How do third-party scholarships work for international students?

I'm an international student looking for ways to fund my education in the US. I've heard about third-party scholarships. How do they work, and are there any recommended platforms or organizations for finding them?

Third-party scholarships, also known as external or private scholarships, are awards funded by organizations not directly affiliated with colleges or the government. They can be sources of financial aid for international students studying in the U.S., though availability will depend on the specific scholarship's criteria and who is eligible to apply.

To find third-party scholarships, you can use various search platforms such as Appily, FastWeb, and Scholarships.com, which let you create a profile and match you with scholarship opportunities based on your academic interests, background, and other specifics in your profile. International students should be especially careful when using these platforms to ensure a scholarship opportunity can be availed by non-U.S. citizens.

When you win a third-party scholarship, the organization will typically send the funds directly to your college, where it will then be applied to your financial aid package. Note that each college has its own policy on how they handle private scholarships. Some schools might reduce the institutional aid by the amount of the private scholarship, while others might reduce loans or work-study aid instead.

So, it's always a good strategy to research and apply for as many scholarship opportunities as possible. And remember, every small bit helps, so don't ignore scholarships with smaller awards. With perseverance, you may find multiple scholarships that can collectively add up to a significant amount.