Scholarships could be seen as ‘free money’ that you can use to see yourself through school. They are usually provided based on merit – you earn them based on your performance in academics, sports, civic responsibilities, extracurricular activities and others. Unlike loans, you don’t pay back the scholarships.
There are quite a lot of scholarships with different scopes and aims. The best among them is the ones that offer not just the tuition or financial aids, but take care of almost all the expenses the student would incur while in school. They could also be known as full-ride or fully-funded scholarships.
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Major requirements for such scholarships include:
- High test scores: students who are lucky to merit such scholarships are usually at the top of the class. They are among the top 10% with strong leadership qualities, community involvement and excellent character. Most often than not, the ability to demonstrate strong financial need is also part of the criteria.
- Application letter: most of these scholarships require the applicants to write an application letter. If you are interested in the scholarships, you will need to convince the scholarship providers to select you through your application letter.
- Recommendation letter: you will need to produce an outstanding recommendation letter, from multiple sources as the case may be. This is to ascertain, to an extent, that someone knows you well enough to recommend you for the scholarship.
It is also advisable that the applicants should not put all their eggs in one basket. Try your best to apply to as much as possible. Even if you possess all the above-mentioned attributes and more, you may still not be able to make the scholarship list. The reason for this is not far-fetched. The number of applicants is usually far greater than the number of scholarships to be offered. To make the scholarship list could be attributed to ‘chance’ or ‘luck’.
Another important thing you could do is to look out for several smaller scholarships and apply for them. Here, you may not get them in one lump sum, but little drops of water make a mighty ocean.
Scholarships are offered by organizations, individuals, colleges, and states (even cities). Many international scholarships are offered to students from certain geographical areas. There also others that require the students to be in certain colleges in order to be eligible.
Several scholarships award full tuition for the period of studies (usually a four-year programme) to the applicants. Corporate or foundational scholarships also offer the freedom for applicants to choose their choice of school, irrespective of the amount at stake.
Below are the top ten scholarships that will pay you to go to school:
The Annika Rodriguez Scholars Program
- The Annika Rodriguez Scholars Program
This scholarship is awarded to students with strong leadership and academic demonstrations. They are also expected to demonstrate a passion for community service by bringing diverse groups together and celebrating the cultures of different people.
Benefits of the Scholarship
Rodriguez scholars are offered full tuition scholarships with an additional $2 500 as stipend.
Eligibility Criteria
- The scholarship is subsequent upon a yearly renewal which is based on strong academic performance.
- The scholarship is awarded solely to undergraduate students who apply for admission at the Washington University.
- Applicants are required to apply separately for the scholarship and should provide a separate recommendation letter from that offered to the school.
Before the final award of the scholarship, shortlisted names would undergo some virtual events like interviews in order to remain eligible.
- Trustee, Presidential and Dean Scholarships at the University of Southern California (USC)
The scholarships are made available to incoming first-year applicants for admission into the University of Southern California, Los Angeles.
Benefit of the scholarship
The Trustee award covers only the full tuition fee; the Presidential award covers half-tuition and the Dean award covers quarter tuition.
Eligibility Criteria
- The award is only for freshman applicants
- There is no separate application for the scholarship as the selection is based on the university admission application.
- The criteria for selection include leadership, outstanding academic performance and community service.
Interviews will be conducted on the applicants and finalists will be contacted by the USC office of admission.
- Ashland Rotary Club of Lithia Springs Scholarship
The scholarship is awarded to international undergraduate and graduate students who are attending Southern Oregon University.
Benefit of the Scholarship
The amount to be awarded is $12 000 for 12 students annually.
Eligibility Criteria
- Undergraduate students must have at least a grade point average of 2.75, while graduate students must have at least a grade point average of 3.0.
- Students are mandated to attend an early morning meeting with their international advisor.
The award is non-renewable, though applicants may apply again in subsequent years.
- Aga Khan Foundation International Scholarship Programme
The Aga Khan Foundation International Scholarship Programme is awarded on a yearly basis for postgraduate students only.
Benefits of the Scholarship
The scholarship is awarded on a 50% grant and 50% loan basis. It covers for tuition fees and the total amount to be awarded is $50 000 per annum.
Eligibility Criteria
Applicants must meet the following criteria:
- Must have strong financial needs
- Must perform exceptionally in academics
- Be admitted to a reputable university for studies
- The field of study must be relevant to AKDN’s focus areas.
The total number of the award varies on a yearly basis. You might have to visit the website for further information on the scholarship.
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- International University of Leadership Education Scholarship
The scholarship is available to both undergraduate and graduate students from developing countries who wish to study at the International University of Leadership. Applicants must study business administration at the university to be eligible.
The total award is $7 200 and the number of awards is 3.
- Clark University Global Scholars Program Scholarship
International students are invited to apply for the Clark University Global Scholars Program Scholarship. The scholarship is available for undergraduate studies only and it is automatic for those who applied for admission at the university.
Benefit of the Scholarship
The scholarship is up to the tune of $15 000 – $20 000 per year.
Eligibility Criteria
Applicants must meet the following criteria:
- Must be seeking admission into Clark University
- Must be an international student or have attended school abroad for 4 years
- Demonstrate leadership potential.
The scholarship is not totally a need-based scholarship; however, students whose financial needs exceed the resources of the scholarship providers may apply for an additional $5000 of need-based aid. The award is available for four years and is subsequent upon yearly renewal, plus a taxable stipend of $2 500 for an internship program.
- University of Cambridge International Undergraduate and Graduate Scholarships
Eligible applicants are invited to apply for the University of Cambridge Scholarship.
Benefit of the Scholarship
The scholarship is fully funded with no specified number of awards.
Eligibility Criteria
Applicants must meet the following criteria to be qualified for the scholarship:
- All students from any country are eligible to apply for the scholarship
- Students who are part-way through a course at the university are not eligible to apply
- Undergraduate applicants must be freshman applicants for undergraduate programmes, except UK / EU applicants.
Ensure you comply with the eligibility criteria in order to have the opportunity to be selected for the award. The award is for the duration of the program of study.
- University of Vermont Merit Scholarships for International Undergraduate Students
The University of Vermont gladly invites all eligible applicants for its Merit Scholarships for International Undergraduate Students in the USA. The scholarship is strictly awarded on the grounds of merit. The scholarship is divided into Trustees Scholarship and Presidential Scholarship.
Benefit of the Scholarship
The international merit scholarship is valued at $20 000 per annum.
Eligibility Criteria
- Applicants are automatically considered for the scholarships to study a four-year course at the University of Vermont. Grades, SAT/ACT testing, extracurricular activities, essays and recommendation letters are part of the scholarship review.
- The scholarship is available to students of all nationalities.
- Applicants must have a minimum grade point average of 2.8 in the first year and 3.0 in subsequent years.
The application for admission is strictly done online. There is no separate application for the scholarship aside from that of the admission.
- ACU Scholarship Program for International Undergraduate Students in Australia
The Australian Catholic University (ACU) is pleased to award Catherine McAuley Scholarships to interested candidates for any undergraduate degree program except Theology. The scholarship is awarded within the faculty of health sciences, education, arts/law and business to international students in Australia.
Benefit of the Scholarship
The scholarship award is valued at $2 500 per annum for the duration of the program.
Eligibility Criteria
Applicants must meet the following criteria:
- Could be domestic or international student
- Must be applying for any undergraduate course and in the first year.
The scholarship is applied online, check the website for more information.
- Elims Undergraduate Scholarships for International Students
Elims Bible Institute is offering a full scholarship to a random eligible student to study at the institute. The program runs for three years and aims at equipping Christian leaders and workers for revival.
Benefit of the Scholarship
The value of the scholarship is $13 388 covering tuition, accommodation and board up.
The scholarship can be taken in the USA and is only available for international students who must be full-time applicants.
Requirements for all scholarships vary, the reason you must look up the requirement for each scholarship before applying. Make sure you demonstrate good leadership and teamwork skills. Also, the need for strong writing skills, letters of recommendation from professors or teachers and consistency in strong academic records should not be overemphasized. Another critical aspect of the scholarship application is the applicant’s personal statement which tends to tell the admission officers more about the person. Try not to make mistakes because they could work against you.
We wish you the best.
