California Student Homestay & University Prep

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Your Premium Academic Launchpad in Aptos, California​

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Managed by active, Ph.D.-level academic hosts and mentors, this premium, high-support co-living experience ensures a safe, successful bridge into the American university system. The fully inclusive, co-ed program features personalized academic counseling and native support for international scholars.​

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Transnational Academic Path

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• The Route: Students Go Directly From High School in Brazil into the California University System.

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• The Mechanism: Transitioning Internationally via Cabrillo College (Aptos, CA) & UCSC (Santa Cruz, CA).

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THE EcoPro ADVANTAGE: WHY STUDENTS THRIVE

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• Decades of Academic Mentorship: Guiding undergraduate, graduate, and Ph.D. candidates through complex academic paths and Western institutional frameworks.

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• Culture of Scientific Excellence: Our home naturally fosters quiet study, intellectual curiosity, and focused research backed by highly published authors.

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• Premium Infrastructure: Full-board nutrition (3 daily meals provided in-house), dedicated quiet study spaces, an academic concierge, and local transit guidance.

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• Language & Cultural Assimilation: Immersive English-acquisition environment paired with supportive, multilingual guidance to ease transition anxieties.

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​Parent Portal: Safety & Total Financial Oversight

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• Who This Is For: Portuguese-speaking Brazilian international students (ages 18-20) with a Brazilian high school diploma or U.S. GED.

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• Strict Operational Cap: Intake is limited to a maximum of 2 to 3 students on a fixed 12-month contract.

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• The Launchpad: Start with accessible entry scores (TOEFL 54 iBT / IELTS 5.5) at Cabrillo College, sharpen language skills in their ESL track, and prepare to transfer directly to a top-tier U.S. university.

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• Absolute Financial Oversight: Parents retain 100% financial control by paying tuition fees directly to Cabrillo College. We coordinate a structured monthly allowance tracking system.

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Cabrillo College

International Students Admission Information

 

Flexible Academic Pathways & Immigration Strategy

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We guide you through two secure legal frameworks depending on your timeline:

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Pathway 1: Direct F-1 Entry

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• Best For: Families seeking the fastest, lowest-cost entry path to enroll and study immediately upon arrival.

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• How It Works: Secure your Cabrillo I-20 and F-1 visa while still in Brazil. Completed and stamped entirely in Brazil.

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• Financial Efficiency: Standard student visa and SEVIS fees apply directly, avoiding unexpected domestic processing or adjustment costs.

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• Immigration Risk: Provides a direct, transparent path to full student enrollment with zero domestic status gaps or bridging delays.

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• The Early Benefit: Enter the U.S. up to 30 days before classes begin to comfortably settle into our homestay.

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Pathway 2: B-2 Prospective Student

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• Best For: Families wishing to evaluate the housing environment and college campus firsthand before final enrollment.

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• How It Works: Enter the United States on a B-2 tourist visa explicitly secured with a "Prospective Student" consular notation from the embassy. The initial visa is stamped in Brazil, followed by a formal Change of Status application submitted to USCIS after arriving.

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• Financial Efficiency: Accounts for domestic processing costs, including standard mandatory USCIS Form I-539 Change of Status filing fees and related administrative expenses.

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• Immigration Status: Entails standard domestic agency processing timelines, requiring a structured stay framework while federal authorities transition your status to a full F-1 student visa.

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• The Early Benefit: Finalize your specific class enrollment, program tracks, and scheduling choices side-by-side with your host mentors right here in Aptos.

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Financial Structure & Contract Terms

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Cabrillo College Tuition & Campus Estimates:

 

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• Tuition and Fees: $10,918 / year (Based on a mandatory international minimum of 12 units per semester; fees increase if additional units are taken).

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• Books, Supplies & Mandatory Health Insurance: $2,082 for two semesters. Official proof of your insurance plan must be submitted to the college by the end of the second week of classes to avoid an immediate registration freeze.

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Mandatory Immigration Verification: 

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• To secure your Form I-20, U.S. federal law requires official verification of at least *$26,000 USD in liquid assets for your first academic year. Note: This is strictly an immigration financial proof required by the U.S. government to issue your visa; it is *not a tuition payment or an upfront fee.

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• Acceptable Documentation: Official bank statements (dated within the last 6 months and translated into English) or a formal bank letter of support.

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• Sponsorship Rules: If the bank account is held under a parent's or sponsor's name, a typed, dated, and signed letter of support must be attached to confirm authorization.

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Application Deadlines:

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• Fall Semester Intake (Classes Begin Late August):

  • Absolute Cutoff Deadline: July 1st | Priority Recommended Deadline: May 1st (Highly suggested for visa processing)

 

• Spring Semester Intake (Classes Begin Late January):

  • Absolute Cutoff Deadline: December 1st | Priority Recommended Deadline: November 1st (Highly suggested for visa processing)

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EcoPro Premium Enrollment & Board

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While the college calculates standard, unguided local living costs on a 9-month academic calendar, our premium, Ph.D.-led advisory and housing program operates on a structured, full-year residency track:

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• Initial Consultation: FREE (Mandatory 1-hour call to ensure academic alignment and household compatibility).

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• Onboarding & Security Fee: $4,500 USD (Due upon contract execution; non-refundable to lock room inventory).

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• EcoPro Base Room & Board: $2,000 / month (Paid via a mandatory 12-month lease framework, totaling $24,000 annually. Requires a standard first month, last month, and security deposit structure).​

 

As mentors, we fully support and guide our residents through long-term continued education pathways to foster academic advancement; full-time F-1 students are welcome to extend their study tracks and housing leases seamlessly. Note that B-2 Prospective Students are legally barred from attending or continuing coursework until a formal USCIS Change of Status is fully approved. To ensure exceptional student care, we provide dedicated, peer-led mentorship within a premium household environment; therefore, our available residency spaces are carefully capped per cycle.