn't cheap, Non-resident tuition: $533.75/credit hour not fix rate after 13 credits! might as well go Uni of Arizona (at least ranked higher in Grad Chem in 2007)
http://admissions.unl.edu/cost/

http://grad-schools.usnews.rankingsandrevi...hools/rankings/

This post has been edited by patryn33: Jul 15 2009, 09:39 AM

Hmm ok..So it is only a tiny hope for us to stay there and work after graduate for our degree...??

My choice is SUNY, but it is not stony brook, it's buffalo, anyway that's my last resort, now I'm still looking for other Universities.

I don't really get what are you trying to mean by this..



Isn't that everything is in usd25k+- per year, as stated at the link there??

if U are not getting a bach degree from renown Uni, the chances are slim. U can easily burn 6mths of your OPT to look for job and still arrive at nothing.

U have no idea how the US tuition fee system work. let me explain to U in GREAT detail
the US$25K is an estimated amount for non resisdence.
in fact U should be looking at international student est which is US$35K!!
U plan to fly home every summer and winter break? and only stay in Dorm? if U stay off campus, Land lord is still making U pay for rent even on the days U are not at home!

the est is generally based on 32 credit hour a yr, which means U just take 16 credits each term.
How many International do that so few credits!
usually ppl take more aiming to graduate eariler

if U do take around 18 credits, U will be paying for the 4 extra credits at $533.75/credit hour pr $2135.
changing the tuition fees to US$20K+.
if U do study in the summer the fees are at $533.75/credit hour.
The more class U take, per term the more U'll be paying.
the good thing is you get to graduated eariler without paying for future fee increase.

Uni like Uni of Arizona, and Minnesota, cap that tuition fee.
at Arizona, the fees U are paying at 12 credits or 21 credits is the same. meaning the more classes U take the more you are saving!
Minnesota is not having a deal on Summer rates.
Arizona is, if U do take summer classes, U are paying instate.

I am unable to find details at SUNY, maybe U should email them to find out.
many ppl do over look such small details, only to find out when they get there.

paying so much $$ to go. better look for Uni at least listed top 50 below. Sure it does not mean much for a undergrad, at least if U do wish to continue on to grad school your path is easier.
unless U wanna go the path few had went, do LAC.. even so its better to select those at top 20.
http://grad-schools.usnews.rankingsandrevi...hools/rankings/

when do U plan to start Uni? look at those deadline carefully and don't miss it!

This post has been edited by patryn33: Jul 15 2009, 09:41 PM

Thanks for such a detail information

What do you mean by renown university? I mean which university can be considered as renown?? Hmm so the system of Nebraska Lincoln is a bit different with others? They charge more if you take more credit hour??

I have quite number of friends which is in SUNY buffalo, that's my last resort anyway, what's in my mind now is Iowa State University, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, and SUNY Buffalo.

Mind if I ask what and where do you do for living and where did you do your degree??

The system of Nebraska Lincoln is pretty much the same with most Uni in USA, eg: Aurburn, Old Dominian, etc

Iowa State U... hmm.. let me do some searches.
Great news, Iowa State does the same thing like Arizona. Fix rate after 12 credits
However summer it follows Minnesota, U still pay non residence rate.
http://www.public.iastate.edu/~registrar/f...ugradnonres0910

since U are going to read Chem, by renown I meant schools that ranked high in this field (but at Phd level)
eg: Minnesota-twin cities (22)
Iowa State (36)
Uni of Arizona (36)
SUNY-Buffalo (unranked, maybe good but can't be sure)
SUNY-Stony Brook (50)

UMass-Amherst also have the same practise like Iowa State
http://www.umass.edu/bursar/fee_schedule.htm

since U don't mind going Iowa State, maybe can look at Uni of Utah

just curious, have U done your SAT and TOEFL? any score?

This post has been edited by patryn33: Jul 15 2009, 10:07 PM

Ok I think I get what you are trying to mean, and the university system, some they fix the tuition fees for 12 and above credit hours, but some they have different tuition fees even the credit hours is more than 12.

Nope I haven't done my TOEFL yet, going to do it by the end of this month, 25 of July.

Ok University of Utah, I'll have a look on it. But the first in my list I would say University of Minnesota.

Haiz what is disappointing me is you said that hardly can find a job in states for me after my degree, I really wish I could stay there and make money, since my dad is gonna pay so much for my studies, what's the point of coming back Malaysia instead of staying there..

This post has been edited by zs3889: Jul 15 2009, 10:13 PM

forget Utah, they charge per credit all the way to 25 credits! who can survive 26 credits per term! its crazy!
http://fbs.admin.utah.edu/index.php/fsnr/

basically have 2 system in how they charge tution
- charge every credit U are taking.
- charge $X per credit but passing Y credits you do not have to pay more money.

Minnesota U find plenty of Malaysian doing Chemical Engineering. I learnt many of them are scholars too!

This post has been edited by patryn33: Jul 15 2009, 10:27 PM

wow it's dangerous if apply and get into the first system university.

Erm mind explaining the last sentence? I don't really get what are you trying to mean there..

Good point!
in that case, U have to die die go for a graduate degree.
work your ass off for 3.5yrs and aim for a GPA of 3.9. 1 good thing going to a search Uni, plenty of research going around. Seek out a Prof and ask to do research under his RA for FREE! Get your names publish on a paper.
Plan ahead and do your GRE in your freshman yr. Scores are kept for 5yrs.
apply for a Phd program and take the aid provided by the University! may it be TA/RA. all these aid pay for your tuition and will cover most if not all of your living expenses. so U end up paying next to nothing.

not everyone gets out from the 5-6yrs Phd with glory!
the attrition rates are often at around 50%, meaning 50% failed and end up with a Masters.
while U are on your Phd program, spend your 2nd yr looking for internship.
if u are going for your Phd work hard, else clear the requirement to get your masters should U fail and exit gracefully.
Uni is not asking U to return those money they had spend on U.

now arm with your higher degree, U just increase your chance getting a job! and your path to a greencard is half the time should company apply for it.

**** oh... I had fren in UMN studying EE under company sponsorship and he is lecturer in a Malaysian Uni, he told me there are alot of Malaysian scholars studying Chemical Engineering at UMN, just a remark, nothing special ***
U are doing chemistry, not chem engin.. don't get so much competition.


This post has been edited by patryn33: Jul 15 2009, 10:30 PM

Wow that ain't easy..Not a normal person as me can do that

Are you living in states? Why do you know so much about studies and jobs there..??

any normal ppl can work hard. It all depends if U wanna do it or not!
I finished my undergrad in 2.5yrs, when I applied for Grad program my GPA was 3.8. Didn't make it to any top 10 Uni, settled for a top 20 Uni in my major.
my colleague finished his in 2.5yrs too but at a very renown Uni UMICH-Ann Arbor without any latin title.

so its very possible to finish in a very short time, thats why I gave U the extra time 3.5yrs and get high GPA!
aim 3.9, ppl always fall short, but it shouldn't be too far away to get U to the place u wanna go.

I see, so you straight away go for Grad program without working after your degree? Provided your family must be supportive in term of money

I am lucky, but didn't i help U figure a way to get those FREE money!!
I learnt that after I am in the program! *** Sad ***
all the Indians and MainLand Chinese are playing this game!
So be smart and learn from my mistake!

my family also not rich, else why must I cramp a regular 4yr program into 2.5yrs!

This post has been edited by patryn33: Jul 15 2009, 10:49 PM

huh?? which part is that??

Please don't tell me U read with a closed eyes!

anyway, U might wanna know about this
http://www.public.iastate.edu/~catalog/200...ecognition.html
SUNY-Buffalo honors req is LOW man! A easy way to guage how good is the Uni, U can look at the cum laude requirement.
some uni like Uni of Washington has it top 2% Summa Cum Laude, next 6% at Magna, next 10% at Cum Laude, really limit it to top 20%.
This style of allocation, maybe 50% of the grads see some kind of cum laude.
http://undergrad-catalog.buffalo.edu/polic...ee/honors.shtml
BTW: U have not done your TOEFL!!! To apply for Minnesota U need SAT I! and here is a general profile. Most students go for Tech program.
2008 avg SAT CLA-Chem is 1245 out of 1600
2008 avg SAT Tech-Chem is 1325 out of 1600
http://admissions.tc.umn.edu/academics/profile.html

are u looking for Uni without SAT 1 requirement?
I can see SUNY do not have SAT requirement, Iowa State have it as an optional requirement.

This post has been edited by patryn33: Jul 16 2009, 01:17 AM

HUH? really they require SAT??

http://admissions.tc.umn.edu/admissioninfo/intl_english.html

What about this?

Alamak !!! U really need to brush up on your READING SKILLS!

this just says if U cannot do well on your ACT or SAT, U need to submit TOEFL or IELTS! if U can do well, don't have to submit TOEFL or IELTS!


below clearly tell U need to submit SAT or ACT scores!
http://admissions.tc.umn.edu/admissioninfo/intl_apply.html

do care alot on cost do consider Arizona, don't think it will very cheap but compariable. quality/reputation pretty closely match.
I have to say, Iowa will be great place to study, far away from all attractions. closest fun place I think is Chicago and its still a good 6.5hr drive.
Niagara Falls is a good 13hrs+ drive, I think better fly and then rent a car to travel.
unlike Tucson, a 1hr drive U'll be in Phoenix, 6hrs and will be in San Diego. Come winter can do plenty of fun road trips without super long drive or even expensive flight.

On jobs, if U do need to move Phoenix does have plenty of high tech Industry (intel etc are there). In Arizona only 2 outstanding Uni.
Iowa U'll be going to MN, where U face competiton from UMN, Hamline grads and maybe Uni of Wisconsin-Madison grads.

lets do a small comparison on cost between that an Iowa State
with an example: 17-18 credits each term for 2 terms, and take 9 credits for summer.
Iowa - US$8935.35 * 2 + US$6734.50 = 24605.2
Arizona - US$$11,132.06 *2 + US$2,718.56 = 24982.68

SUNY-UB is definately more fun! close to Niagara Falls, Toronto, NYC and all the fun Northeast cities!!!

This post has been edited by patryn33: Jul 16 2009, 03:59 AM

hey pat are you in the state? speaking of the h1-b visa, it is really pain in the ass.

and for zs, some oklahoma colleges offer cheaper tuition fee. being an international student shuts up alot of job opportunities. if you plan to stay here after graduate, do it the pat way. be an oustanding student and convinced your future employers on why they should pay the money to get you PR or H1-B. or get married to a local citizen.

no way to get future employer to get U your PR 1st b4 your h1B lah! thats just impossible!
with a Phd U can apply your greencard under EB1, wait is around 2yrs.
Masters degree in a Sci/engineering major need to make at least $X dollars then U can apply under EB2, still the wait is a good 3yrs.
otherwise u fall under EB3, the wait is a good 9-10yrs loh! easier to get married with a local and get greencard that way.
Still they demand plenty of documentation like where u met your spouse, any email/letters showing U guys had a geniune relationship etc!

Today world, most employer exploit H1 workers. Many underpay U at a good 20%! I knew someone working for a food company, company just pay him US$35K/yr!!! ppl have a masters degree working in LA still get paid only US$45K! only big companies like Intel, MS, Google, Pfizer pay u market rate. But U got to be really good, graduate from Stanford, Yale, MIT or what not to secure a place. avg uni your chance is super slim. even U've 4.0 GPA big time employer are not easily impress.

if u are looking for real cheap deal.
minnesota does have a LC college, tuition is just US$9K a yr! BYU also cheap at US$9K a yr. I doubt any Oklahoma College can match that.
USA if u are not smart... its GOOD things not cheap, Cheap things NOT Good!!!

a International students in any country even malaysia (besides Singapore) shuts U up alot of opportunities. Isn't that common sense.

This post has been edited by patryn33: Jul 16 2009, 09:21 AM

I spent around 16k for my degree, and it took me about 4 years. As far as I know, Oklahoma needs more people, it makes sense having to pay less to goto school here.

I am working on the h1-b now, hopefully I can make it before the cap is filled. PR is much easier to get working in health care sector. Or join the military.

BTW which state you in pat?