Posted by Studying in the USA can be an exciting prospect, but it can also come with its own share of financial challenges which some are familiar with. Click on the link below:
To make things easier on yourself, you may want to apply for scholarships to help fund your education and keep more money in your pocket throughout the semester.
We’ve put together this article on how to get a scholarship to study in the USA specifically for international students, to help you out if you’re planning on studying abroad in the United States anytime soon.
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List of U.S. Scholarships
Many people who are interested in studying abroad don’t know that there are scholarship opportunities specifically for international students.
A study abroad scholarship can help you pay for a semester, or even an entire year, and it can also provide funding for housing, travel expenses and more.
Some of these scholarships have specific requirements; others are open to anyone. If you’re looking to get outside of your comfort zone and challenge yourself academically, one of these scholarships could be just what you need!
Here’s a list of just some of them;
- The AIFS Study Abroad Scholarship (American Institute For Foreign Study) is awarded to U.S. students who are accepted into one of AIFS’ study abroad programs.
It provides up to $5,000 towards tuition and fees, with additional funding available for housing and other expenses. Students must have at least a 3.0 GPA and be enrolled full-time at an accredited college or university to apply. The application deadline is December 1st.
- The Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) offers several scholarships that can be used towards study abroad programs and internships.
One scholarship, The Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program, is open to students who are receiving Federal Pell Grant funding at their home institution and are studying abroad through an approved program with academic credit. This award covers up to $5,000 of expenses for one semester or summer session overseas.
- If you’re interested in medical school, but not sure where you want to attend yet, consider applying for a pre-med scholarship from UASI (Undergraduate Academic Success Initiative). This $1,000 award can be used towards any accredited college or university that offers pre-med coursework.
What You Should Know About International Students Scholarships
Before you start your research on how to get a scholarship for studying abroad, there are some things you should know about scholarships available to international students.
The first and foremost thing is that most of these scholarships are reserved for US Citizens, permanent residents, and other categories of eligible individuals. As an international student, you need to fit into one of these categories or else you’ll be disqualified from these opportunities. Second is that these scholarships are competitive.
Many recipients have GPA’s over 3.5 and SAT scores above 1300 out of 1600; however, it’s not impossible if your grades aren’t stellar because we found some scholarships with lower GPA requirements than 3.0.
If you are an undergraduate student
For international students who wish to study in United States, there are two types of scholarship programs.
They are merit-based and need-based. Need-based is based on your financial need. Merit-based is based on your academic or personal achievements.
If you are interested in studying in an institution that provides merit or need-based scholarships, you will have to consider getting into one of those schools first before applying for a scholarship program.
You may also join honor societies; most universities have them and membership can earn you money as well as give you opportunities for leadership roles which make it more likely that you will get a scholarship award from them.
If you are a Graduate School Applicant
Graduate school applicants, who have completed their undergraduate degree and are applying for a Master’s or Ph.D program often have to produce good grades and recommendations from their teachers. In addition, there may be several standardized tests that need to be taken like GRE, GMAT etc. Usually these tests are required as part of your application package.