SCHOLARSHIPS AND FINANCIAL AID
FOR UNDERGRADUATE STUDY:
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
 What
is the difference between a scholarship and financial aid?
We often use these two terms
interchangeably, as they mean almost the same thing. Technically speaking,
a scholarship is a financial award based on merit: excellent academic performance,
or perhaps community service or leadership. Financial aid is a grant based
on the student's financial need, as documented by family income, assets,
and other factors. There are also sports scholarships, awarded for recognized
athletic ability. All types of scholarships and financial aid are extremely
competitive and require outstanding academic records.
Do
all universities in the United States offer scholarships and financial
aid to international students?
Unfortunately, no. Only about
half of the institutions offering the Bachelor's degree can provide financial
assistance to students who are not citizens or permanent residents of the
United States. Bear in mind that financial aid for U.S. students is separate
from financial aid for international students. Make certain to tell the
admissions office your country of citizenship and request information on
financial aid available to non-U.S. citizens
Will
a scholarship or financial aid award cover all the costs of my education?
Not at all! Nearly all awards
cover only a small part of the cost. Very few awards are more than $5,000.
In addition, the student is responsible for living and travel expenses.
How
much does it cost to study in the United States? What is the minimum amount
I would have to pay?
The comprehensive annual
cost of study in the United States, including tuition and living expenses,
is between S 10,000 and $30,000 per year. Very good students can get financial
aid that brings their annual cost below $10,000.
How
can I find out which universities offer the most financial aid?
Consult your Educational
Advisor, research in The College Board's International Student Handbook.
Peterson 's Applying to Colleges and Universities in the United States,
and other publications available at the Advising Center. Write to the admissions
office of universities that interest you, and find out specific details
of their financial aid programs, such as amount of aid awarded to international
students and any special requirements.
I've
heard that a few universities offer full scholarships. Is there a list?
About fifty U.S. universities
are able to award full scholarships that cover all the cost of education
except for airfare, to students who can prove that they genuinely need
the money. The total number of full scholarships available each year to
international students is about 800, which means that each country in the
world may get four or five of these. To get a full scholarship, you must
be one of the top students in your country, usually with straight A's in
every subject, high SAT and TOEFL scores, and distinguished performance
in other areas such as leadership. There are twenty top students from all
over the world applying for each scholarship, so your chances of success
are very low. Careful research will produce a list of full scholarship
universities.
Can
I get financial assistance from foundations and scholarship agencies?
This is not likely, because
there is very little aid available through such sources, and it is usually
earmarked for advanced graduate students. Looking for aid from these sources
is probably a waste of time.
What
can I do with a partial scholarship?
Talk 10 your parents and
other close relatives and find out how much they can afford to pay towards
your U.S. education, per year times four years. Then research carefully
to identify universities that can "top up" your family 's contribution
with partial financial aid For example, if a certain university costs $21,000
per year and others financial aid of $6.000 per year. You will need to
raise $15,000 per year in order to enroll.
Are
scholarships more available/or certain fields of study?
Not really: they are awarded
by the university admissions committee, based on the quality of the student's
academic record. However, the universities that offer professional courses
such as engineering, business administration, and pharmacy almost never
offer financial aid to international students,
Can
I get a job to help pay some of the cost?
Immigration regulations permit
international students to work only pan lime. and only on campus. You can
expect to cam between $1000 andS2000 a year, which is enough to pay for
books, clothing, and personal expenses, but your campus job cannot pay
any of your tuition or living expenses,
Are
there loans available to international students?
Yes. You must have a U.S.
citizen co-signer, and you must usually be already enrolled in a U.S. university
before you can apply. Before taking a loan, make certain you know how you
are going to repay it, and how a loan will affect your plans for graduate
study and returning home.
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