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THE INTERNATIONAL STUDENT
PAYING FOR COLLEGE.
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Finding the money to pay for your college education is another big obstacle that many international students face. College education in the United States is expensive. To make the college experience in the U.S. worthwhile and affordable, careful planning is required. More than 80% of all International students studying at the undergraduate level receive the majority of their funding from personal sources or their home government. At the graduate level, over 35% of all international students receive their primary funding from U.S. universities. The average yearly tuition in a four year private college is about $16,000 and to make this within reach, some students look for other sources for funding. The best way to find out how much a university or college will cost is through the school’s application catalog. If you intend to enroll in an undergraduate or graduate program at a U.S. university, you should contact the school’s financial aid office and relevant department(s) about aid for international students. There are many financial aid programs in many of the universities and colleges for international students. However, most of them are for graduate students. There are also athletic scholarships available in many of the universities through the athletic departments. Some schools through their athletic departments devote a considerable amount of time and effort seeking out the best athletes. So if you a proven athlete or have strong athletic skills, do not neglect them. It might help pay for your college education. |
Since you are not in the United States, it may be a little more difficult convincing or proving to the college coach your skills in certain sports. One way to get around that is by providing any newspaper clippings or any other way you can prove how good you are in that particular sport. Another way to reduce the cost of your college education or expedite your program is by CLEPing some courses. CLEP is the College Level Examination Program that gives the student the chance to earn college credit for what the student already knows. Some of the subjects you can CLEP includes: Natural Science, Economics, College Mathematics, English Composition etc. Several ways to pay for your education in a nutshell: Personal Finances – This comes from savings, family and related sources. Home Government – This usually comes from your home government in forms of scholarships, grants or awards and also from your home universities. Scholarships – This usually come from private organizations, international exchange programs and from many private colleges and universities. (see the scholarship/grants section) Loans – Usually from banks to credit worthy students or students with credit worthy co-signors. Assistantships and Student Employment – An assistantship is a teaching or research job, the university may waive your tuition in return. Colleges and Universities often offer jobs to students to help pay for school but it can almost never be enough to cover your tuition. |
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