Learn how to get a fully funded scholarship in the USA that will let you study without paying tuition or signing up for student loans in our guide for overseas students. In reality, scholarships are an ideal way to pay for your higher education.
Read Also:10 Cheapest Universities in Canada for International Students, 2023
Source of scholarship
Your home country may have special scholarships or aid programmes you can investigate as well. Ghanaian students can look up available scholarships via the Ghana Scholarship Secretariat.
However, there are other chances for you to receive scholarships on the United States side.
As an international student in the United States, you would discover that the bulk of scholarships frequently originates from the university in the US that offered you admission.
[the_ad id=”2914″]
Most of the financial aid comes directly from the colleges and universities. However, there are other options that might also be available to you:
- U.S. government funded programs like the Fulbright Foreign Student Program
- The Institute of International Education publishes an annual guide called Funding For United States Study
See Also: How to Find the Right University with Scholarships
However, there are more sources of scholarships that you can obtain after arriving in the United States and enrolling in a university. We will give some examples later.
[the_ad id=”2914″]
How to get a scholarship in the USA for international students
1. Submit a Strong Application Package
So what you would find across many U.S. universities is that the availability of scholarships is quite limited. This implies that there is a lot of competition to receive a scholarship. Additionally, you are responsible for paying for your education in the United States as an international student.
For instance, you will need to put together a very strong application package if you want to be taken into consideration for a merit-based scholarship when you are applying to a U.S. university. What does a strong application package look like, you might wonder?
Well, a strong application package requires;
- a high grade point average (GPA) upon graduation from high school or from college.
- strong letters of recommendation from your previous university or professional organisation.
- a high test score.
- a compelling personal statement or admissions essay.
It’s important to keep in mind that receiving a scholarship offer from a U.S. university is not always guaranteed, even if you have a strong GPA or test score. So have that in mind.
[the_ad id=”2914″]
2. Time of Application.
The timing of when one starts and submits an application is crucial if they want to be considered for a fully funded scholarship to study in the United States. Since most programmes need applicants to choose an advisor before submitting an application, it is advisable to start applications on time.
It is the responsibility of instructors to recruit prospective students who are eager to join their lab or research team.
Engage faculty members, particularly a lecturer whose research interests match yours, before submitting an application. Finding a faculty member might occasionally be the most challenging part of the application process.
After getting the go-ahead from a faculty member, your application has an 80% chance of being accepted and considered for funding. Learn How to Cold Email a Professor – Tips and Samples here.
[the_ad id=”2914″]
Suggested:
Scholarships for Students with Low GPA
How To Study in Canada for Free in 2023
List of Fully Funded Scholarships in the USA for African Students
List of Universities in the USA Waiving GRE for 2023
3. Timing of Offers
As an international student, you can receive a scholarship at the same time that you’re submitting an application to a U.S. university. The good news is that even if you enlist at a U.S. institution without receiving a scholarship, there are still lots of chances for you to do so.
[the_ad id=”2914″]
Here are a few instances of how you can obtain a scholarship after enrolling at a U.S. university, out of many other options.
- Deans List
Let’s say after your first year of studies you have a very high GPA, which puts you on the dean’s list in your programme. And your programme might have a funding policy where a student who made the Dean’s List could receive a partially funded scholarship or a fully funded scholarship.
You could keep the scholarship as long as you are on the dean’s list.
- Winning a student competition
Another typical way to receive a scholarship offer after enrolling in a U.S. university is by taking first place in a campus-wide student competition.
These competitions could be focused on research or on extracurricular activities in some cases.
These are but a few instances of the alternatives available to you to obtain a scholarship after enrolling in a U.S. university.
[the_ad id=”2914″]
About Fully Funded Scholarships in the USA
- Demographics
When it comes to the demographics of international students who receive fully funded scholarships, it is critical to understand that there is an equitable distribution of international graduate students and international undergraduate students who receive scholarships.
2. Financial Coverage
These scholarship offers from American universities specifically cover what? In certain situations, the scholarships may be able to pay all or part of your tuition, a situation known as a full-ride scholarship.
Another possibility is a partially financed scholarship, which pays a portion of your tuition.
So, in general, scholarships from American universities tend to simply pay your tuition and fees. It’s relatively uncommon to receive a scholarship that actually provides you with a stipend, although fellowships frequently do.
[the_ad id=”2914″]
3. Duration of Scholarships
If you are awarded a scholarship, an offer letter describing it will include its length. Additionally, the duration could take on numerous meanings in this long offer letter.
It might be a one-time offer, in which case you would get a lump-sum payment to cover your tuition and expenses. You might receive a scholarship for more than one semester if it’s a multiple-year offer.
No matter how much coverage you receive from the scholarship, the period is fixed.
[the_ad id=”2914″]
