Scholarships and Financial Aid

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1. Merit-based scholarships are used by universities to attract the best students to their campus. An award of $5,000, $10,000, or more is sometimes offered to students with a strong academic profile or to someone the university thinks will make a positive impact on their campus in leadership, sports, etc. Universities use this “discount” on tuition to attract the best students or to attract a diverse mix of students to their campus. Some universities are very eager to have international students on their campus to diversify their population and offer scholarships to bring such diversity. Students offered merit scholarships are typically in the top 10-20% of the applicant pool for a particular college or university.  Highly selective universities and liberal arts colleges do not have a problem attracting top students from around the world, so normally reserve all of their financial aid money for need based financial aid. 

So where should you look when interested in merit based scholarships? We have put together a list of universities that offer significant merit based scholarships. It is not all-inclusive list but is meant to give you a start on where to look.  The U.S. is the most generous with merit based aid. Smaller, or more rural universities often want to attract international students. Some universities love IB Diploma Students so much they give scholarships to IB graduates.  Most universities and colleges will have a section of their website often entitled “Financial Aid and Scholarships” or something similar, that will list the opportunities available and who is eligible.  

2. Need-based financial aid is another category of money given to students (usually in the U.S.) by universities to help make their university more affordable for your family.  In the simplest terms, the university will look at your family’s finances (income, assets, number of siblings, etc.) and estimate how much they think your family can afford to pay each year for your university education.  This number is called the EFC, (Estimated Family Contribution). Once they’ve established how much your family can afford, if they accept you,  they will  put together a “financial aid package” which will spell out the funding available to you for university. This package might include: 

University Grants – You don’t need to pay back. 

Merit based scholarships – You don’t need to pay back. 

On campus employment – You will work on campus to help fund your education. 

Student loans – Money you will have to pay back after you graduate. 

There may be a “gap” in your financial aid package, meaning the university has not met your full need. For example, the full tuition might be $50,000 per year, and your estimated family contribution is $20,000.  But the university is only giving you a financial aid package that equals $20,000. There is a $10,000 gap in this package and they are asking your family to somehow come up with the extra $10,000 to attend, usually through loans.  So it may be important to apply to a university that you know will meet full need. This is often a great question for an admissions office if you are a student applying for financial aid. 

3. Davis United World Scholars Program

Since 2000, Mr. Shelby Davis, a long time supporter of the UWC movement, has generously supported UWC students enrolling at partner universities and colleges in the United States. There are currently over 90 universities on that list. Many Davis Scholars partner universities have pledged to meet the total financial need (as determined by the university) of all UWC graduates who apply for financial aid.  However, not all Davis institutions are equally generous and University Advisors can guide in this area.  

So, if I can only afford a portion of the tuition, will that affect my admission?  

In most parts of the world like the UK, Canada, Europe, Asia, Australia, if you are applying to their university, they are under the impression that you know how much the fees are and your family is capable of paying the full tuition costs. Often you don’t have to prove you can afford the tuition until you go to get your student visa at the the respective embassy.  

However, in the U.S. the answer to that is a bit more nuanced.  There is a group of colleges in the U.S. that are need-blind (Amherst College, Dartmouth College, Harvard University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Princeton University, Yale University) and their admissions committee reads applications with no reference to your ability to pay the tuition. So if you are accepted, their university will cover all the costs your family can’t afford. 

All other universities in the U.S. are need-aware, which means they are looking at your ability to pay (and how much) as a factor in your admissibility to their institution.  Their financial aid budget won’t allow them to enrol an entire class of students who can only pay a small portion of the tuition; its just not sustainable, so the admissions and financial aid office has to carefully balance the amount of aid they “spend” on students.   

How will they assess my family's ability to pay?  

There are a few different methods that a university in the U.S. will use to assess your family’s financial situation. The first is the CSS Profile. This is an online form that you can complete and then “send” electronically to the universities.   Not all universities, however will accept the CSS profile.  Other universities will ask to see a Certificate of Finances, which also asks you to provide a bank statement showing enough funding for at least one year of study. In fact, many universities will ask to see a certificate of finances as part of the application to prove that you are a viable applicant in terms of your ability to pay.