Finding scholarships for international students may seem impossible, but they do exist.
As prospective undergraduates explore their options to study in the United States, they need to know what they can do to get a scholarship. Meredith Twombly, vice president of admissions and finance, said, “A strong candidate must have demonstrated leadership and teamwork, strong letters of recommendation from teachers who know them, and a strong academic record in —continue that includes writing but also demonstrates follow-through and discipline,” said Meredith Twombly, vice president of admissions and finance. assistance. at Clark University in Massachusetts.
Here are some things to know about scholarships for international students;
Skills Can Boost Scholarship Chances
According to experts, strong leadership skills can make international students more competitive for applicants.
“Being the principal or principal of your school, running the school newspaper, or even starting your own business shows your leadership ability. Ultimately, universities want to focus on students who will be world leaders in the future and they want to see evidence of that from a young age,” Karan Gupta, CEO of Karan Gupta Consulting in India, wrote in an email. .
Strong writing skills also help. Pakistani national Fareha Abid is a recipient of the American University’s Emerging Political Leadership Fellowship in Washington, D.C., where she is majoring in International Studies with a double minor in Arabic and Economics. He says he honed his skills through crash courses in advanced writing, as well as starting and running his high school newspaper. The most important part of the academic application, he says, is the personal statement, which allows admissions officers and the academic committee to really get to know the student.
“This is where some level of self-awareness and the ability to know how to tell your story comes in handy. My reputation as a Pakistani girl, my life experiences and my honesty to myself are some of the things I highlighted,” said Abid.
Academic essays raise the game, experts say, giving students from diverse backgrounds and achievements a chance to win prizes. “If you have good writing skills, you will be able to highlight the strengths of your profile easily,” says Gupta. “It will increase your access to education.”
Mistakes Can Work Against You
Not writing your own essay and waiting until the last minute to apply for scholarships is a mistake international students should avoid, experts say.
“Students should avoid the temptation to copy essays or even whole sentences from the Internet or past essays,” says Gupta. He advises international students to be honest in what they write, especially about their achievements and other activities, and adds that the scholarship committee “can easily explain whether the essay really defines the student’s rights.”
Evelyn Levinson, director of international admissions at American University, said that students should carefully review, revise and edit academic essays and use spell check before submitting their essays to universities. International students should ask their school counselor, English teacher, or EducationUSA advisor to read and revise their essays before submitting them, she says. EducationUSA is a network of consulting agencies of the U.S. Department of State. helps students interested in studying in the United States.
Stopping to apply for more scholarships after receiving one or two is not a good idea, experts add, because students need to increase their chances of getting more money for college.
“Education is very competitive. Give yourself plenty of time to prepare a strong application and be able to explain your college education goals, career goals, and reasons for choosing which university to apply to. “Don’t wait until the last minute to ask your school counselor for a letter,” says Lynn A. Mosesso, director of graduate and international recruitment and admissions at the University of Arkansas.
Schools Can Be Scholarship Gold Mines
Experts recommend that international students contact their school’s financial aid office and use scholarship search tools like InternationalStudent.com to learn more about scholarships offered by colleges and universities in the United States.
Applicants should look for scholarships that are open to all students, not just US citizens and permanent residents, and carefully review the requirements, such as grades, essays, and other materials such as videos or documents. support message.
There are many university scholarships open to international undergraduate applicants. For example, the Wien International Scholarship program was established in 1958 at Brandeis University in Massachusetts and has attracted more than 890 scholars from 115 countries to the school, said Julie Jette, Brandeis spokeswoman. He says that Wien Scholars “are committed leaders with a record of academic excellence who want to make a positive difference in their communities.”
The LEEP President’s Scholarship offered by Clark University covers full tuition on campus and at home for all four years, regardless of financial need. Twombly says the school offers about five scholarships each year.
“Not all scholarships are listed in the common application as many require a different application, so do your research,” said LEEP donor Maha Akbar. The Pakistani national is studying political science with a concentration in international relations at Clark.
Mosesso says that the University of Arkansas offers five scholarships for international undergraduate students, such as the New Arkansan Non-Resident Tuition Award Scholarship which provides an annual scholarship of $11,525 to $14,825 per year based on 30 hours of registration. This school also offers many colleges and fields of study.
“If you don’t meet the academic requirements for a new scholarship, don’t worry. We offer scholarships to students who are currently enrolled successfully in their academic program or who have financial need. The total can range from $150 to over $5,000,” Mosesso said.