Read about Julie, a biochemistry/pre-med student from Mauritius, as she shares her story of finding financial aid to study in the United States.

Were you familiar with financial aid available to international students before you started your search?
Julie: I had heard of financial aid, scholarships, and fellowships, but I did not really know the steps to take to get any type of financial aid until I started looking for universities.

When did you begin searching for financial aid?
Julie: While I was looking for universities that would offer courses and programs in which I might be interested in, I also looked for the possibility of financial aid and scholarships.

Did you have enough time between receiving your student visa and applying for aid?
Julie: Yes, I had time.

Was the process of applying for financial aid easy?
Julie: I would not say easy, but I would not say difficult either because the people at the Office of International Affairs really try to help you to the best of their ability.

Were you surprised at the amount of information requested about your family?
Julie: Yes, I was very surprised. I guess it was because it was the first time that I was applying to study abroad, and at that point you really do not know what to expect or what to do until you are actually doing it.

Where did you find helpful information on financial aid?
The university’s information pamphlet and Web site were very explicit and helpful on this subject matter.

Did every school you applied to provide you with financial aid?
Julie: Yes, they did. I think most colleges in the United States have financial aid opportunities for international students.

Were you aware of the deadlines associated with receiving financial aid?
Julie: Yes, the deadlines were stated in the applications.

Is there similar financial aid in your home country?
Julie: There is financial aid in my country, but it is mostly on a national level as opposed to being offered by each college or education institution.

What are your recommendations to other international students looking for financial aid?
Financial aid and scholarship applications can be very long and tedious, but it ends up being very fruitful usually. Keep contact, be patient, and keep faith. Also it would be wise to keep photocopies of each step taken during a scholarship application.