I'm an international student planning to apply to Wesleyan University. I was wondering if there are scholarships available for international students, and how competitive they are. Any advice from current students or applicants?
Indeed, Wesleyan University does provide financial aid to international students, which essentially functions as a scholarship because it's money you don't have to pay back. The financial aid package can include a combination of grants, campus employment, and a small amount of work-study.
When it comes to competitiveness, it's important to keep in mind that Wesleyan University is need-aware for international students. That means your ability to pay can factor into your acceptance. Unfortunately, this could make admission more competitive if you require a substantial amount of aid.
Furthermore, the pool of need-based financial aid for international students is limited and is awarded to the top candidates in the admission pool who have demonstrated financial need. For that reason, the application process for international students seeking financial aid is indeed competitive.
You can get an idea of the financial aid package you might expect from Wesleyan by using their online Financial Aid Estimator. Just enter in your financial information and the calculator will give you an estimate of the aid package you might be offered.
Finally, besides need-based aid, Wesleyan University offers a few merit-based scholarships that are highly competitive and not specific to international students, such as the Hamilton Prize for Creativity and several others for exceptional academic, athletic, or artistic talents.
My advice is to put your best foot forward in your application, portraying both your academic strength and personal qualities well, and filling out the financial aid application documents accurately and promptly. It might also be wise to apply to a mix of schools with different financial aid policies so you have more options.
Best of luck with your application!
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