Are you one of the 3.8 million college-aged immigrants in the U.S.? Although a college education that may not have been available in your home country is now a possibility, you may still be worried about how you are going to pay for school.
Before you apply
You’ve been accepted to college(s), now what?
If you’ve gotten your acceptance letter(s), your prospective school(s) may have also already offered you a scholarship or two based on your academic performance alone. The next step is to fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FASFA). The FAFSA is used to compile information about you and your family that helps gauge your level of financial need relating to college. Your personal income, your parent or guardian’s income and assets, as well as the size of your family are used to project your Expected Family Contribution (EFC). Your EFC and the estimated cost of your education are used to create a personal Student Aid Report (SAR). The SAR is then used by your prospective schools to evaluate your eligibility for grants (ex: Pell, FSEOG, TEACH), loans, and other forms of assistance, such as federal work study. U.S. Citizenship, full-time enrollment, and sometimes an above average GPA are typically requirements. Your high school guidance counselor and/or the financial aid department at the schools you are interested in attending, can help you navigate this process.
Scholarship
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Typical Deadline
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May
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October
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Dependent on national headquarters
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Ongoing
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November
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April
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February
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May
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