Drake University's Scholarships for International Students?

I'm looking at Drake University as a potential school and wanted to know about the scholarship opportunities for international students. Are there any dedicated scholarships, and how competitive are they?

Drake University does in fact have scholarship opportunities for international students. The Presidential and Provost’s Scholarships are two awards that international students can be considered for – the awards range from $20,000 to $26,000 per year.

The Presidential Scholarship, which awards $26,000 per year, is based on both academic achievement and leadership. It's given to the top 10% of incoming international first-year students. With the Provost's Scholarship, which awards $20,000 per year, students have to show all-around good academic performance, but it's usually given to the top quarter of the incoming class.

Furthermore, there are a few smaller scholarship options, like the International Ambassador Grant, Leadership Scholarship and the Music and Fine Arts Scholarships, with award amounts ranging from $1,000 to $10,000 per year. The International Ambassador Grant is worth $3,000 per year and it's offered to new international students to help defray the cost of tuition. To be considered, you'll need to highlight your interest in sharing your culture and international experience with the campus community within your application essays.

Speaking to the competitiveness of these scholarships, they are all awarded based on the quality of the applicant pool in a given year. Factors like your academic achievements, leadership skills, extracurricular involvement, and overall fit with Drake University will all be considered. However, international students are a minority group at Drake, thus these scholarships can be relatively less competitive compared to scholarships for domestic students.

Lastly, while Drake automatically considers every international applicant for its merit scholarships, completing the International Student Financial Aid Application (ISFAA) is recommended to be considered for additional aid opportunities.

Remember, a successful scholarship application often involves showcasing not just your academic prowess, but also your unique experiences, skills and interests. Tailor your application to reflect these elements and make sure to apply early.