Financial aid in US colleges, how it works?

Now I''ll talk a little bit about financial aid in USA. I hope this is the last time I discuss about this.
First of all, I want you to know one important new: Although tuition & living fees in US are among the highest in the world, according to the Times, UK, US is also the nation have the LOWEST fees in the world. You know why? Because you''ll have tons of chance to have a financial aid package in US
There are so many sources of aid in US. In this topic, I''ll talk about 2 general kinds of aid:
+ NEED-BASED FINANCIAL AID:
_ Anyone who''ve read my previous topics will know this kind. Again, I believe this is the best valuable kind of aid. That because they''ll give you money BASE ON YOUR INCOME, not YOUR GPA OR AWARD What does it mean? Very simple, my friends: The lesser money you have, the lesser money you pay
_ For those who earn less than 40000 $US a year (which is very commonly in VN) you DON''T HAVE to pay even a cent. BESIDE, some college have this kinds of aid will also give you money to do lots of things. For instance, Bates College, Lewiston, Maine - which is my dream school - can offer you the money you need to (1) explore the world, (2) do everything you like (community activities, for example).
_ Whoa!!!!! This is very impressive!!!!!very exciting!!!!!! Well, it is. But be caution, my friends, you can''t have this kinds of aid so easily. That because the schools offer it are BASICALLY TOP SCHOOLS So can you guess why they don''t care about your background? Because your background will be consider in admission process. For instance, Columbia is one of the best technical schools in the world, so its applicants will have an EXTREMELY background. How can they decide who will be the one to aid while almost every admitted students are among the best? They''ll have no choice but use your income. Another example is Harvard If your family can''t have at least about 10000 $US a year, you don''t have to pay even a cent, beside, you''ll have a loan to buy a new laptop or a new coat (you better know that Massachusettes is one of the coldest regions in New England)
_ So, if you''re interested in this kinds and have enough gut, welcome you to apply to top schools
_ Oh, and this is an important tip: While some big schools like Brown or Dartmouth can offer you the full aid, some others like Amherst (why that school???????it has so many sources!!!!) or Middlebury (a big selfish) will need you to prepare about 1000 ---> 5000 $US a year since they don''t have enough money for all. So be caution, I suggest you to get into the website http://www.vietabroader.org to ask the former students for which school can offer you full aid. BUT, beware, there are NO study abroad advising service can help you to find the right source They just tell you there is NO HELP for international student.
+ MERIT-BASED FINANCIAL AID:
_ This is the kind that you all know a lot. This is scholarship. BUT, it''s not the kind you think. In fact, scholarship is very CHEAP Just about thousands a year
_ Unlike need-based, merit will CONSIDER your background. Basically, the higher GPA or tests score you have, the better.
_ Did I say this kind is very cheap? Well, everything has its exceptional. Some merit aid can be very valuable, my friends. For instance, you know Wesleyan Freeman? It''s a merit scholarship, offered by Wesleyan University, Middletown, Connecticut. But it''s also one of the BEST VALUABLE aid I''ve never heard You MUST BE AN EXTREME APPLICANT to have this scholarship. But if you have it, you DON''T HAVE TO PAY even a PENNY in 4 YEARS So it worth to try, my friends.


Allright, any question? Oh, listen carefully: there''s NO fix formula for you to earn an aid. Once again, I want you keep in mind: Be unique, be personal, and the next successfully applicant may be you.

Thích nhất câu này, nhưng chắc sẽ là 1 ai đó chứ không phải mình đâu.
Định kêu Jiang Wei mở Topic nói về Du học Mỹ, chưa kịp đề nghị thì bạn đã làm rồi

Bạn nào đang học ở Mỹ hoặc có bất kỳ thông tin nào liên quan thì post lên luôn cho mọi người cùng biết nhé. Có bạn nào đi mà tự Aplly thẳng không cần qua Dịch vụ không? (vì mình nghe nói không qua dịch vụ khó đi lắm)
Biết là sai topic, nhưng nhân tiện hỏi luôn. Theo mình biết thì cả University, College & Institute đều cấp bằng có giá trị như nhau (VD: Diploma, Bachelor ...), nhưng sự khác biệt giữa 3 trường này là gì (mình không hỏi nghĩa của 3 từ này, mà mình hỏi về sự phân biệt giữa 3 trường này trong Hệ thống giáo dục).
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1 chút góp ý với Jaing Wei: không hiểu sao mình cảm thấy từ "got it", "got that" nghe không được polite cho lắm (hay tại coi phim nhiều, thấy gangsters hay nói nên hiểu lầm), Anh văn mình còn kém nên nếu không phải Jiang Wei đừng giận. Mà bạn cũng đừng hỏi làm gì, nếu không hiểu tự khắc người đọc sẽ hỏi

Unfortunately, MOST of the people I know have been applying successfully to the schools without any help from any ''trung tâm tư vấn du học'' (I''m one of them). As far as I observe, I can categorize these kinda centers into 2 main types
1/ Those who have connections with some US schools. And what schools do you think? Believe me, community colleges, public schools or bottom-tier schools. I don?Tt know enough to dare to judge their education quality, but one thing for sure: THEY ?oOFFER? GRANDIOUS TUITION AND NO FINANCIAL AID OR SCHOLARSHIP (some may give you a 30-50% one, but are you sure to afford the rest 50-70% of $50k-$70k? If yes, sorry I don?Tt talk to you).
2/ Those who may help you into good schools. But I don?Tt think if you really wanna get into good schools (confident+ambitious), you?Tll choose this. They help you with almost everything: your letter of recommendations, your essays? Especially, my friend used the service at a very famous center (I?Tm sure you all know), they even DID the essay. This is seriously violating to the US laws; moreover, admission offivers are smart enough to realize the truth. And even these help can?Tt assure you. Examples: the friend I mention above enrolls in a normal school with the contribution of $20,000 (not to mention some specific part of the rest paid to the center).
But the point is, why do you have to spend that much of money on something you can totally DIY? Those who are now in Harvard, MIT, Yale, Stanford, Williams, Amherst? all have been applying themselves, independently . What you guys gotta know is simply the applying procedure, trust me, it?Ts a tiring but damn exciting moment .
***Thanks for knowing that universities, colleges and institutions are the same meaning (I?Tm always upset if my school is understood as ?ocao đẳng?). The differences is the level of education. Most colleges offer only bachelor, and most colleges are referred to ?~liberal arts college?T (in which you have to get ?~general studies?T in all areas and don?Tt have to declare your major till the end of your sophomore year). Some colleges offer master/pre-, but very few (such as my school have pre-law, business and medicine). Universities offer higher levels like MA, PhD? but their undergraduate program is the same to liberal arts (Harvard College, Yale College?). I have not much ideas about institutions, but through someones I know in MIT and Caltech, their study programs are the same to universities. Of course there?Tre still many ?~secret?T differences between colleges and universities, but the mentioned above is the foremost .
***Need-based financial aid considers your financial ability when viewing your application. Once you?Tre qualified to get into it, and it finds your expected contribution acceptable, it?Tll admit you and pay you the rest. (there?Tre a lot of tips but I?Tm too lazy to type? huhuhuh sorry!!)
***There?Tre also another type called ?~need-blind?T. These generous schools consists of Harvard, Yale, Amherst, Williams? in which the Admission Office and the Financial Aid Office work totally separate. As long as you?Tre excellent, they?Tll give you however you need, even all (for examples: my friend got into Amherst with the FULL financial aid). But of course not much schools are need-blind, and they?Tre all the most genius school -_-.
Few?? that?Ts all. Should you have any more ques, feel free to ask . I don?Tt get into TTVNOL frequently though, if you?Tre urgent just email me, or the BEST way -> www.vietabroader.org.
Have fun .

không hiểu sao mình cảm thấy từ [red]"got it", "got that" nghe không được polite cho lắm (hay tại coi phim nhiều, thấy gangsters hay nói nên hiểu lầm), Anh văn mình còn kém nên nếu không phải Jiang Wei đừng giận
Nah, don''t bother about it, I''ll fix it
Well, like wildrock mention above, study abroad service WILL be USELESS if you want to have a financial aid package.
Keep in mind, my friend: top schools in US DON''T need anyone to be their royal court-room, regardless how famous you are. In fact, YOU are the one who must find them, and find every information about them.
I know tons of successfully applicants in top schools don''t need any advising. For instance, you can go to www.vietabroader.org and ask. You WILL see, there are lots of successfully students in that website do everything, from find the right school to apply for them, just by THEIR HAND, THEIR OWN HAND
So don''t bother about studying abroad service, unless you have lots of money and don''t know where to throw them

Dear Jiang Wei,
I would like to break my silent follow-up by asking you for your kindness. I often hear of assistantships but i wonder it can cover all expenses when studying in USA ? Thanks for your greatly helpful series of articles akin to studying in USA!

Assistantship is the most popular kind of financial aid for graduate students, my dear. It includes RA and TA.
- Research Assistantship: you assist your professors in their projects and receive monthly stipends which cover minimum living costs. Your tuition fees are waived, of course.
- Teaching Assistantship: you assist your professor in teaching, such as grading, tutoring...

Well, all of my informations are for UNDERGRADUATE student. If you''re interested in studying at postgraduate, I suggest you to find out your chosen school and ASK the admission officer about the information you need.
As I mention in another topic, admission process for postgraduate student will be HARDER and MORE DIFFICULT than undergraduate. After all, you''re the one who complete your college education in 4 years. So you MUST ask the college of your choice about the information.
Sorry i can''t help you much, because my information is equal to amor

Sorry folks, as far as I know, "need-blind" is USUALLY for US RESIDENT So please be caution! I think the only school is "need-blind" for international student is HARVARD Oh, I forgot, Princeton is also "need-blind" for you all, regardless of your nation

Harvard, Yale, Williams, Swarthmore have given need-blind for VNese students

Whoops, I almost forgot these guys
Well, generally, you''re right.
So I think you guys should give them a shoot. Believe me, if you''re admitted, money won''t be a problem