Understanding the scholarship and financial aid packages is kind of confusing for international students. Read the whole blog to get a general knowledge about scholarship and financial aid.
The USA’s prestigious colleges and vibrant campuses attract international students as study destinations. However, the high cost often stifles such ambition. Well, do not be worried! Studying for an undergraduate degree in the USA may be surprisingly cost-efficient, despite the sticker price looking daunting.
How can it be possible?
Here’s why:
The very first thing is there are several types of scholarships in US Colleges they usually provide.
Scholarships: A Key to Unlocking Affordability
US universities offer a treasure trove of scholarships specifically for international students. These awards can range from partial tuition waivers to full rides, significantly reducing the financial burden. Here are some types of scholarships:
Merit-based Scholarships:
These scholarships are provided on academic excellence, standardized test scores, and extracurricular achievements. Prove you’re a top talent and universities may provide you this very common scholarship. Merit based scholarship is the most common scholarship among all. You will need to submit your application to the specific university with the GPA and other stuff. However, you don’t need to fill up any separate application to be eligible for this merit based scholarship. In short, it’ll be provided by evaluating your Merit.
Full Ride Scholarships:
Among all the other scholarship categories, a full-ride scholarship is the most highly desired as it covers all educational costs. The majority of full-ride scholarships are institution-specific, however some organizations allow funding to be used at any school. In some institutions, these scholarships are awarded primarily on academic achievement, while some may also take the student’s need for financial aid into account. Certain full-ride scholarships offered by private organizations come with requirements, such as a two-year employment commitment.
In most of the universities and colleges, there is an entire separate application for these scholarships. You may need to submit an essay or several essays for these scholarships by the deadline. And the most important fact, the deadlines are usually on December 1 or January 1.
Major or course related Scholarships:
Some students enter college undecided on their major. That’s totally okay. But those who are positive on what they want to major in could qualify for a scholarship for their specific degree or major. Different schools will offer different scholarships. In general though, the schools popular for a certain major or degree will usually have scholarships for said majors. If they have a distinguished alumni with that degree, or have partnered with a big company to fund their curriculum, there’s a big chance they also have a scholarship for students of that course. Private companies, professional associations, and charitable organizations also offer scholarships for students based on their chosen major or course.
Music and Art Scholarships:
Many US colleges offer scholarships specifically for talented music and art students. These scholarships can range from various coverage awards. Almost in every institution, there is a whole separate scholarship application for music and art. You may need to upload a portfolio for eligibility. To find scholarships, explore college websites and scholarship search engines like Fastweb or CollegeBoard.
Athletic Scholarships:
Athletic scholarships are awarded to students who join a school’s athletic team, be it in baseball, swimming, football, or basketball. Don’t limit your search online when it comes to searching athletic scholarships. You can ask the university admission counselor to know more details about the Athletic Scholarship.
Financial Aid: Bridging the Gap
Unlike domestic students, international students are not eligible for federal or state aid. In short, an international student doesn’t need to submit FAFSA.
They are only eligible for need based grants. Need based grants are usually provided based on financial need.
How to Apply for Financial Aid as an International Student
To apply for financial aid, prospective international students are required to fill out the International Student Financial Aid Application, or ISFAA, or the CSS Profile. Some universities may also have their own forms. CSS usually opens on October 1st every year. Financial Aid is coverage for your education. If you are accepted, your full need will be met. This is how financial aid works.
Aid deadlines vary per school, but typically they align with application deadlines. Experts say some students may be afraid to let schools know they are applying for financial aid, as “need awareness” is often considered in admissions. This means that an applicant’s ability to pay for college may be a factor in the admissions decision.
Very few schools are “need blind” which means an applicant’s financial situation is not considered in the admission decision. It’s also important to note that some schools may need-blind for U.S. citizens and need-aware for international students.
Read more and Learn about the College Interviews HERE.