Identifying Sources of Financial Assistance


 All types of scholarships and financial students are highly competitive and require excellent academic records. You will often find the items: 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”i.e.based on the student’s financial need, as documented by family income, assets, and other factor. Below are the main types of financial assistance available in the U.S:
 Home country Funds: These funds are provided by local government, corporate or foundation sources are not found in all countries you could reduce your educational cost with scholarships from local organizations.
Funding from college
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financial aid is usually made up of a number of different types of assistance, including grants and scholarships and occasionally loans or part-time work programs.
 Financial assistance from colleges is awarded at the beginning of the academic year and is rarely available to the students entering mid-year in January or at other times. More aid is available for fresh students than for those transferring in from other institutions.
The total of full scholarships (covers all educational expenses except airfare) available each year to incoming international students in the United States is about 1,000, offered by only about 100 colleges. To get a full scholarship, you must be one of the highest scorer in your country with high SAT and TOEFL scores, and distinguished performance in other curriculum activities,. In addition, evidence of your parent’s financial circumstances i.e. bank statements, employers letters , and other official documents and statement are required
 Sports Scholarship: Sports Scholarship offered by some U.S. colleges cover all or a part of tuition fee and living costs of the student athletes who play for the college team. Students with sports scholarships may take degrees in any field offered by the universities by meeting all the entrance requirements. One has to take the performance toll high ion order to receive and maintain their scholarships
 International Awards:Internatioal students also ask about financial assistance from foundations, organizations, and the U.S. government However ,very little aid exists through such sources , and it is usually earmarked for advanced graduate students
 Loans: Usually , you have a U.S.citizen co-signer to act as a guarantor for any loans from U.S. loan programs, and in most cases you must already be enrolled in a U.S. university before you apply. Howe you are going to repay it and how a loan will affect plans your plans for graduate must be evaluated before taking a loan
 Employment: You should always check with your international students adviser before considering any form of employment or on the Web at http:// educationusa.state.gov.
Financial Aid in Community College
 Getting scholarship in U.S. (State run universities) is more then a challenge.Intenational students must check whether the college offer any financial aid to international students as most of the funds come from the federal to international students as most of the funds come from the federal government or local government to the universities, these are set aside specifically for U.S. and permanent residents. Acquiring financial assistance in Private colleges is comparatively easy. There is a better change of acquiring financial assistance at private colleges. Other private institutions such as foundations , corporations, or associations may also have provision for financial aid
 It is important to start your financial planning much before you intend to study in the U.S. Financial planning consists of: compiling effective applications, assessing personal funds and identifying financial assistance for which you are eligible. Accordingly, arrange your finances because scholarships awards would cover only a part of the total educational and living costs and may not be available to first –year international students