Awards for international students

By: ISOSU

Posted: 2/26/08

If you were told that you had a one in five chance of winning the lottery, how much would you spend on tickets?

If you had little money to invest in a ticket, would you put in an hour of your time? What if there was a chance you were the only one who had bought a ticket?

Many scholarships go unclaimed each year because applicants assume their chances of getting funding are low.

With all that students have to fit into their busy schedules, rationales like "there's not enough time to apply" or "that's not enough money to be worth it" also keep the number of applicants low.

As international student advisors, we know many students who piece together a number of smaller scholarships to fund their education each term or year.

There is a quintessentially American expression that "time is money." If this is true, it may be worth an investment of time to apply for scholarships, fellowships and awards.

Although there are many scholarships that are only open to U.S. citizens and permanent residents, there are a number of OSU and private scholarships that are open to everyone. There are even some available only to international students from a particular region or students from certain ethnic backgrounds.

Some funds are designed for "non-traditional" students such as women in male-dominated fields or women 25 years or older.

Donors for private scholarships may "earmark" a fund to be used in these specific cases, but if few or no qualified applicants with the desired background apply, they may be given to others in need.

So, where does an applicant start? Well, since it is now late February, many of the annual deadlines are fast approaching. For example, the International Cultural Service Program application deadline is March 3. The ICSP is a rare and noteworthy scholarship program for international students.

Students in this program serve as cultural ambassadors who participate in local events and visit schools and community groups in exchange for a tuition reduction. ICSP recipients provide about three hours of community service per-week throughout the year and receive on average $3,500 per term in tuition credit. No previous experience is required, but a willingness to talk about oneself and one's country is essential.

For students who have experienced an unexpected change in their financial circumstances and who will have been here for one academic year by next Fall term, there is the Tuition Remission Scholarship for International Students.

This scholarship normally provides $1,000-2,000 per term to students with financial need due to extenuating circumstances. With this application, you will need to submit a personal statement explaining the nature of your financial situation and how it has changed. You will also complete a budget to show how much financial need you have. This scholarship is often given to students who need additional assistance to complete their degrees. The deadline for TRSIS is April 1.

While you cannot receive both the ICSP and TRSIS scholarships in the same year, if you meet the criteria, it is a great idea to apply for both. That way, you have increased your odds of receiving one of them. Also, the application pools and needs change each year, so if you are not accepted in one year, it does not necessarily mean that you should not apply again the next year if you feel you are eligible.

Tips for success:

- Make sure to read each scholarship and award criteria carefully. If you can explain how you meet the criteria for a specific scholarship, it makes it easier for the scholarship committee to understand your qualifications and it can increase your chances of getting the award. If an essay is required, give some personal background about yourself and your need for assistance. Personal examples are usually more compelling than a statement about how "I feel bad relying so much on my parents."

- Ask professors who know you if they would be willing to be a reference or nominate you for funds (they may even know of funds you are not aware of). If you do not know any professors because you do not see them outside of class, visit their offices during office hours! Americans expect you to be the "squeaky wheel," and ask questions or show an interest in the subject matter you've spent the term covering. This says to the professor or instructor that you are invested in your education and that you are a conscientious student. If you are shy or uncomfortable approaching your professors, practice with a friend or visit some of the other resources on campus, such as the Academic Success Center in 102 Waldo Hall.

- If you are offered a scholarship interview, dress professionally. In the case of the ISCP scholarship, put some care into what and how you present yourself, as this is your opportunity to show what you can offer. You want to convince the scholarship committee that you are serious about wanting this award and that you recognize the level of professionalism expected of you.

- Mark your calendar (or your electronic time management tool) and start early finding funds for next year. Even though it seems unthinkable to be pursuing funding a year in advance, some scholarship deadlines are in December or January for the following year.

For more information and a list of upcoming Scholarships Workshops, please visit the International Student and Faculty Services (ISFS) website at http://oregonstate.edu/international/atosu/scholarships.

Dawn Moyer and Rachael Weber are advisors for international students. The opinions expressed in ISOSU's column, which appears every Tuesday, do not necessarily represent those of the Daily Barometer staff. They can be reached at forum@dailybarometer.com.