<p>Hey I am from India. I have been accepted in Purdue and Penn State, and am awaiting decisions from many more. I know that most of the universities do not offer scholarships to international students in the first year, I want to know whether the departmental scholarships offered are sufficient enough to cover he tuition fees and how tough are these to procure? Thanks.</p>
<p>Many departmental scholarships are around a few thousand dollars for schools, some more and some less. When schools award these funds, it is often on the basis of merit - which means that you must be a continuing student who has a year or two under your belt with good grades in your major to be awarded the money. You are best off contacting the head of the department you are interested it to see what they offer, but specific funding may not be available until you have been at that school taking classes. </p>
<p>Thanks a lot @kgos16 </p>
<p>Very doubtful that there would be dept scholarships that are more than a $1k-3k. And, likely they are one-time awards given to a student who has done well the previous year. Depts just don’t have that kind of money.</p>
<p>So there is no way that I can be financially independent after a year or so? </p>
<p>Often students look to their home country for competitive merit scholarships. US universities usually grant scholarships at the time of acceptance, not so much to upperclassmen. Departments can support graduate students, but at the undergraduate level, beyond what is offered at admissions, there are few scholarship opportunities. There may be some outside sources, but many of those are for permanent residents and citizens (e.g. department of defense, national security agency) and/or are limited to STEM fields. Does Fulbright support at the undergraduate level?</p>
<p>Actually, you’d get scholarships at the time of admission. Everything else would come on top of it, but you should check to see if you got a scholarship. At Penn State and Purdue, there are university-wide scholarships (like, from the Honors College) and College Scholarships (like, from the College of Engineering or Science). These will NOT cover your costs in any case.</p>
<p>It is highly unlikely that a departmental scholarship will cover your full costs to attend these schools at their OOS rates.</p>
<p>And no. It’s not likely that you will be financially independent after the first year. You are looking at needing at least $40,000 a year.</p>
<p>No, you can’t be financially independent after a year or two.</p>
<p>First of all, everyone would do that if they could.</p>
<p>Secondly, you’re an int’l. You won’t even get your visa to come here unless you show in advance that you have all money.</p>
<p>Thirdly, even if you became independent, Purdue wouldn’t care and give you more aid.</p>
<p>My parents have enough funds to back me up, so getting a visa won’t be a problem. The thing is that it does not feel good to take that kind of money from your parents. That’s why I wanted a bit more information about financial aids. Thanks a lot for your advice. I would really appreciate if </p>
<p>Understand when you say independent that there is a formal concept here 'known as ‘independent for financial aid’ that means your parents income won’t be considered. This is due to certain circumstances for federal aid and that concept won’t apply to you.</p>
<p>So when you say can you be independent as far as an informal concept where you pay your own way through scholarships or work, no, that is not likely to happen. Even for a U.S. student from another state they could not do that. The main award is for freshmen and usually continues for 4 years. If you get any money later from the department it will be small. You may get work at the college under restrictions and get a little that way.</p>
<p>If you are looking for money from U.S. schools you have to apply to colleges that give it. Not ones that don’t.</p>
<p>Yes it is a lot of money for parents to pay, international or not. Even most U.S. students can’t afford out of state colleges.</p>