Finding scholarships for all international students might seem next to impossible, but it is not. As prospective undergrad students research their options for studying across the US, they need to be aware of what might land them a coveted scholarship award.
As an international student, you will not be eligible for funding intended mainly for US residents. However, as you are an international student, the US universities offer several international scholarships to study across the US. Some US universities offer need-blind admission to international students. Below are some of the US scholarships for international students. some are funded by the government, some by private organizations and some are funded by specific institutions.
Scholarship Types in the USA
Merit Scholarships
Merit scholarships are the most popular scholarships across the USA. However, there is a typical misconception across the merit scholarships which is limited to one’s academic performance. But this is not true, as merit scholarships are awarded based on a student’s excellence in different aspects. Three types of merit scholarships are:
- Academic scholarship: These scholarships are funded by universities and are awarded to international students based on their grades in high school.
- Sports scholarships: If you are a good athlete, then you can apply for sports scholarships in US universities.
- Average academic scholarships: These scholarships are awarded based on a student’s performance. This will comprise extracurricular activities, community work, and more.
Need-Based Scholarships
Financial scholarships or need-based scholarships are for students who have low-income backgrounds. Many US universities offer need-based scholarships to the students. However, the majority of the financial scholarships are reserved for US residents.
Country-Based Scholarships
In the US, many universities and colleges offer country-based scholarships to international students. The scholarships are reserved for students from developing countries to encourage higher studies in different countries.
University Scholarships
Many US universities and colleges offer students with scholarships who meet specific eligibility criteria. Many of these scholarships are funded by private donations from university alumni.
Privately Funded Scholarships
In the US, privately funded scholarships are awarded to students by individual donors, private businesses, and more. however, they have strict eligibility criteria and select particular groups for the scholarships.
Government-Funded Scholarships
The US government does offer students scholarships to support the globalization of their educational systems. However, some scholarships are available for international students as most of them are reserved for domestic students.
Popular Scholarship Programs to Study in the USA
- Fullbright-Nehru Fellowship: This fellowship is designed for outstanding Indians to pursue a master’s degree program at some particular colleges and universities.
- Presidential Scholarship: LTU awards a lot of competitive scholarships comprising presidential scholarships to high-achieving freshmen as well as transfer students every year.
- Tata Scholarship: IT is another scholarship which is launched by the Tata Education and Development Trust. It has been established by the philanthropic affiliate of India’s Tata Group which would allow Cornell University to offer financial aid to undergrad students.
- Stanford Reliance Dhirubhai Fellowship: This Standford Graduate School of Business seeks MBS candidates who are citizens of India. They are interested in contributing to the country’s human as well as socio-economic progress to apply for this fellowship.
- AAUW International Fellowships: This fellowship was designed to offer students with the best opportunities to pursue graduate and postgraduate studies across the US.
Process to Apply for Scholarship
Although it completely depends on the scholarship you are applying for, most of the applications have a similar process: online application, document submission as well as the wait for the results to be announced. Once you have found a study abroad scholarship for which you can easily apply. You can start prepping up for the documents. In most of the cases, this is what the application comprises of:
- You need to send a motivation letter. It is one of the major documents which can help you get the scholarship. So, ensure that you know how to write a scholarship motivation. Keep in mind that occasionally it is called as a scholarship essay or even a personal statement.
- You need to submit proof of your academic, athletic, or artistic achievements.
- For some need-based scholarships, you might need to show official proof of your income.
- An acceptance letter from the university. without a document confirming that you can start the studies, you will not be granted a scholarship.
- In case any documents have been written in different language, ensure that you provide officially translated copy.
Studying and Living Expenses in the USA
Students need to keep at least USD 1100 to USD 1200 per month for their living expenses across the USA. This will completely depend on the student’s location as well as lifestyle. This will comprise student accommodation Auburn, food, transportation, health care, taxes, and other expenses.
Cost of Living in Auburn
In the USA, you can find different cities to study. Auburn is one of the best places, however, living over here is slightly more expensive than other cities across the USA. The cost of living Auburn varies completely from one student to another. You can expect a monthly average of around $1401. The off-campus student housing Auburn is one of the best options to go with as it is cheaper than university living.
