July 9
What You Can Expect To Hear From Many Universities Regarding Financial Aid
We just completed our long series on Financial Aid yesterday; as a follow-up, I wanted to share with you the information a particular university has on its website regarding financial aid. I think you’ll find that many universities offer similar information.
International Students are not eligible for financial aid from the U.S. government. If you receive a FAFSA Form, please disregard it. This form is for U.S. Citizens only. However, international students can receive financial assistance through private loans. Please contact a Financial Aid Advisor for the most current information regarding the availability of private loans.
Reading this, many international students would become discouraged. It seems to say, We have no aid available, loans are your only option.
But it would be a mistake to let the matter rest there. You need to be persistent and investigate every possibility if you’re going to get financial aid. If you read this from a university you’re interested in, call them and ask the following questions (remembering to be polite!):
- I understand from your website that I am ineligible for financial aid from the U.S. government. Does your university offer any scholarships on its own?
- Do you know of any scholarships for international students at your university sponsored by organizations in your community?
- How do international students generally finance their education at your university?
- You mention that I might get a private loan. Do you work with a specific provider of loans? Do you have any advice about how I might go about getting a loan?
- You mention I should speak to a Financial Aid Advisor. Can you give me their number?
- Can you put me in contact with a current student at your university who receives financial aid or loans? I’d love to hear their experience.
After taking careful note of these answers, remember to say thank you! And then follow-up on all the information you received. Chances are, the opportunities for financial aid are much more extensive than the short paragraph on the website would lead you to believe.
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Tags: asking universities about financial aid, financial aid information on the web, private loans for international students, scholarships for international students
