FINANCIAL AID FOR UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS
 In
searching for financial aid as an undergraduate, consider that the chances
of gaining financial assistance are much better at the graduate level.
EXCHANGES
Most students from Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union who
go to the United States to study as undergraduates still do so as exchange
students usually for a single academic year or less. These exchanges are
usually arranged between institutions for groups of students and it is
difficult for individual students to arrange an exchange experience. For
an independent student, the challenge of finding financial aid is enormous.
AID
FROM US COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES Most of the limited financial
aid for undergraduates from US sources comes from colleges and universities
themselves. In some cases students from abroad compete with American students
for limited financial aid. The following types of financial aid are
available at American colleges:
-
MERIT
BASED SCHOLARSHIP is based on academic qualifications irrespective
of need. The student has no work or repayment obligations.
-
NEED-BASED
SCHOLARSHIP is based on financial need but usually in conjunction
with academic achievement. The student has no work or repayment obligations.
-
ATHLETIC
SCHOLARSHIP is generally based on the athletic ability of
the applicant but is not completely irrespective of academic performance.
-
PART-TIME
CAMPUS EMPLOYMENT -- the student is able to earn money
by working on campus for a certain number of hours per week. Some schools
require all students to take on-campus jobs, thereby reducing the overall
cost of education at that university.
-
COOPERATIVE
PROGRAMS allow students to alternate periods of full-time
study with full-time work. When a period of employment is required for
the degree, foreign students (except M-1 visa holders) can wok legally
to defray part of their expenses by participating in such a program. The
work generally begins at the end of the sophomore year and adds one year
to a 4-year degree. Cooperative programs that incorporate several short
periods of employment alternating with periods of study usually do not
admit foreign students; look for programs with one or two extended periods
of employment. Whether or not cooperative work assignments actually pay
a significant part of study cost varies from program to program.
-
UNIVERSITY
LOANS Students receive loans which are expected to
be repaid after graduation. Foreign students are not usually eligible
for loans.
-
ADVANCED
STANDING If a student qualifies, s/he can apply for advanced
placement at the institutions s/he wants to study at. This does not constitute
financial aid in the true sense of the word but is a means of cutting down
on costs of the program by reducing its duration (i.e.: a student
needs to make up less credits to graduate).
-
PART
- TIME EMPLOYMENT ON CAMPUS After the first year of study,
sometimes the International Student Office can help foreign students find
jobs on campus consisting of up to 20 hours per week. The position must
not displace a US citizen or permanent resident. These jobs, however, do
not pay high wages.
WHO SHOULD APPLY?
Students who have a greater
chance of obtaining financial assistance usually:
-
Show evidence of high academic
achievement;
-
Have high standardized test
scores (SAT,
TOEFL,
GRE,
GMAT);
-
Demonstrate financial need,
but have enough private funding to at least cover part of the cost. Only
the most exceptional students could expect to get full financial support
-
Have a unique talent or skill,
or a record of meaningful involvement in extracurricular activities
-
Obtain individualized letters
of recommendation enumerating the students abilities
-
Applying as a transfer student
to finish your last 1 or 2 years may increase your chances for support.
An institution is more likely to pay for 2 years of study than 4 years
of study.
QUESTIONS to
locate colleges and universities that may be able to give you at least
partial financial support:
1.
Are you an exceptionally good student? If you can document
an excellent academic record and class ranking in your secondary school
work, if you have a TOEFL score of above 600 and have a high SAT
score, you may be able to qualify for admission to a college or university
with very high admissions standards, that will offer funding to students
who meet their admission requirements but are unable to pay the total cost
of their education. If you think you can qualify for admission to one of
these universities, read about applying for admission to highly competitive
colleges in books at the advising center. The technique may require
some special tactics to make your application stand out from all the other
excellent students who apply. These are the institutions most likely to
be able to stretch their financial aid programs to provide more than just
partial support.
2.
Are you an exceptionally good athlete, or do you excel at other special
skills? To take advantage of this strategy, you first need
to know which universities or colleges have varsity teams in your sport
and you need to consult references to see which universities actually give
athletic scholarships. This may also apply to other special skills you
may have, such as dancing or art. Options differ about how you should demonstrate
your skill. If you send a video, be sure it is professionally made
and of high quality. For art or music, you should be able to send examples
of your work (portfolio).
3.
Do you know a college or university that hopes to internationalize its
campus but has a low representation from your part of the world?
Usually colleges and universities that offer any financial aid to international
students do so because they want superior students who will provide international
breadth to the campus. Find such universities by consulting with students
and professionals who have studied recently in the U. S. and by discussing
this with your educational advisor. These are usually small liberal arts
colleges or colleges with religious affiliations. Apply to the college
or university that may be a good prospect and request financial aid with
the application. Your academic record, however, must be excellent for this
to be successful. No financial aid is available for English as a second
language study: so you must have excellent English skills TOEFL 550-600
to be considered. But be sure to find out whether the college has your
field of study and why they are interested in supporting students from
other countries.
4.
What institutions have given at least partial aid to first year foreign
students in the past? You can answer this question by
looking through reference books especially the College Handbook -
Foreign Student Supplement. If an institution says "No" to the question
about financial aid, however, don't apply for financial aid. That means
that the institution really has none to offer.
5.
If you have partial funding of your own, are you willing to study at a
community college for the first two years in order to establish your aptitude
and reduce your costs, or are you willing to study at a less expensive
university or college? Choosing an institution whose total costs
are less than $12,000 per year rather than one that costs $24,000 represents
an effective $12,000 scholarship. In general you can stretch available
funds much farther if you plan to spend at least the first two years at
a less expensive institution, but be sure your credit hours will transfer.
6.
Can you reduce the number of courses you need to take by taking Advanced
Placement examinations or transferring courses from home country institution?
If previous education enables you to get US college credit for advanced
placement examinations, you can reduce the time you spend in the United
States.
Although
US colleges and universities represent only a possible source or last resort
for financial aid, you should not hesitate to apply for aid. Application
for aid will not prejudice your chances of admission to a chosen program
of study. On the other hand, since almost all scholarships cover only a
part of the tuition, state the amount you do have available for study,
if any, rather than asking for a full scholarship. It will greatly increase
your chances of support. Do not however, understate the amount of
funds needed in the expectation of later obtaining additional aid.
If you do need a full scholarship, be sure to say so and to specify what
types of expenses you will need to have covered. Opportunities for financial
aid (including employment) are severely limited once you are already in
the United States.
Many
colleges and universities have unadvertised possibilities for at least
partial funding of students who qualify for academic admission but need
financial support: Apply for financial aid, unless the institution
lists itself in reference books as not offering financial aid. Make your
request for financial assistance on the basis of merit, stating your need
as a secondary factor. Universities get many letters stating the adverse
circumstances, financial need and good character of applicants; this may
move the admission officer personally, but only a superior application
with documented financial need will actually be effective.
Try
to comply with everything requested by the college of university application
and the application for financial aid. If documents are unavailable or
recommendation letters difficult to obtain, explain why and try to provide
the information in some other way that will be acceptable. Accept that
the waiver of the application fees may be impossible for some institutions.
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