A&F Global Diversity and Leadership Award
Deadline: August 15
The National Society of High School Scholars (NSHSS) and Abercrombie & Fitch have partnered in efforts to help support international growth and education. NSHSS and A&F are offering nine A&F Global Diversity and Leadership Awards to students attending university in one of the following countries: Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, Japan, Italy, Singapore, Sweden and the United Kingdom.
Applicants must submit two essays in response to the questions listed on the application form. These questions are based off the award theme of diversity and inclusion and essay answers should be made in regards to the individual’s perspective on this topic as well.
Other pieces of information that will need to be submitted for the A&F Global Diversity and Leadership Award are as follows:
This award will be granted in the amount of $1000 to nine individuals based upon academic record, recommendation, and essay responses to the questions on the application. To apply for this scholarship you must submit the application along with the other materials as specified on the application by August 15.
Are you confused about the financial aid jargon? If you are a student looking to get additional financing to support your education overseas, you may need help understanding the lingo. Here’s a list of financial aid definitions that commonly appear throughout the world of loans, scholarships and grants.
Is there another phrase that you’ve come across and don’t understand? Our financial aid definitions are common phrases that you’ll run across in scholarships, grants and loans – but there are many others. We have our experts ready to help you navigate the complicated world of financial aid as you study overseas.
NSA Scholarship
Deadline: June 1
If you are an international student and have the desire to become a public speaker, your passion might be able to get you a scholarship from the National Speakers Association (NSA). Full time students who will be entering their junior year of school or higher at an accredited college or university, regardless of their major are eligible to apply for the NSA Scholarship.
To apply for the NSA scholarship, students must submit the following:
The application for this scholarship must be postmarked by June 1 to the address listed at the link below.
NSA has provided over $330,000 in scholarships to communication students and professors over the past 18 years. This year the NSA Scholarship will grant four scholarships in the amount of $5,000 to qualified contestants based upon their submitted award applications.
You can find out more information to submit your application here.
Many international students looking to financially support their education overseas turn to US loans as a way to help fund their education. If you are in this situation and are looking to apply for an international student loan, you may have some questions about eligibility and how you can qualify.
If you want a US international student loan, the first criteria the lender will look at is if you have a US cosigner- most international students will be required to have a cosigner. Your cosigner must be a US citizen or permanent resident, with good credit, who has lived in the US for the past two years. This person is typically a family member or a close friend.
Why do you need a cosigner, you might ask?
When you take out an international student loan, you are required to not only to pay back the amount that you borrowed – but you are also required to pay an additional amount to the lender for the ability to borrow. Because international students may return to their home country and since there is a possibility that students may be unable to repay the loan, who would the lender be able to turn to for repayment?
A cosigner is legally obligated to repay an international student loan. In fact, the loan will appear on the cosigner’s credit history as an outstanding obligation. If the student fails to repay, the cosigner would have to step in and make the necessary repayments.
Overall, the cosigner is joining the loan application since an international student cannot receive such credit on his/her own. If you have questions about cosigners, feel free to ask our financial aid experts who are available to answer any questions on eligibility.
If you already have a US cosigner – you can begin comparing lenders and apply right online!
Directtextbook.com Scholarship
Deadline: July 15
Directtextbook.com is hosting a scholarship essay contest that will award three students based on their essay submissions. The Directtextbook.com scholarship is open to US citizens with a 2.0 or higher GPA (on a 4.0 scale). Students can be enrolled in any accredited two to four year college or university.
To enter the contest, applicants must submit a 500 word essay by July 15 based on the following:
“What is a principle? How are principles important to your life?”
Three individuals will be awarded the directtexbook.com scholarship and placed in first, second and third place. The first place winner will receive $2500, second place will receive $1000 and third place will receive $250. The use of the award given is not restricted and can be used towards any expense necessary by the awardee.
If you are an international student looking for additional financial aid to support your education overseas, it is important to first maximize the funding that does not require repayment. Most students in this situation look to not only scholarships, but also grants.
You may be asking yourself, what is a grant?
A grant is a type of financial assistance that is given to a students without the need to pay it back. With loans, for example, you are required to not only pay back the amount you borrowed but also pay an additional fee called interest. While this can be an important resource for many students, you will want to use this to cover any secondary expenses that you cannot fund personally – or through a grant or scholarship.
Grants are typically given to undergraduate students which considers the financial need, cost of attendance, and enrollment status. While many US students get this funding from the US federal government, many colleges also give grants to both US and international students alike. While most US Foundation grants are given to US students, there are some opportunities for international students as well!
Programs like Fulbright and select colleges and universities provide grants to international students. If you are interested, be sure to contact them directly and find out about their requirements and deadlines. Many colleges and universities looking to attract international students to their campus also offer financial aid packages available to international students.
Before you begin applying for grants, be sure to also check eligibility and make sure that they do award funds to international students. If you are ready to see what grants you are eligible for, check out the Scholarship and Grant Search which has been designed specifically for foreign students.
Global Achievement Scholarship
Deadline: May 29 and June 26
Full Sail University is granting their Global Achievement Scholarship in the amount of $5000 to all eligible candidates. Individuals applying for the Global Achievement Scholarship must be non-US citizens, have already completed their admissions interview, meet the Full Sail University entrance requirements and submit the Global Achievement application form along with a 500-word essay on the following topic: “How my Full Sail education will help me achieve my career dream” before classes begin.
The award application and essay will be evaluated by a scholarship committee based upon the following: originality, composition, clarity and relevance to the topic as stated above. The Global Achievement Scholarship can be used towards tuition at Full Sail University and in conjunction with other Full Sail University scholarships.
Wangari Maathai Scholarship
Deadline: May 15
Students already attending the Bard Center for Environmental Policy masters program or those that will be accepted by March 15 are eligible to apply for the Wangari Maathai Scholarship. This scholarship will provide one international student with $20,000 for their tuition.
International students who are interested in the Wangari Maathai Scholarship must submit a 500 word statement based on the following: “Please define and explain leadership in the context of the sustainability challenges we face in the coming decades.”
Candidates will be judged based on their statement letter and application materials, finalists will be evaluated based on an interview.
International students applying for this scholarship must have also submitted their financial aid application, complete with a certificate of finance.
You can find more information on eligibility and where to submit your application for the Wangari Maathai Scholarship here.
It’s May, and that means that many of you have received your acceptance letters from colleges and universities. Once you’ve narrowed down your schools and confirmed your attendance, it’s time to start thinking about your student visa and financial aid.
Many students ask us, when is a good time to apply for a loan?
If you are going to be an international student in the US, you are not eligible for US Federal Stafford loans. Instead, many students choose to apply for private student loans. The best time to apply for a loan is once you’ve received your acceptance letter from the school you plan to attend. If you are currently enrolled at a college or university, you can apply for a loan at any time.
Before you begin your application, as an international student, you will need to make sure that you have a US cosigner. To be eligible, you must have a cosigner in most cases, your cosigner must be a US citizen or US permanent resident who has lived in the US for the past two years with good credit. Most cosigners are family members or close friends as they are stating that they are responsible to pay any debts that you may be unable to afford.
You can apply each academic term for student loans. The time it takes for the approval will ultimately depend on how long it takes both the borrower and cosigner complete their documents and also on how quickly the school certifies the loan. Once your loan has been approved, the funds will be disbursed to the school and your school will then disperse the funds at the beginning of your term.
To get started, click here to compare international student lenders available at your college or university. Once you’ve found your student loan, you can apply right online.
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