1

Welcome to the forum.

Where are you from? And at 18, what have you graduated from - high school?

Whatever ... it seems to me that it's very ambitious to try and study abroad at such a young age if you cannot afford it. Much better to get a degree in your home town, and then travel when you have the skills and capacity to do so. That's what most of us did.

2

American universities are welcoming to foreign students. In many of them, foreign students make up over half the student body, and generally, the better the university, the higher the proportion of foreign born students. This isn't pure academic altruism, it is callous economics, as they charge a huge premium to foreign students who are anxious to study here. In general, the demand for seats in universities far exceeds the supply, and very few schools are building more supply. This is true in the Bay Area as well as elsewhere. If you seriously want to attend university here, be prepared tp pay upwards of $30,000 per year, unless of course, you are an intellectual genius or a superior athlete, in which case there is plenty of scholarship money available. If all you want is to take non credit courses for personal enjoyment and benefit, you can do that for a fee everywhere as well. At any event, it takes money, the proper visa, and certainly demonstration of a means of support, considering your age.

3

Are you an American?
If not, you need an F visa. This will require getting into the university before you can get the visa. Without it, you cannot stay and study.

US universities are not cheap, especially for "out of state" residents (which you are). Those in the bay area are some of the most expensive in the country. However, many offer aid to those that cannot ordinarily afford it. Once you are accepted, you can ask about and apply for financial aid. You will usually be required to pay it back afterward.

4

Education USA is a good source of information.

To get the visa, you will have to prove that you can support yourself without working for that year.

Private schools, colleges and universities usually do not have non-resdiebt tuition charges, but the tuition may be higher than public institutions.

5

If your family becomes your guardians, you might be able to get into the local community college at resident prices which are very reasonable. These two year colleges offer basic college courses like English and math and specialized courses like nursing or vocational courses. But you'd need a visa as others have said.

6

At age 18, the OP is legally an adult and can't have a guardian without being declared incompetent.


You must also have given up things that tie you to another location--not have a place to live or a drivers license in your home country, for instance. Not having a visa that grants you permeant residence would likely be construed are your not wanting to stay permanently in California.

7

Back in a day, many college-age students from outside California would move in with a California
relative- as you're proposing to do-- declare they were residents and attend the community colleges
for free. Years ago, Sacramento got wise to this and brought an end to it. Students from out of state
now must pay fees to offset the fact they have never contributed financially to California Universities
as residents paying taxes. And the California State Universities-- which used to be essentially free--
now charge thousands per year even for California residents. The days of the free lunch are over.