Are we starting the year with a scholarship to the United States? Then follow our guide with the most important tips for researching, planning, writing a scholarship essay and applying to the United States with financial aid.
How to Get a Scholarship to the U.S.?
1. Pay attention to the application deadline
You will spend a lot of time preparing – preparing for exams, practicing your English, preparing all the documents, and writing your personal application – but it will all be useless if you don’t apply on time.
So the first step in determining the scholarship you are interested in is to find out the application deadline. And don’t confuse the deadline for a course with the deadline for a scholarship: these are almost always different things, except in the cases described in part 3. To get busy preparing, you can visit https://writememyessay.com/apa-paper-writing-service/ and ask for help writing your scholarship essay. That way you can be sure you have time to write it.
First of all, try to start the process as early as possible, a year in advance if possible. To do this, you need to know how the entire scholarship calendar works:
- What day do applications open;
- When can I apply?
- What documents do I need to submit?
- What are the dates of the official tests (such as the SAT and TOEFL) that are required for selection?
Make your own calendar of important dates, organize yourself, and manage your time efficiently so that when applications open, you can apply in the first few days without major disruption.
In some cases, even when applications are reviewed and granted as they come in, applying early can be an advantage.
2. Where should I apply first?
If you have the scholarship to study in the United States, we recommend that you contact the university (or several if you want a better chance) directly and tell them about your situation.
Some institutions only accept “fully funded” applicants, which means that applicants must demonstrate that they can afford the tuition. But many also allow you to apply to a program before you receive a scholarship, provided that you let them know as soon as possible if you have to turn down a spot if you are selected for a course, due to lack of funding.
If you don’t get the scholarship, there is still time to cancel your enrollment at the university or find an alternative funding option before the semester begins.
3. No application
Very often, however, the university itself offers a scholarship or tuition discount for qualified students. And the vast majority of them don’t even require a separate application: just apply to the undergraduate or graduate school you’re interested in, which has all the requirements. Also, you will be required to write a motivation essay and the best essay writing services advise not to skip this step.
How to find them? Go to the university’s official website and find the scholarship page, usually called Scholarship or Financial Aid. Scholarships that do not require a separate application are often called Access Scholarships or Admission Scholarships.
4. Two main types of scholarships
In general, there are two most common types of scholarships in the U.S. (and abroad): merit-based scholarships and need-based scholarships:
- Merit-Based Scholarships: Merit-based scholarships select students with the best performance in school and the best future academic potential, usually with the highest grades on their transcripts.
- Need-Based Scholarships: These are awarded to students who demonstrate financial need, i.e., cannot afford to pay for university tuition. These scholarships qualify applicants based on family income, financial aid application, bank statements, and/or other documents.
5. Special talent scholarships
Some universities and programs offer scholarships to applicants with certain talents and backgrounds, although they are much less common than merit and need-based scholarships.
You might look for athletic or athletic scholarship opportunities, which are very common in the United States, where sports are highly regarded from an early age and there are college leagues like the NCAA. Or, for example, if you already have a music or art degree, there are opportunities here as well.
6. Entrance requirements
There are several scholarships available for international students in the United States, each with different criteria and admission requirements.
Do you have everything you need to qualify? Check all the criteria carefully. If you do not have all of these documents, you will not be eligible for a scholarship. Missing at least one requirement usually means automatic disqualification, and all your efforts will be in vain.
7. Your performance in high school
Because the selection process in the U.S. is holistic and involves much more than a standardized test score – as in the case of vestibular apparatus – what you do throughout your three years of high school affects your chances of getting into the country as well as getting a scholarship (read more about GPA below).
While your last year of high school carries the most weight, your grades in high school can have a significant impact on your chances of receiving a merit scholarship. So when we say “start preparing early,” we mean that you also need to maintain good grades throughout high school.
8. Standardized tests
What tests does the scholarship program or your university in the U.S. require for selection? Check this information ahead of time so you can prepare and make a plan to take them before the deadline.
Good scores on, for example, the SAT, ACT, GRE, GMAT, IELTS, or TOEFL, depending on your major and level of study, will always increase your chances of getting a scholarship.
If you don’t do well on your exams (and that’s okay, sometimes we get nervous), in which case we advise you to work even harder on your grades and performance in school to achieve a high GPA (Grade Point Average).
9. Leadership and extracurricular activities
Your extracurricular activities are highly valued in the United States. It’s no surprise that American students are involved in associations, student clubs, and all sorts of activities outside of the classroom as early as elementary school.
Leadership potential and volunteerism are also assessed when applying for scholarships, especially merit-based scholarships. Moreover, there are even special scholarships for those with strong leadership qualities, called leadership scholarships.
Universities have an interest in graduating global citizens who contribute positively to society. If you can demonstrate that you are on the right track even before you begin your studies, you will certainly have an advantage in the selection process.
How? By volunteering at your school or town; starting an information group on an issue important to you (such as emotional well-being or social inequality); participating in an NGO or school organization; and so on.
It will also help you when you ask someone to write a letter of recommendation. Typically, it should be a teacher, coordinator, or any supervisor who can vouch for your performance, skills, and commitment.
Oh, and this is even more relevant if your extracurricular activities or volunteer work are related to the academic field you plan to study in the United States.
10. Where to find scholarships
In general, you should look for three types of scholarships:
- Government: Awarded by either the U.S. government or your home country. Check the official government website regularly.
- Outside programs: Special scholarship programs such as Fulbright and others.
- University Scholarships: Scholarships offered directly by a U.S. university.
Final Words
And here’s how you can get a scholarship to the U.S. thanks to these 10 tips. The most important thing is to have a goal, start preparing as early as possible, and maybe seek help from a paper writing service. So you can go to your dream university without paying a penny!
