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Law School Success
(Admitted to Georgetown) |
"Yes! I just got notified by Georgetown!! Thank you for all your helpful suggestions and your wonderful way of constructive criticism to keep me from feeling discouraged. My editor gave me the tools to refine my law statement and make it really stand out. Thank you."
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Financing
- Scholarships and Aid
Careful planning is both necessary and wise.
You are required to prove to the university, to the consular officer (the
person at the U.S. Consulate who issues visa stamps), and perhaps to the U.S.
Immigration and Naturalization Service that you have sufficient funds to cover
your living expenses (housing, food, clothing, etc) and health insurance, as
well as university's tuition and fees.
So how much money will you need? You can get a
general idea about expenses by looking at catalogs or application information
provided by the university. Remember, however, that tuition rates vary
tremendously. State (public) universities are generally, but not always, less
expensive than private institutions. Some private institutions may be able to
offer scholarships that state schools can not. Two-year or community colleges
are usually less expensive than colleges and universities offering bachelor's
and graduate degrees.
The cost of living in different parts of the
United States also varies. In general, living in urban areas (in or near a big
city) is more expensive than living in smaller towns or rural areas. Renting
an apartment in a big city can cost twice as much as it does in a smaller town
because there is such high demand for housing in large U.S. cities. Likewise,
food, clothing, entertainment, and other living expenses may be more expensive
in a city.
Budgeting is a continuous process. At this
stage, work on a "big picture" budget that will include tuition, room
and board, transportation, and living expenses, Later you can be more
specific, taking into consideration all the additional expenses of moving and
settling in. One very important factor in the "big
picture" budget is health insurance, which can be as little as $1,000
annually for an individual or as much as $5,000 for a family.
Funding
Packages
Many international students put together a
funding "package" from a variety of sources. You should explore the
options your government or home university has available for students studying
overseas. Many governments offer scholarships and low-interest or no-interest
loans for academically promising students. Some international organizations
offer scholarships and grants to students pursuing degree program in specific
fields. Some private companies in your country may offer scholarships to
bright students who wish to study abroad. The best source of information an
such scholarships is the educational advising center.
Even if you are lucky enough to receive funding
from sources such as the ones mentioned above, nearly all international
students have to rely on personal and family funds as well. It is not uncommon
for a family to use a substantial portion of their savings to pay for an
education abroad. Your savings (or you family's) may be the only reliable
source of funding you have as you begin your program of studies in the United
States. In any case, the burden will be on you to explore funding options and
secure the resources necessary for your studies. It can be challenging, and
sometimes frustrating, particularly if your family funds are limited.
Undergraduate
Assistance from U.S. Source
Many U.S. colleges and universities offer
limited financial aid for international students through their financial aid
offices. In general, however, there is much less money available for
undergraduate study in the United States than there is for graduate study.
Private institutions can sometimes discount or reduce the costs of tuition;
public institutions seldom have this option. You should request information
about financial aid when you request an application form from the
institution's admissions office. In some instances, it may be possible for you
to participate in a formal exchange between your home institution and the
institution you wish to attend in the United States. You can get more
information on such exchanges by contacting the international student offices
at the U.S. institution or by contacting the corresponding office at your
institution. This kind of person-for-person exchange can reduce expenses in
some instances.
Graduate
Assistance from U.S. Sources
Many graduate departments at U.S. universities
offer teaching assistantships or research assistantships to their graduate
students (students pursuing a master's or doctoral degree). Assistantships
usually involve a tuition award and some sort of salary in return for teaching
or research duties. Such funds are generally controlled by individual
departments at the university. It is often the case that a department will
want to see how good a student you are and what kind of adjustment you make to
university life before it will be willing to invest money in your education. In
some cases, a department will accept only as many students as it can support
with teaching or research assistantships. Although you will find some
information about assistantships in a catalog or on university Websites, you
may have to write directly to the department to inquire about this kind of
funding. This exchange of information may occur after you have been accepted
into the program. It is also important to inquire and apply early if you hope
to receive financial assistance from the U.S. institution. Often deadlines for
scholarships and assistantships are months before the normal application
deadline.
Even if you are lucky enough to receive aid,
you will still have to have sufficient funds to travel to the United States,
and at least enough money to cover your first month's expenses.
Financial
Documentation for Admission and Visa Purposes
Once you have selected the university you wish
to attend, you will need to provide documentation to prove that you have at
least the minimum amount of money the university estimates you will need.
Providing that documentation is part of the admission process. Schools require
a newly admitted student to submit proof of one year of funding (less if your
program is under one year in duration). Acceptable forms of proof of funding
are scholarship and award letters from your university, government, or
sponsoring agency; sponsorship letters from private companies; personal bank
statements; and affidavits of support for rela6tives or friends. Affidavits of
support are formal, often notarized (formally witnessed), statements of
financial support and should be accompanied by the bank statement of the
individual who promises the funds. All financial documents should be in
English or translated into English by a certified translator. They should
specify precise amounts in U.S. dollars. Ask your bank to calculate and
specify the U.S. dollar equivalency on your bank statement. Your name should
be clearly indicated on each document of support. Generic or vague letters of
support are not acceptable under any circumstances.
Your school, college, or university must
evaluate your financial documentation before a certificate of eligibility for
a student visa can be issued. The Form I-20 is the certificate of eligibility
for the F-1 student visa. This document, which generally comes to you along
with the letter of acceptance to the university, is used to secure a visa and
to enter the United States. Students who plan to pursue a full-time program of
study and are supported by personal or family funds, private sponsors, or
funds from the school usually apply for an F-1 visa. The I-20 is an indication
to the consular officer that the university has found you to be academically
admissible, financial capable, and linguistically prepared for your studies in
the United States.
Students whose studies are primarily funded by
their government, international agencies, private company sponsors, or the
school may request in IAP-66, which is the certificate of eligibility for the
J-1 exchange visitor visa. If you are awarded a scholarship or grant from a
government or sponsoring agency, you may be required by the sponsor to apply
for a J-1 rather than an F-1 visa. J-1 students cannot be supported solely
with personal or family funds.
Once you receive your I-20 or IAP-66 from your
school, take the form, along with original documents of financial support, to
the U.S. embassy or consulate in your country to apply for your student visa.
Employment
Restrictions
As you begin to think about funding sources for
your educational and living expenses in the United States, remember that you
cannot count on working in the United States unless you have been granted a
teaching or research assistantship. When you submit evidence of your financial
resources, you cannot reply on potential income. The income on which you base
your application must be assured and must be equal to or exceed the costs of
the first year of your studies.
Immigration regulations are very strict with
respect to working while carrying a student visa. F-1 status, which is the
most common status for full-time international students, allows for part time,
on-campus employment (fewer than 20 hours per week.) J-1 student status allows
for similar employment, with similar restrictions, as long as permission is
given by the exchange visitor program sponsor. M-1 visa holders for technical
and vocational programs are not permitted to work during the course of their
studies.
Jobs available on campus typically do not pay
much, certainly not enough to finance a university education. Do not count on
this kind of a job for anything more than a supplement to other funds.
Careful long- and short-term planning are
necessary to ensure that you will have a rewarding educational experience in
the United States. If you are realistic about your financial needs, you will
be better able to enjoy the exciting academic and cultural experience of
living and learning in the United States.
For
More
Information
InternationalStudent.com
contains a wealth of information and is a necessary resources for any one
considering applying to school in the US
IEFA.org
maintains the most comprehensive listing of
grants, scholarships, loan programs, and other information to assist students
in their pursuit to study abroad.
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©2000 by InternationalStudent.com, All Rights Reserved.
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