I'm thinking about applying to Columbia University as an international student and wondering what scholarships might be available. Are there specific scholarships that cater to international students, and what's the application process like?
Columbia University is known for its generous financial aid system, and this extends to international students as well. One important thing to note, however, is that Columbia's financial aid is primarily need-based. This means that the amounts offered largely depend on your family's financial circumstance.
Columbia is one of the few US universities that practices need-blind admissions for international applicants. This means that your ability to pay will not factor into the admissions decision. Moreover, the university promises to meet 100% of demonstrated financial need for all admitted first-year students, domestic or international.
To apply for financial aid, you'll need to fill out a CSS Profile as part of your application. This is an online form where you detail your family's financial status, through which the committee on Admissions and Financial Aid determines your financial need.
In terms of specific scholarships, while Columbia doesn't offer merit scholarships, they do have some named scholarships that cover part or all of a student's demonstrated financial need. These named scholarships essentially replace what would have been grant money from Columbia's regular resources with funds attached to a specific donor or name. Recipients are selected based on criteria supplied by the donor, which can be things like nationality, field of study, or other special interests.
Finally, consider looking at scholarship opportunities from external sources in your home country or globally. These might be from the government, private institutions, or international organizations. These scholarships often have separate application processes and requirements, so you'll have to research each one individually.
I hope this information is helpful as you navigate your college application process. Good luck!
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