Scholarships in the United States can be broadly categorized into two main types: government and private. Specifically, they include federal government scholarships, private foundation scholarships, institutional scholarships, departmental scholarships, intercollegiate and interdepartmental scholarships, holiday scholarships, grants, research assistantships, tuition waivers, and more. According to the 2000 edition of "Scholarships in the United States," the total amount of various scholarships in the U.S. reaches up to $50 billion, with federal government scholarships accounting for 75% of the total scholarship amount. In contrast, the Ministry of Education and the National Bureau of Statistics of China reported that the national education expenditure in 1998 was 294.906 billion RMB, approximately equivalent to over $36 billion, which is about 70% of the total amount of scholarships in the United States, highlighting the significant scale of U.S. scholarships.
Scholarships closely related to Chinese students include various research scholarships, scholarships provided by foundations, organizations, enterprises, and media, as well as academic exchange scholarships. In addition to large foundations, each college and department may have some privately donated scholarships, varying in amount from a few hundred to several thousand dollars, with some exceeding tens of thousands of dollars.
Some scholarships are explicitly listed in the college catalog published each semester; for example, Columbia University's Teachers College Handbook lists over 110 different types of scholarships.
Some scholarships are managed by department heads, who can approve disbursements with their signature, either by issuing a check or providing cash, without tax deductions or any work or research obligations required.
Some prestigious universities, such as Yale, Harvard, and Princeton, have highly competitive admissions processes, and all admitted students receive scholarships.
In some schools, certain departments have ample research funding (such as in the sciences), and graduate students, especially those in doctoral programs, almost always receive scholarships upon admission.
Many Chinese students receive admission letters from schools but hesitate to proceed without scholarships, fearing they cannot afford the substantial costs of studying abroad without financial aid. However, once at a university in the United States, there are still many opportunities to apply for various scholarships, teaching assistantships, and more.
Based on the experiences of several international students, universities are generally more receptive to "need-based" explanations, as long as you can present some "unforeseen" circumstances or reasons, especially if there are sudden family changes, which may sometimes elicit special sympathy and result in receiving a scholarship. Each year, when schools review the usage of scholarship funds and find surpluses, it is also a good time to apply for scholarships. If your principal professor receives a government research grant of several million dollars and appoints you as their assistant, you will not only receive a scholarship but also a living stipend, and possibly even 20% of expenses for your spouse and children. Additionally, certain student associations at schools can receive funding from the university, and when it comes to writing papers or conducting research off-campus, applying for funding in the hundreds or thousands of dollars is also possible. If you have helpful upperclassmen who can advocate for you in front of professors, you may also receive scholarships. Many American universities allow applicants who have obtained a bachelor's degree to apply directly for a doctoral program without necessarily requiring a master's degree. Doctoral scholarships are generally quite generous, making it an attractive option.
Below are detailed descriptions of the main types of scholarships:
Scholarships
Scholarships can be awarded in the form of a specified amount of money as a type of scholarship (such as Economic Scholarship, Graduate Scholarship, etc.) to students with outstanding academic performance, or they can be a full waiver of tuition or fees (Tuition Scholarship or Tuition & Fees Scholarship). The specific amount of this type of scholarship varies depending on the tuition and fees set by the college. Unlike grants, scholarships can take multiple forms within the same university, and a student may qualify to apply for more than one type of scholarship simultaneously. Generally speaking, the chances of receiving a scholarship are higher than those of receiving a fellowship, but the amount of a scholarship is usually less than that of a fellowship.
Tuition Scholarships (Full or Partial Waivers)
This is a type of funding awarded to outstanding students and is a popular source of financial support for schools. The main reason is that recipients do not need to repay the funds. However, it is important to note the following points:
Tuition scholarships, as the name implies, can only be used to pay tuition. For example, if the school awards you $20,000 in scholarships for the year, but you only spend $10,000 on courses, the remaining $10,000 will not go into your pocket but will be wasted.
If you wish to continue receiving the scholarship in the second year, you must maintain excellent academic performance; otherwise, you will face competition from other students who may be more qualified.
Be sure to check if there are any additional conditions attached to your scholarship. If the scholarship is unconditional, it means the money is essentially a gift, and it is tax-exempt at the end of the year. If the scholarship is contingent upon assisting a professor or working in the department, then this funding falls under taxable income.
Fellowships
The English term for fellowships is Fellowship or Assistantship. Fellowships are a type of non-service scholarship with the highest amounts but the most intense competition.
Initially, they were designed to assist students from low-income families who could not afford to pay full tuition. In recent years, as a means of competition among schools, fellowships have also been awarded to academically excellent students to attract high-quality candidates. Since many schools list scholarships and fellowships together on the I-20 form, it is not surprising that many people confuse the two. In reality, each school has its own definition of fellowships.
A full fellowship generally means that, in addition to waiving tuition and fees, accommodation, insurance, and textbook costs, a certain amount is also provided to the awardee for personal expenses. The competition for fellowships is particularly fierce during the application process, generally requiring high TOEFL, GRE, GMAT, SAT scores, a good GPA, competitive research background, academic experience, publications, special talents, various awards, and other materials such as resumes, recommendation letters, and personal statements, as well as careful preparation for school selection, major direction, interviews, and networking.
Students should proactively ask the following questions: How many years can the fellowship be sustained? Is there a full tuition scholarship available? Are there work requirements for the fellowship? If so, what are the job responsibilities? How long is the commitment? Does the fellowship cover health insurance, school management fees, etc.? In summary, each student needs the school to clearly explain the details of the fellowship. The good news is that fellowships are completely tax-exempt.
Research Assistantships and Teaching Assistantships
For Chinese students applying for graduate-level programs in the United States, the chances of receiving scholarships are significantly higher than for undergraduate students or transfer students, as most receive full funding through these two types of service-based compensation. The vast majority of graduate schools in the United States offer these two types of funding; however, not all departments provide funding that covers all expenses for the year, but most cover more than two-thirds of the total amount. The specific amounts of this funding are detailed in the descriptions of each department, and generally, a first inquiry letter sent directly to the department head can yield information about TA and RA opportunities. This inquiry will specify the exact amount of funding, the award ratio, whether it covers all expenses for the year, and may also indicate the average and minimum TOEFL and GRE (or GMAT) scores of funded students in that department. Most American universities do not set minimum scores for GRE or GMAT, but if you wish to apply for a fellowship, it is recommended that applicants have a TOEFL score above 100, an IELTS score above 7.0, a GRE score above 1300, and a GMAT score above 700.
