Dreaming about getting your admission in one of the Ivy League colleges, yet worried as to how will you generate the money required to fund your foreign education?
Fret not, funds are available aplenty- you only need to look in the right places in the right manner. And of course your grades must be good. The process of applying for a scholarship is not merely about filling up a form and waiting for the response, it involves meticulous planning and research so that you can zero in on the best options.
When applying to a foreign university, you can explore the option of asking the university to fund your studies. Most universities provide financial aid in the form of a teaching assistantship (TA) or a research assistantship (RA) for postgraduate studies.
Teaching Assistantship (TA) :- Under TA the student is required to teach 20 hours a week and shoulder other responsibilities of an assistant teacher.
Research Assistantship (RA) :- Under RA the student is needed to do research work for a professor.
The stipend that the student gets will not only cover his tuition fees but will also pay for his other expenses.
You have to mail, chat or speak with the professors at universities you wish to apply. If seat is available or if there is a position vacant in their research team they will ask you to send an application.
Several educational trusts, companies and other organizations also offer scholarships to students who wish to study abroad. Most of the educational trusts ask you to first secure admission, or atleast apply to a university where you have a good chance of getting selected. Whatever be your qualifying exam-
Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT)
Management Aptitude Test (MAT)
Graduate Record Examination (GRE)
Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) etc
-ensure that the college or university receives your score in time.
STUDENT SPEAK :-
Dibyendu Roy
(Drexel University, Philadelphia)
Apart from academic records, there are many other factors that play a role, such as letters of recommendation, essays in the application and interest in extra-curricular activites. One thing should be kept in mind- the authorities are looking for the “you” behind your application form.
Work hard towards your grades and research extensively. Talk with people from your country or your college seniors(if there are any) who are already there. Get in touch with admissions and scholarship committees at universities and ask them how you can maximize your chances of scholarship. Start the process much in advance and stay focused till the end.
P.S. To get in touch with people of your country who are already studying at the universities you wish to get into search in the online communities in the social networking sites such as Orkut , Facebook, Linkdin etc. Get in touch with them via mail or instant messengers.
Sreeparna Majumdar
(Set to join a university in Illionis)
I have a teaching assistantship as well as a tuition waiver. A GRE general score of 50% or above in quantitative , verbal and analytical writing and a TOEFEL iBT of 80 or above were necessary. I owe a lot to the faculty of the university I will be joining. The professors did much to convince the graduate committee to grant me full funding. The United States-India Educational Foundation was my lifeline. I got all the information about scholarships from books there and the sessions organized by it. It also helped me to get in touch with the graduate students pursuing PhD programmes in the US.
Shreelina Ghosh
(PhD, department of rhetoric and writing, Michigan state university, Michigan)
I am here on teaching assistantship. This covers the tuition fees, health insurance and monthly salary. I did not have to apply anywhere else for funding.
If I did have to choose a scholarship, I would first look at its availability for international students. Then, of course, one needs to look at the area of study the scholarship supports. For instance, a scholarship in women studies might have a special focus on women of colour. So it is a good idea to read up everything about a particular scholarship before deciding on it. Also get hold of a list of past recipients from the website.Read about their work and see if your work matches theirs.
Soma Basak
(PhD in marine science and technology, University of Massachusetts, Boston)
Generally, the advisor under whom a student is planning to do research helps in the matter of funding. I too sought the help of my advisor who arranged for teaching assistantship. I receive around 15oo$ (including taxes) per month which is what students normally get in first year. Some universities do offer full scholarship. To get a TA or RA one must have a good TOEFL score.
Upping your Odds of Winning :-
è Search, identify and apply are the three crucial steps towards bagging the right grant.
è Read everything about the scholarships in your area of interest and choose the one that fits your bill.
è Pay attention to the eligibility criteria; a high academic score may be one of the conditions.
è Look at the amount of the scholarship. While some grants fund your studies partially, others give full financial assistance. A few scholarships are loans that need to be repaid once the student starts working.
è The scholarship research process doesn’t happen overnight; be extremely organized and proactive in your approach.
è The SOP( statement of Purpose) and interview are crucial stages in your search; be honest and realistic about your goals while presenting yourself.
Following are some of the websites that you can check up for funds and scholarships:-
è www.educationobserver.com
è www.freescholarshipguide.com
è www.fastwebscholarships.com
For scholarships in India :-
è www.scholarshipsinindia.com
è www.educationsupport.nic.in
Your perseverance and patience are two other things that you will need to fund your dreams. So stay focused.
Resources:-
Careergraph, The Telegraph
With valuable inputs from:-
Arkadeep Sinha
Labels: Scholarship
