SCHOLARSHIP AND LOANS

Obviously scholarships and grants are the most desirable way to pay for your education so be sure to plan ahead and apply for as many scholarships as you can. You should begin looking into this at least a year in advance, as many scholarship deadlines require that you apply early, even before you have learned of your admissions decision. In addition, if money is a concern, you should look into applying to those colleges and universities that offer scholarships and awards to international students-at the undergraduate level, only a handful of well-endowed colleges and universities in the U.S. are able to meet the financial need of all the students they admit, and admission to these schools is usually very competitive. Financial aid in the form of scholarships is more often available at the graduate level, but the amount of support varies and in some professional graduate programs, such as programs in Law, Business (MBA) and Journalism, very little aid is available to support students.

Most types of scholarships for international students are highly competitive and require excellent academic records. You will often find the terms "scholarships" and "financial aid" used interchangeably, but technically speaking, a scholarship is a financial award based on merit, including outstanding academic performance, special talent in sports or performing arts, or perhaps community service or leadership. Financial aid is a "need-based" grant based on the student's financial need, as documented by family income, assets, and other factors.

Once offered admission to your program, be sure to contact the department chair to inquire about institutional awards and possible assistantships or part-time jobs on campus. (An assistantship usually involves 10-20 hours a week of work as a teaching assistant in a classroom or lab, or doing research. These positions often include a tuition waiver and in some cases, an hourly wage.) Your department may also have listings of private and outside non-profit organizations that offer scholarships to students in your field of study. You should also research possible funding from your country's local government, corporate, or foundation sources. Fulbright grants are another way to pay for your graduate-level studies in the U.S.; deadlines are usually in May, and you would need to apply at least one year in advance of beginning your program.