Starting from fall 2019, participating colleges and universities will each offer two annual renewable scholarships covering at least 50% of tuition for selected international undergraduates. Applicants will answer a short essay question or submit a multimedia project about their ideas to promote intercultural learning and understanding of the future campus.
Currently, nine institutions have joined this scholarship program specifically designed for international students. These nine U.S. universities are:
Concordia College (Minnesota)
Eastern Michigan University
James Madison University (Virginia)
University of Minnesota - Twin Cities
Purdue University Northwest (Indiana)
Seattle University
Shoreline Community College (Washington)
Temple University (Pennsylvania)
Western New England University (Massachusetts)
Application Requirements
First-year international applicants to any major at the participating college or university. An international applicant is an individual who holds citizenship in a country outside the U.S. and does not possess U.S. citizenship or permanent residency.
Have attended a secondary school outside the U.S.
Demonstrate interest in and promote proactive intercultural learning and exchange.
Applicants must meet admission criteria and adhere to the deadlines of their chosen institution. Details vary by school.
Complete the scholarship application and a 500- to 1,000-word essay or a 2- to 5-minute video describing a desire to undertake a project, research, employment, or other experience.
Scholarship official website link:
https://www.youarewelcomehereusa.org/scholarship/
Deadlines
Application: Students should complete the #YouAreWelcomeHere scholarship application along with an essay or multimedia submission for each selected institution by December 15, 2018.
Confirmation: If awarded, students should submit the tuition deposit at their chosen institution by May 1, 2019.
Types of U.S. Undergraduate Scholarships
1. Merit-Based Scholarship
You must have outstanding achievements in an academic field similar to the intended major or be able to convince the selection committee that you will excel after enrollment.
Excellent grades include high school GPA, class rank, etc., all of which must be outstanding. For graduate or higher education applications, test scores such as GRE, GMAT, SAT, or ACT may be required depending on the field and requirements.
Some universities that offer academic merit scholarships include Johns Hopkins, Duke University, University of Southern California, Northwestern University, University of Chicago, University of Washington, etc. These are highly ranked institutions, so students need strong recommendation letters or application essays to prove their academic achievements.
In addition, due to intense competition, maintaining the scholarship during enrollment often requires upholding a certain GPA and meeting other conditions set by the institution.
2. Need-Based Scholarship
Most U.S. schools offer this type of scholarship. As long as admission standards are met, qualification depends solely on family financial circumstances, irrespective of academic performance, talents, or sports achievements, akin to a grant.
Virtually all Ivy League schools, Stanford University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), California Institute of Technology, etc., only offer need-based scholarships, aiming to encourage students with potential and a desire to attend college but facing financial difficulties, with the school covering tuition.
Basic Application Methods
1. CSS / Financial Aid PROFILE
Apply online through the College Board, register an account, and complete the application form.
Official website: https://www.collegeboard.org. Complete the application form there. You need to prepare the following information based on the past year's data:
(1) Family tax information;
(2) Family other income information;
(3) Family existing assets;
(4) Student personal assets;
(5) Student personal tax information;
(6) Family expenses
Many U.S. universities, such as NYU (New York University), require the CSS/Financial Aid Profile when applying for financial aid scholarships.
2. School-Specific Scholarship Application Channels
Similar to online form filling, with links provided on each school's official website.
Student Employment refers to on-campus work with limited hours; for example, graduate students may serve as teaching assistants for some courses. The earned wages can be used to offset tuition, living expenses, etc.
Some of these job opportunities require in-person or phone inquiries. Embrace the American spirit and actively seek out opportunities. Of course, your English proficiency must be adequate to communicate fluently with administrative staff.
Seven Key Points for Applying for U.S. Study Scholarships
1. Strong English Language Test Scores
Must have an excellent TOEFL score. Students applying for U.S. scholarships should aim for a TOEFL score of at least around 100, preferably 105 or above. Why? Excellent language scores may be just one aspect, but many U.S. schools granting scholarships look more at your post-admission potential. It is not about how outstanding you are now, but about your adaptability. Good English scores indicate you can quickly integrate into the school and later have the full ability to tell your story.
2. Good GPA
To be eligible for scholarships, your GPA should generally be no lower than 3.0 or an average of 80.
3. Class and Year Rank
For high-value scholarships, students should also pay attention to class and year rank. Many schools have highly competitive programs where the number of applicants far exceeds available spots. Thus, they aim to select truly outstanding students, which helps perpetuate and expand their strengths. Class and year rank provide the school with a relatively intuitive impression.
4. Extracurricular Activities
U.S. universities' scholarship applications also consider whether the applicant participated in extracurricular activities during their home-country education, such as volunteer work, student clubs, etc.
5. Work Experience
Having strong community involvement, social research experience, or extensive work experience can enhance your scholarship competitiveness. With work experience, you are more determined about your academic plan when returning to school. Schools believe such students integrate faster into the profession and can more actively provide opportunities for younger students; therefore, they are willing to offer scholarship support to such individuals.
6. Excellent ACT/SAT Scores
ACT/SAT scores, while somewhat similar to TOEFL, are mandatory for U.S. high school students applying to college. So, an excellent score puts you on the same competitive level as American high school students, providing admissions officers and scholarship committees with a reference to gauge your excellence.
