Funding Your Trip
If you are anything like I was, you may be putting off study abroad, thinking that you can't afford it. Well, you can! No matter what your financial situation is, there are ways to supplement what you have so that you can go to East Asia. One of the reasons I created this site is to help spread the word about a program that gave me the opportunity to experience Japan.
First, if you have never done it, file a FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid). This is how colleges decide whether to give you financial aid, and how much you are eligible to receive. These can come in the form of grants (you won't have to pay them back) or loans (you pay them back after leaving school).
Secondly, determine if your school offers any special grants to students who are studying abroad. If so, find out if you are eligible for any, and apply!
Finally, there are a number of scholarships offered in the U.S. for students going abroad. Here is a list of just a few of these:
- The Freeman-Asia Program is offered by the Institute of International Education (IIE), and offers grants to U.S. students who will be studying in East Asia. Upon their return, students fulfill a service proposal to promote study abroad in East Asia.
- The Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program is open to U.S. students who receive Pell Grants, and requires students to fulfill a service project after their return to the U.S.
- The Bridging Scholarship is available for U.S. students who will be studying in Japan.
For more scholarships, try searching on websites such as Fastweb. Never trust a scholarship that asks you for an "application fee" or any bank information. Your school's Financial Aid Office, or your Study Abroad Advisor, may also help provide you with funding information. Good Luck!