How to Find Big Scholarships for International Students?

I'm an international student exploring my options to study abroad. Could anyone guide me on where to look for big scholarships specifically aimed at international students? Any tips on application strategies would be awesome too!

Looking for scholarships as an international student can be overwhelming, but there are resources available. Several prestigious universities offer generous financial aid to international students. For example, Harvard University offers aid packages that cover 100% of demonstrated need. Other universities, such as MIT and Princeton, offer need-blind admissions for international students which means they admit students without considering their ability to pay and promise to meet 100% of the demonstrated need.

Non-university-specific scholarships also exist. The Davis United World College Scholars Program offers need-based grants to international students across multiple institutions.

For application strategies, it's essential first to understand the scholarship's requirements and selection criteria. Some scholarships are need-based, others are merit-based, and some are both. Tailor your application to emphasize aspects that the scholarship values, whether it's academic achievement, community service, leadership, etc.

Next, start your applications early and spend a significant amount of time on your essays. They are often the best way for the review committee to get to know you beyond your transcripts and test scores. Make sure to have someone else proofread your essays for clarity, grammar, and punctuation.

Lastly, maximizing your scholarship chances means applying to more. Be proactive and take the time to research and apply for as many scholarships as possible. Look into smaller scholarships too; they might have less competition, and those smaller amounts can really add up.