Financing a U.S. Education: A Few Tips for Internationals
While pursuing a post-graduate degree in the United States has many advantages, especially in terms of prestige and career options, the fact of the matter is that the degree comes with a hefty price. This is especially true for international students. While the United States government subsidizes post-graduate education for many domestic students in the form of loans, not all of these options are open to internationals hoping to pursue an advanced degree.
Still, if you find the cost of studying in America a far too daunting financial burden, then think again. There are many options out there for international students who want to make studying in America a dream come true. Here are a few tips.
1. Maximize your GRE score to its fullest potential.
While your GRE score isn't necessarily a critical part of being admitted to most graduate schools, having a high GRE will increase your chances at many institutions for receiving departmental aid, usually in the form of TA or RA-ships.
2. Look into each school's internationals' website for scholarship opportunities.
While there aren't many schools that offer substantial financial aid opportunities for foreign students, international offices may offer scholarships that are exclusively for internationals. There will, of course, be an application process for most of these types of scholarships, so do your research well in advance to find out details about deadlines and requirements.
3. Check out university job opportunities.
For foreign students, it is legally permissible to work about twenty hours a week. While these jobs don't necessarily pay very much, they do offer the possibility of extra spending money, which is something every student could benefit from. In-school options like libraries, cafes, or art galleries are a great place to start looking.
4. TA-ships after your first semester.
While you may not land a teaching or research assistantship when you first matriculate, don't give up hope. Establishing yourself within your department, becoming well acquainted with professors and their research, and keeping abreast of assistantship openings all have a hand in securing one eventually. Just because you have to pay a certain amount when you first start school, doesn't necessarily mean you have to continue doing so for the rest of your time there.
These are just a few ways that you can help finance your American education. While pursuing a degree in the United States is never cheap, even for domestic students, the benefits that you reap in the end may be well worth the cost. And there's much in your power you can do to minimize that cost, as long as you research all your options.
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This guest post is contributed by Lauren Bailey, who writes on the topics of online colleges. She welcomes your comments at her email Id: blauren99 @gmail.com.
While pursuing a post-graduate degree in the United States has many advantages, especially in terms of prestige and career options, the fact of the matter is that the degree comes with a hefty price. This is especially true for international students. While the United States government subsidizes post-graduate education for many domestic students in the form of loans, not all of these options are open to internationals hoping to pursue an advanced degree.
Still, if you find the cost of studying in America a far too daunting financial burden, then think again. There are many options out there for international students who want to make studying in America a dream come true. Here are a few tips.
1. Maximize your GRE score to its fullest potential.
While your GRE score isn't necessarily a critical part of being admitted to most graduate schools, having a high GRE will increase your chances at many institutions for receiving departmental aid, usually in the form of TA or RA-ships.
2. Look into each school's internationals' website for scholarship opportunities.
While there aren't many schools that offer substantial financial aid opportunities for foreign students, international offices may offer scholarships that are exclusively for internationals. There will, of course, be an application process for most of these types of scholarships, so do your research well in advance to find out details about deadlines and requirements.
3. Check out university job opportunities.
For foreign students, it is legally permissible to work about twenty hours a week. While these jobs don't necessarily pay very much, they do offer the possibility of extra spending money, which is something every student could benefit from. In-school options like libraries, cafes, or art galleries are a great place to start looking.
4. TA-ships after your first semester.
While you may not land a teaching or research assistantship when you first matriculate, don't give up hope. Establishing yourself within your department, becoming well acquainted with professors and their research, and keeping abreast of assistantship openings all have a hand in securing one eventually. Just because you have to pay a certain amount when you first start school, doesn't necessarily mean you have to continue doing so for the rest of your time there.
These are just a few ways that you can help finance your American education. While pursuing a degree in the United States is never cheap, even for domestic students, the benefits that you reap in the end may be well worth the cost. And there's much in your power you can do to minimize that cost, as long as you research all your options.
.......................................................................................................................
This guest post is contributed by Lauren Bailey, who writes on the topics of online colleges. She welcomes your comments at her email Id: blauren99 @gmail.com.