Scholarships and Grants in the USA

University scholarships

Merit-based scholarships

There are two types of scholarships from universities. The first is merit-based scholarships. They are given to applicants for excellent academic performance and other academic achievements. To apply for a merit-based scholarship, the student will need:

• Schools certificate or university degree with a transcript of grades;
• SAT and TOEFL certificates for undergraduates, GRE / GMAT for graduates;
• Motivation letter;
• Participation in conferences;
• Scientific publications;
• Work or volunteer experience.

The amount of the scholarship depends on the institution. At the University of Iowa, for example, students are paid up to 10,000 USD, which is 40% of the tuition fee. And at Emory University, the merit-based scholarship covers the entire tuition. Still, the most common amount is up to 30% of tuition fees.

Generally, the higher a university is in the rankings, the more generous scholarships it offers. But getting these generous scholarships is much more difficult.

In the United States, there are only two universities that give one hundred percent discount on tuition to all applicants who enter — Berea College and Curtis Institute of Music. The enrollment rates at these universities are very low: 30% at Berea and only 4% at Curtis. Curtis, by the way, is one of the best music schools in the country.

Need-based scholarships

The second type of scholarships — need-based scholarships — is financial assistance to the financially challenged. Most good universities provide full assistance to all students who cannot afford to pay tuition fees. The amount of assistance needed is calculated using a simple formula: "tuition costs minus the possible contribution of the family".

A family's contribution is assessed based on many parameters, including the number of children and how many of them are currently pursuing higher education. Family income, in turn, must be below a certain amount. For example, at Harvard, it is 65,000 USD per year.

To collect the necessary information, many universities use common forms: CSS profile and IDOC packet. You can read more about the required documents on the respective sites.

The application for the scholarship is submitted along with the application for admission to the university. For those in need of financial assistance, it will be more difficult to pass the competition. If two students are equal in terms of academiс performance, most universities will choose the one who can fully pay for their tuition. This is the case, for example, at Williams College. To increase chances, you need to submit as early as possible — in the first days of accepting applications, and even better — during early admission. At these stages, the funding budget is being allocated. The chances of getting the scholarship later are close to zero.

Often, financial aid from a university includes not only a scholarship but also a paid campus job and an education loan. This is how the full coverage of the applicant's expenses is achieved at Wesleyan University. However, not all universities provide full financial assistance. Most give only a discount on tuition or partial cost coverage.

A separate category is need-blind universities. In the competition, they take into account only the portfolio of the future student and do not take into account their financial situation. Therefore, the chances of admission for rich and poor students are equal. Need-blind universities cover up to 100% of the costs: tuition, accommodation, meals and teaching materials. For international students, the list of need-blind colleges includes the 5 best universities in the United States. However, it is very difficult to get admitted there.

Assistantship

Another way to reduce the cost of education in the United States is to get an assistant position at a university. It implies working on campus up to 20 hours a week. In exchange, the university may reduce tuition fees by up to 100% and grant a scholarship to cover personal expenses.

Assistantship can be of two types:

1. Research assistantship;
2. Teaching assistantship.

Only graduate and PhD students can work as assistants.

To receive financial assistance, you need to win a competition. The requirements depend on the university, but in general, you will need:

• A Bachelor's degree in a related field;
• High level of English — C1+;
• High GPA, minimum 3.0 out of 4.0;
• GRE or GMAT;
• Motivation letter;
• Letters of recommendation;
• Experience in teaching and research.

Assistantship with a 100% discount and an additional scholarship can be obtained, for example, at Georgia State University and the University of Michigan. There are similar offers at the University of South Florida, University of San Francisco, University of Illinois, Texas A&M University, and many others. Information about Assistantship should be checked on the university websites.

Global UGRAD — for undergraduates

Conditions and requirements

Another state scholarship program is the Global UGRAD. It is designed for students of 1-2 courses of Bachelor's degree programs. The program fully pays for a semester of studying in America through an exchange program. It covers transfer, exams, visa fees, room and board costs, etc. One of the conditions is that during their exchange studies, program participants must take at least one course in American culture, politics or history. The university is chosen by the program staff, applicants can’t choose the institution on their own. The goal of the program is to expand American international influence by affecting the worldview of the young educated persons from other countries, with an accent on those with underrepresented, non-elite backgrounds, who haven’t had other opportunities to study in the USA .

There are several requirements for participation in the program. An applicant must be:

• 18 years or older;
• A resident citizen of a country currently participating in the Global UGRAD program.
• Studying as a full-time undergraduate student and have at least one semester remaining at their home university by the end of the exchange program;
• A fluent user of English. The preferred TOEFL score is 500 or above, but participants DON’T have to pass TOEFL to apply — it can be done after getting approved for the program and will be paid for by UGRAD;
• Legally able to receive and maintain the U.S. student exchange visa;
• Approved by a doctor to participate;
• Willing to return to their home country for at least two years after the completion of the program.

Application

The exact conditions vary by country, so it is required to check them on the official website first. The application is done online and generally includes:

• An application form;
• A copy of the passport bio page;
• Academic transcripts from the university, translated into English;
• Two letters of reference, translated into English;
• A USA grade equivalence supporting document.

Competition stages

In 2021, the applications are open from January 5 to February 28.

Interviews in English are held in mid-March. They take about 20 minutes. Participants who pass the initial selection receive a letter with additional information. In August or January, successful fellows are to transfer to the United States. They have to return to their country of origin directly after the conclusion of the program. Dates and other nuances may vary depending on the participant’s country, and therefore it is advised to check the exact process on the website.