Your Official Source on U.S. Higher Education EducationUSA.state.gov Scholarships 101 Graduate Programs Sunshine Ison Cultural Attaché Officer Paša Lejlić,

Your Official Source on U.S. Higher Education

EducationUSA.state.gov

Scholarships 101

Graduate ProgramsSunshine Ison Cultural Attaché Officer

Paša Lejlić, Academic Exchange CoordinatorElizabeta Delalić, Cultural and Educational Specialist

Aleksandra Popović, EducationUSA adviser



Study in the US

• 720,000+ International Students2010/11 Academic Year

• Asia• Africa• Europe• Latin America• Middle East• North America• Oceania



About EducationUSA

• Supported by U.S. State Department

• Accurate, Comprehensive, Impartial & Timely Information

• Hundreds of Centers in 170 countries



Graduate study: Basics

• Financial Aid or Assistance is monetary assistance to eligible students

• May be known by different names like scholarships, out-of-state tuition waiver, grants, assistantships, fellowships etc.

• Broadly speaking, for international students, anything that helps you lessen the total cost of attendance (COA) is scholarship



Basics contd

• Science and Engineering majors have higher chances

• Undergrad vs. Grad • Master’s vs. PhDs• Public vs. Private• Fall vs. Spring



Basics contd.

• Almost always based on merit • Merit: Test score, SOP, Recommendation

Letters & Mastery of chosen field• Process of selection not elimination• Summer is good time to search for the fall of

next year; 65% deadlines fall between November to March



Basics contd.

• 56-82% international graduate students get primary funding from U.S. colleges and universities

• Less than 9% from other sources (e.g. Fulbright, ADB, Private sponsors, organizations)

• Higher up you go, more funding available• In Science, Eng., Comp. Science and Math, 82%

PhD candidates & 55% Master’s candidates are awarded funding



• In Humanities & Social Sciences 56% PhD candidates & 41% Master’s candidates are awarded funding

• Scholarship is rare for MBA, Law, and Health• External grants (even smaller amounts) gives

you an edge• Private vs. Public ;

Funding vs. Teaching Asst.• Higher chances for Master’s candidates at an

institution offering a PhD degree as well



Four Steps to Financing your Education

1) Assess your personal and family funds

2) Identify eligibility requirements for scholarships

3) Compile effective applications4) Reduce education costs



Types of Scholarship

Generally 3 Types–Fellowships

–Assistantships

–Grants



Types of Scholarship contd.

Fellowships• Offered at the beginning

of graduate level• No work obligation

• Offered to someone taking advanced courses, doing research or working on a project




FellowshipsRanges from $1K to $15K per year. Over $25K

is rare

Usually covers living expense; sometimes may include tuition & fees

Granted on the basis of merit




GrantsMostly advanced level grad students qualifyProvided to pursue special projectsConsists of small amount: $1K-$3K.

More than $10K is rareDoesn’t include living costBased on originality, importance and ability to

carry research successfully




AssistantshipsNot just employment

relationshipIntegral and important

part of grad educationGrant ranges from

$5K to $30K per year with 10-20 hrs. of work per week

.




Teaching Assistantship (TA)Usually provides salary with full or partial tuition

remission May/may not include health benefitsInvolves teaching undergrad classes, grading

papers, and monitoring labsMay involve attending undergrad class and

carrying lighter course loads



Types of Scholarship contd.Research Assistantship (RA)Similar to Teaching Assistantship in terms

of payInvolves research assignment in your

disciplineGenerally this will support your thesis

dissertation



How to Win Grad Assistantships

• Profs. control most assistantships• Go to dept. webpage; communicate• Assure Profs. how you can contribute • Present polished & professional application• Try to secure an interview over the phone



How to Increase your Aid?

Request colleges to match your current aid offerApply to colleges in clusters; most competitive

schools compete for same studentsBeat the priority deadline Ask politely to speak with the Director of

Financial AidResearch outside sources



Ways to Reduce Cost of Attendance

• Take more courses and graduate early

• Live with a relative, friend or host parents

• Apply for Resident Adviser position

• On campus employment• Try for out-of-state tuition

waiver



Funding StrategiesFunding Strategies

• Research thoroughly all possible options• Apply to the programs that have the most funding• Be prepared to pay for the first semester, so they can see what

you can do• Professors control assistantships: communicate with them and

show relevant experience that you can contribute• Score as high as you can on GRE/GMAT, TOEFL• The early bird gets the worm: submit completed applications

before January 1• Professional and polished applications• Apply to at least five programs



Scholarship Myths

• Scholarship with high TOEFL/ IELTS scores

• High GRE is automatic scholarship

• Int. student scholarship/ Diversity Scholarship

• Working outside



TestsTests

• Don’t put the cart before the horse: make your plan before taking tests.

• Tests are important, but not every department requires them, and test scores count about 10% in the admissions process.

• Study hard so that your test score reflects well on you and your university.



Tests: GRETests: GRE

• Graduate Record Exam• 3 sections: Verbal, Quantitative,

Analytical Writing Score: 200-800 on objective sections, 1-6 on AWA

• Computer-based: offered daily

• .

• Paper-based: offered October and February

• Cost $170

• Study Guides available at Advising Center



Tests: GMATTests: GMAT

• Graduate Management Admission Test

• 3 sections: Verbal, Quantitative, Analytical Writing Assessment

• Score: 200-800, 1-6 on AWA• Computer-Based: offered twice a

month• Cost $250• Study Guides available at

Advising Center• Go to www.mba.com for details

.



Tests: TOEFLTests: TOEFL

Test of English as a Foreign Language Some universities will waive TOEFL for students

who can demonstrate strong command of English, but high TOEFL score advantageous in competition for funding

Internet-based: 3 times a month Study Guides available at Advising Center



Tests: iBT TOEFLTests: iBT TOEFL

• 4 sections, integrated: speaking, reading, listening, writing

• Score scale 0-120; minimum expected score: 80

• See www.ets.org/toefl for details

• Costs: $180

.



Resources: OnlineResources: Online• EducationUSA.info



Resources: BooksResources: Books

• Peterson’s Guides to Graduate Study: 6-volume set

• Getting What You Came For: The Smart Student’s Guide to a Master’s or Ph.D.

• Graduate Admissions Essays, Donald Asher



Contacts

• Aleksandra Popović, EducationUSA student adviser

• 033 212 076

• [email protected]



USG Funded Programs -

• Fulbright Student Program is a non-degree program that brings student researchers to the United States for an academic semester or year; intended for independent library and/or field research toward a Master's or PhD degree. Students establish professional contacts in their field, enhance their scholarly work, and gain international experience and personal enrichment.

• More info: http://sarajevo.usembassy.gov/fulbright-student.html

• DEADLINE: June 25, 2012



USG Funded Programs, cont.

• Fulbright Visiting Scholar Program 2013-2014 brings scholars to the United States for up to one academic year of professional research with the goal of increasing mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other countries. Fulbright scholars serve as cultural ambassadors and should be prepared to speak about their country, culture, and research to academic and community groups.

More info: http://sarajevo.usembassy.gov/fulbright-visiting-scholar.html

Application Deadline: November 1, 2012




• Hubert H. Humphrey Program 2013-2014 brings accomplished mid-level professionals to the United States for 10-months of combined academic and professional work at selected U.S. universities. Fellows are selected based on potential for leadership and commitment to public service.

• Important: undergraduate or graduate degree and minimum 5 years of substantial professional experience;

• More info: http://sarajevo.usembassy.gov/humphrey-fellowships.html

• DEADLINE: September 1, 2012




• Junior Faculty Development Program provides university instructors with an opportunity to experience teaching practices and curriculum development at universities in the United States. The program allows fellows to spend one academic semester in the U.S. Fellowships will be awarded to individuals in the humanities and social sciences.

• Important: currently teaching at an institution of higher education in BiH and at least two (2) years of professional experience as a university lecturer or administrator;

• More info: http://sarajevo.usembassy.gov/jfdp.html• DEADLINE: June 2012, TBD



Programs that bring US scholars to BiH

• Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program intended for U.S. scholars to lecture and/or conduct research at institutions worldwide in a variety of academic disciplines, including TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language.)

• The Fulbright U.S. Specialists Program awards short-term grants of two to six weeks to U.S. scholars and professionals to collaborate with professional counterparts at non-U.S. institutions of higher education worldwide.



Programs that bring US scholars to BiH cont.

• U.S. Fulbright English Teaching Assistants (FETA) recent U.S. College graduates who are placed in English classrooms overseas generally underserved high schools, as resource persons, assisting teachers and conducting enhancement activities that support students' facility with the language and increase their understanding of U.S. society and culture.

• English Language Specialist Program designed for American experts in English teaching go overseas to work on specific, well-defined projects for periods ranging from two to 16 weeks.



Programs that bring US scholars to BiH cont.

• English Language Fellow Program brings American expert educators in Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) to local institutions overseas for 10 months.

• The International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) brings established or potential foreign leaders and opinion makers to the U.S. for two to three week programs to gain firsthand knowledge of U.S. policies, politics, society and culture, and offers a number of projects for officials and educators in the teaching of English to speakers of other languages every year.



More info at:

• Paša Lejlić 033 704 066

[email protected]

Elizabeta Delalić 033 704 099

[email protected]



Questions ??Questions ??

Thank YouThank You

AndAnd

Good LuckGood Luck




Documents

Your Official Source on U.S. Higher Education EducationUSA.state.gov Scholarships 101 Graduate Programs Sunshine Ison Cultural Attaché Officer Paša Lejlić,