u/TSfanWillow_7907

Hi everyone,

I'm a student from Saudi Arabia who is trying to move to the United States to attend college and eventually seek asylum due to my personal circumstances. I've worked hard to get accepted into a U.S. university, but my biggest obstacle is funding.

I've been applying for scholarships, grants, and other financial aid, and I've also reached out to numerous organizations that I hoped might be able to help. Unfortunately, I either haven't received a response or have been told they aren't able to provide financial assistance.

Because I'm considering taking a gap semester after arriving in Los Angeles, I'm trying to raise enough money to cover essential living expenses such as housing, food, transportation, and other basic necessities during those first few months while I get settled and work toward becoming financially independent.

I'm not looking for a permanent source of support—just enough help to get through this transition so I can continue my education and build a stable future.

If anyone knows of organizations, scholarships, emergency assistance programs, or other resources that might be able to help someone in my situation, I would be incredibly grateful. Even advice, referrals, or sharing this post would mean a lot.

Thank you so much for taking the time to read this.

Hey everyone.

I've never publicly shared my story before, but I've reached a point where I feel like I have to.

Ever since I was around three years old, I've dreamed of studying abroad like my brothers. As I grew older, that dream became much bigger than simply earning a degree. I wanted the freedom to build a life where I could be myself, pursue my ambitions without fear, and eventually become a U.S. citizen.

Over the years, I also began questioning my beliefs and eventually left Islam. Around the same time, I realized I was queer. Those are things I cannot safely be open about with my family or in my current environment.

Growing up, I constantly felt like I had to censor myself—what I believed, what I said, what I searched online, and even who I might become friends with. That fear has never really left. Even today, I feel like I have to be extremely cautious about what I say and do.

Things became even harder in 2021 when my parents wouldn't allow me to receive the COVID-19 vaccine required by my school, causing me to lose an entire academic year. Falling behind was devastating, but I kept telling myself that if I could just make it abroad, I could finally start building the future I'd dreamed of.

I never stopped talking about studying abroad. In January 2024, during my senior year of high school, my mom came into my room yelling over my plans to leave. She threatened to lock me in my room without my phone if I "didn't get my shit together." I don't remember every word because so much of those years feels like a blur now, but I remember realizing that my future might depend on finding my own way out.

Throughout 2024, I kept studying, applying to universities, and looking for work. Then, in December, I was preparing for my U.S. student visa interview when my dad took my passport away, preventing me from going.

In January 2025, I was unexpectedly taken to see the psychiatrist who regularly treats my brother. During that appointment, I completely broke down. My dad promised me that he would finally let me study abroad.

I believed him.

Since then, I've heard the same promise over and over again:

"Next semester, inshallah."

I've heard it for semester after semester. Every time I thought I was finally leaving, the goalposts moved again. Friends warned me not to rely on those promises, but I wanted to believe that my family would eventually keep their word.

I've also been told that if I insisted on leaving or living differently, I could be cut off financially or have my freedom taken away. Those conversations left me terrified. I became deeply afraid that if things escalated, I could lose control over my own life. Whether those fears would ever become reality or not, living with them has shaped almost every decision I've made.

The emotional toll has been enormous.

There have been times where I've cried to my dad, begging him to understand how much this means to me, and I felt like my pain barely registered. Over the past few years I've struggled with depression, hopelessness, and periods where I genuinely questioned whether life was worth continuing. Today I'm still here, and I'm choosing to keep fighting for a future instead of giving up on it.

Despite everything, my dreams have never changed.

I want to earn a PhD. I want to become the first person to compete in the Olympics, earn a PhD, and visit every country in the world within the same lifetime. I want to build a group of companies that create meaningful products and opportunities. Most importantly, I want to use whatever success I achieve to give back.

I want to support people who leave high-control religious environments and don't have anyone to turn to. I want to help LGBTQ+ people who are trying to build safer lives. I also want to invest in projects that address poverty and food insecurity because I know what it feels like when your future seems completely out of your own hands.

Today I decided I couldn't keep waiting for someone else to decide my future.

I've tried opening a GoFundMe, but I couldn't get past the phone verification process. I've looked into peer-to-peer education loans, but I haven't been able to find financing that covers the cost of attendance at my dream university.

More than anything, I'm looking for people who know how to make something like this possible.

If you have experience creating or managing successful GoFundMe campaigns, crowdfunding for international students, finding education financing, connecting people with donors, or helping fundraisers reach a wider audience, I would love to hear from you. Even introductions, advice, or sharing my story could make an enormous difference.

I'm not asking anyone to solve my life for me. I'm asking for a chance to build it.

Thank you for reading.

Hi! I was wondering if anyone knows any Discord servers, group chats, or online communities specifically for ex-Muslim Saudi/MENA women (or even broader ex-Muslim women spaces in general).

I’d really love to meet people with similar experiences and find a supportive community. Preferably 18+ and actually active 😭

Feel free to DM instead of commenting publicly if that’s safer. Thank you <3

Hey, 21F here, any lesbian or queer girls from Khobar or Dhahran or Dammam down to hang out?

Hey, 21F here, any lesbian or queer girls from Khobar or Dhahran or Dammam down to hang out?

I got accepted to Loyola Marymount University (LMU), and it’s where I genuinely want to go. It’s not just about academics—it’s about having independence and being in an environment where I can actually be myself.

The issue is my parent controls the finances.

They’ve been saying they’ll pay the deposit, but keep delaying it, and I don’t know if it’s actually going to happen. I have no way to confirm anything, and it feels like my future depends entirely on their mood.

I’ve tried to be proactive—even suggesting selling one of their 20+ properties—but nothing has moved forward.

Now I feel stuck:

My backup university would set me back years academically

Waiting could mean losing my spot entirely

A gap year might give me more control, but it’s also a risk

Part of me has had impulsive thoughts about just leaving and figuring things out on my own, but I want to make a smart and safe decision.

If you’ve dealt with family control over your education or life choices:

How did you navigate it?

How did you balance independence with safety?

What would you realistically do in my situation?

I know what I want, I just don’t know if I’ll be allowed to pursue it.

Any advice would really mean a lot.

I’ve been accepted to Loyola Marymount University (LMU), which is my top choice.

The issue is that my expected financial support (from a parent) is uncertain. They’ve said they’ll cover the deposit, but it keeps getting delayed and I don’t have confirmation it will actually be paid before the deadline.

I’m trying to plan responsibly given that uncertainty.

Relevant context:

I’ve completed multiple college-level courses already (econ, stats, etc.)

My goal is to graduate in ~2 years by transferring credits + possibly taking summer classes

At LMU, this may be possible depending on credit evaluation

My backup option (University of Strathclyde – Bahrain) would likely require starting over → ~3–4 years total

Current options I’m considering:

Accept the backup offer now as a safety net

Wait and hope funding comes through for LMU

Take a gap year and focus on earning/saving (possibly through starting a business)

My main concern is avoiding a decision that significantly increases total cost and time to degree.

Questions:

Is it generally advisable to secure a backup enrollment even if I may not attend?

From a financial perspective, would a gap year to build income be more rational than committing to a longer degree path?

Any strategies for planning around unreliable family financial support?

Appreciate any practical advice.

I got accepted to Loyola Marymount University (LMU), and it’s honestly where I want to go. It feels like the right environment for me, and a chance to finally be independent and grow.

The problem is I can’t rely on my parent financially right now.

They’ve been saying they’ll pay the deposit, but keep delaying it, and I don’t know if it’s actually going to happen. I have no way of confirming anything, and my plans basically depend on their mood.

I’ve tried to be proactive—even suggesting selling one of their 20+ properties to fund my education—but nothing has moved forward.

Now I feel stuck between options I don’t fully want:

- Accept a backup university that would set me back years academically

- Take a gap year and try to build something on my own

- Or keep waiting and risk losing everything if the payment never happens

Part of me has had impulsive thoughts like just leaving and figuring it out myself, but realistically I want to make a smart, stable decision.

I think what’s hardest is feeling like I know what I want, but don’t have full control over whether I can actually pursue it.

If you’ve been in a situation where your future depended on someone unreliable, how did you handle it?

And how do you make a decision when none of the options feel fully secure?

I’d really appreciate any advice or perspective.

I was accepted to Loyola Marymount University (LMU), and that’s my top choice.

The issue is financial uncertainty. My parent has said they’ll cover the deposit, but it keeps getting delayed, and I don’t have confirmation that it will actually be paid before the deadline.

Because of that, I’m considering a backup offer from the University of Strathclyde (Bahrain), but there’s a major downside:

I’ve already completed several college-level courses (econ, sociology, stats, etc.), and my goal is to graduate in ~2 years by transferring credits and possibly taking summer classes.

From what I understand:

LMU may allow me to transfer credits and accelerate

Strathclyde would likely require me to start over → ~3–4 years total

So this isn’t just a preference—it directly affects my graduation timeline.

I’ve also considered taking a gap year and focusing on building a business if LMU doesn’t work out, rather than committing to a longer degree path I don’t want.

Questions:

Should I accept the backup offer just in case, even if I may not attend?

How realistic is graduating in ~2 years at LMU with transfer credits?

If funding falls through, is a gap year a smarter option than enrolling somewhere I’m not aligned with?

Any advice for handling uncertain financial support this late in the process?

Thanks in advance—any insight is really appreciated.

I was accepted to Loyola Marymount University (LMU), and that’s my top choice.

The issue is financial uncertainty. My parent has said they’ll cover the deposit, but it keeps getting delayed, and I don’t have confirmation that it will actually be paid before the deadline.

Because of that, I’m considering a backup offer from the University of Strathclyde (Bahrain), but there’s a major downside:

I’ve already completed several college-level courses (econ, sociology, stats, etc.), and my goal is to graduate in ~2 years by transferring credits and possibly taking summer classes.

From what I understand:

LMU may allow me to transfer credits and accelerate

Strathclyde would likely require me to start over → ~3–4 years total

So this isn’t just a preference—it directly affects my graduation timeline.

I’ve also considered taking a gap year and focusing on building a business if LMU doesn’t work out, rather than committing to a longer degree path I don’t want.

Questions:

Should I accept the backup offer just in case, even if I may not attend?

How realistic is graduating in ~2 years at LMU with transfer credits?

If funding falls through, is a gap year a smarter option than enrolling somewhere I’m not aligned with?

Any advice for handling uncertain financial support this late in the process?

Thanks in advance—any insight is really appreciated.

I was accepted to Loyola Marymount University (LMU), and that’s my top choice.

The issue is financial uncertainty. My parent has said they’ll cover the deposit, but it keeps getting delayed, and I don’t have confirmation that it will actually be paid before the deadline.

Because of that, I’m considering a backup offer from the University of Strathclyde (Bahrain), but there’s a major downside:

I’ve already completed several college-level courses (econ, sociology, stats, etc.), and my goal is to graduate in ~2 years by transferring credits and possibly taking summer classes.

From what I understand:

- LMU may allow me to transfer credits and accelerate

- Strathclyde would likely require me to start over → ~3–4 years total

So this isn’t just a preference—it directly affects my graduation timeline.

I’ve also considered taking a gap year and focusing on building a business if LMU doesn’t work out, rather than committing to a longer degree path I don’t want.

Questions:

- Should I accept the backup offer just in case, even if I may not attend?

- How realistic is graduating in ~2 years at LMU with transfer credits?

- If funding falls through, is a gap year a smarter option than enrolling somewhere I’m not aligned with?

- Any advice for handling uncertain financial support this late in the process?

Thanks in advance—any insight is really appreciated.