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4 Common Challenges of the U.S. College Application Process

By U.S. News & World Report

Being an international student and applying to U.S. colleges for the first time can be a challenging experience. People you have never met will read your application, and they will evaluate you not just on your academic record, but on your interests and professionalism.

There are steps in the admission process that I wish I could have done better when I was a high school senior. The following are a few challenges that many international students face during the college application process.

[Read these college application must-knows for international high schoolers.]

1. Paying application expenses: Most U.S. colleges require students to pay more than $50 just to apply. This is understandable, as admissions counselors spend a lot of time reading applications.

However, for students under financial pressure — who need a lot of financial aid — planning to apply to multiple schools, the money can be a real challenge. U.S. colleges understand this. Therefore, some offer what’s called a fee waiver for students who are not able to afford application expenses.

With that in mind, there is no need to cross a school with a high application fee off your list. You can apply for a fee waiver and may be able to avoid payment.

[Know how to demonstrate financial ability as an international student.]

2. Writing supplemental essays: A lot of colleges, such as the University of Chicago, require students to write supplemental essays to show their interest and demonstrate the characteristics that make them stand out. While these essays may be a good chance for students to show their defining qualities, they also add deadlines, proofreading time and pressure — which can be especially challenging for international students whose first language isn’t English.

Despite the added stress, these essays are worth your time and energy. The earlier you start and the more effort you put into them, the higher the chances that you will get into your dream school.

3. Choosing between final exams and college applications: Students in countries where schools follow a semester calendar will likely have early decision application deadlines and their final exams overlap. This leaves them in a difficult situation: Should they spend the majority of their time preparing their applications and just a minimum studying for their exams, or the reverse?

[Watch out for five college admissions mistakes international students make.]

When I was applying, I saw many of my peers choose to spend slightly more time on the applications than on their exams. Not doing as well on these final exams as others, as the logic goes, was less important than maximizing the chances of getting into college.

However, pay careful attention to each college’s policy, since if you get accepted and your grades drop significantly, schools may frown upon your academic inconsistency.

4. Applying for scholarships: Financial aid is an important aspect of the college application process. Some international students strive to minimize their college expenses by as much as possible. They do this by submitting their essays and resumes to every single organization that offers scholarships — a competitive process for international students.

While doing this can show they are putting effort into preparing for their future, students also need to keep their eye on the main goal: getting into college. If you spend too much time working on other materials before you’re accepted and less time on college essays and other documents, you will not be able to perform well on either. I’ve always found it is best to focus on your primary goal.

I did not participate in any scholarship competitions, even though there were plenty at the time, but focused more on talking to admissions counselors and writing thoughtful supplemental essays. One of the schools I applied to offered me a large scholarship, and I believe it was because I showed genuine interest in becoming a student through my essays.

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4 Common Challenges of the U.S. College Application Process originally appeared on usnews.com

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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