FINANCING YOUR U.S. STUDIES
DISCUSSION GUIDE FOR A WEBINAR FROM THE OFFICE OF THE U.S. SPEAKER PROGRAM
This Discussion Guide is designed for virtual programming for American Spaces to give interested international students insight about financing university studies in the United States.
ACCESS TO VIDEO
Link: Financing U.S. Studies
Duration: 62 minutes
Recorded: March 10, 2020
- Once downloaded, you can capture the video feed with OBS or another streaming tool. You can also upload it to your social media account to host a watch party.
- Consider inviting a local expert or U.S. official to facilitate discussion during and after the webinar.
- Preview the video beforehand to determine which parts you will show.
- For more tips go here.
ABOUT THIS WEBINAR
This program from EducationUSA offers practical advice and considerations for how to plan and finance a U.S. university or institution of higher education. Featuring three speakers, it discusses the various costs of attending a U.S. school and practical advice for determining what scholarships might exist, alternative financing through employment, general visa questions, and other expenses.
U.S. universities and colleges offer flexibility, meaning students may choose many of their courses. Prerequisites for a typical degree program will have both core courses and classes students select themselves called electives. Students in America also have the option to change their field of study during their education or transfer to another institution if they desire. Completing the first two years of a degree at one institution, usually a community college, and then moving to another, is very common. Students in the United States are able to select fields of study – called majors – and courses which match their interests.
RESOURCES
Useful Links
- Student Visa reference page listing the steps to apply for a student visa and the associated costs.
- EducationUSA` financial aid list includes various grants and scholarships.
- FastWeb College Scholarship database mentioned in the program.
- Higher Education in the U.S. – This guide was designed by American Spaces in collaboration with EducationUSA.
Key Terms
- Billed costs – Costs including tuition and housing that students pay to the university, differs from non-billed costs which include transportation and entertainment.
- Scholarships – Scholarships are financial support requiring no financial reimbursement based on need (student’s income) or on merit (academic record).
- In-state versus Out-of-state tuition – Cost of paying for a university based on residency in a particular state. Varies by university and college, although many U.S. public institutions charge international students out-of-state tuition or more.
- Early Decision versus Rolling Admission – Admission policies that either require a student to apply by a certain date (early decision/early admission), or they can apply at any date (rolling admission).
Speakers
Jacqueline Vogl – Senior International Officer, State University of New York at Plattsburgh speaks on financial resources for international students in the United States and ways to receive employment while studying in the United States.
Christine Kremer – Director of International Admission, University of Dayton speaks on different costs, public v. private schools, and navigating scholarships.
Ojima Abraham – International Student at Franklin and Marshall University speaks on navigating EducationUSA programs for financial aid and his experience as a student in the U.S.
Discussion Questions
Preview the video beforehand to determine which parts of the webinar you will show. Also, consider stopping the webinar periodically to engage your audience with the below questions as appropriate.
- Do you know anyone studying in the United States? If so, where are they and what do they do?
- What are differences between universities, colleges, and community colleges?
- Why are U.S. universities attractive to foreign students?
- How is the degree system in the U.S. different from that of your own country?
The views expressed in these links and resources do not necessarily reflect those of the U.S. government.
Updated May 2024
