I was planning to apply to one of the US universities for the next academic year but I was wondering if the current situation in USA due to the covid-19 pandemic can affect the chances of international students to study in US universities or affect their chance to take financial aid due to the financial problems that faces a lot of universities due to the pandemic?
Will the pandemic affect the chances of international students to get financial aid in USA colleges?
Of course it can happen. Even private colleges with big endowments are taking a financial hit at the moment. However, there will still be colleges that will promise to meet all demonstrated financial need. I expect they will be even more competitive to get into. Especially for international students.
In addition to the finances, I think you need to be concerned about travel, and potential restrictions…plus limited flights.
Are there colleges in your home country? Start there.
Every college is taking a hit, and it will take a couple years at least to recover. I would suggest that you apply and give it your best try, but you definitely need to have backup plans in your own country.
The most generous colleges were the very top ones, and international students had about a 1% chance at those before the crisis. Many colleges give token scholarships, a small amount that lets your parents brag that you got a scholarship, but it is nowhere close to covering the full cost of attendance. If you don’t need much money, those tokens will still be on the table, at least to some extent.
Of course finances will be affected, but really, the visa is going to be the bigger challenge. Internationals obtaining big $$ FA were always a tiny group, but now the impact will include internationals willing to pay.
It is going to be a matter of can you even come to the US to study.
The State Department ordered consular offices closed and stopped issuing visas. At the time, the State Department said it was “temporarily suspending routine visa services at all U.S. Embassies and Consulates,” and embassies and consulates were instructed to “cancel all routine immigrant and nonimmigrant visa appointments.”
The president stated this morning that he will sign an executive order banning immigration to the U.S. because of COVID-19
Immigration is not the same as getting a visa to study or visit. However, it will also be difficult to get a student visa.
I think this student is planning to come to the USA in 2021, so things should be different, either better or worse in a year.