Application Fee waiver for international students: How to make the most of it.
College application fees are always a burden on any student’s budget. They especially hit international students harder, because they can’t work while they are in the US on a student visa (F1 visa). The good news is that you don’t need to pay your application fees if you qualify for a waiver.
When you submit your application for acceptance to a university or college, many of them charge an application fee. While it is inexpensive, if you are applying to numerous institutions, the money will mount up, which is critical if you want to boost your chances of getting into your selected college or graduate school. Fortunately, in most circumstances, there are ways to prevent these fees. We answered all of your application waiver questions in this blog.
Featured Inside Application Fee waiver for international students
- Introduction
- Featured Inside
- What is a Fee Waiver
- Types of College Fee
- Who can apply for Application Fee Waiver?
- When should I request an Application Fee Waiver?
- How to get an Application Fee waiver as an international student
- Writing an Application fee waiver Application
- Sample Application Fee waiver Letter
- Conclusion
What Is a Fee Waiver?
A fee waiver is exactly what it sounds like: It’s a request to have one or more of your college fees waived or excused. While schools don’t waive tuition, they may waive other types of fees that are imposed by the college or university. An application fee waiver is an official request for the school/college to waive the application fee for your admission. An application fee waiver may be granted to students who meet at least one of these requirements:
- Applicants belong to a low-income family or are under-represented in college
- Are eligible for Pell Grants
- You are enrolled in a federal free or reduced-price lunch program
- Belong to any other economic background that makes it difficult for you to pay the application fees
Types of College Fees
There are numerous types of fees that colleges charge. These include application fees, orientation fees and graduation fees as well as program-related fees such as lab fees and athletics fees. Some colleges also charge student activity fees and recreation center fees, which are typically added to your bill every semester regardless of whether you use the facilities or not.
Who can Apply for Application Fee Waiver?
The opportunity to have your application fee waived is offered by many different schools and universities in the US, but it is not guaranteed that every international student will be eligible. However, if you are indeed eligible, it will be very beneficial to you from a financial point of view.
Generally, most international students who come from economically weaker backgrounds can apply for application fee waivers. There are no specific criteria for determining whether or not a student comes from an economically weaker background, so it is best that you speak with your high school counselor about this before applying. In some cases, the school may be able to contact the university directly and support your application for a waiver.
When should I Request an Application Fee Waiver?
It is best that you submit your request as soon as you can. This will give your counselor ample time to contact the university and inquire about your eligibility status. If you already know that you qualify for an application fee waiver, then there is no need to wait until close to the deadline. You can simply go ahead
How to get an Application Fee Waiver as an International Student
International students can get an application fee waived if they contact the college directly and ask for a fee waiver due to a financial hardship. Some schools offer a form of grad school application waiver for applicants from inherent backgrounds, whether they are in or outside the US.
Some colleges, like MIT, will allow you to request (and typically be granted) a fee waiver for applying to the college (e.g. Application Fee / Fee Waiver). Some programs, however, will open their application without any fee attached, usually for early birds, within a specific period of time. Many other colleges use a Common Application or the Free App program and therefore you are restricted by the terms of that application process.
CommonApp
If the college is able to waive the charge, you will be given advice on how to submit your application without paying the fee. In the Common App Fee Waiver section, students who qualify will be able to select the “fee waiver” option.
FreeApp Program
Prospective students can use the FreeApp program to obtain a remission of the graduate application cost for PhD or Master of Fine Arts programs at member CIC universities.
See also:
Writing an Application fee waiver Application
A formal request for a waiver is a college application fee waiver. To be considered for an application fee waiver at their preferred institution, some prospective students may be needed to compose an application fee waiver letter. The letter should be written in a kind tone, and you should also explain why you are seeking a fee waiver to the college officials.
The most essential thing to remember here is to be as genuine and honest as possible in your letter, as this will help you avoid delivering generic pieces of writing that will not impress anyone. If your sincerity is real, though, a few simple words can sometimes go a long way toward helping you achieve your objectives. I don’t believe it is necessary to discuss the Waiver Request’s format. A Computer Gadget can easily format documents. However, please observe the following Dos and Don’ts.
Dos When Writing an Application Fee Waiver Letter
- Use polite and formal language.
- Be concise and precise.
- Do the research on the school.
- Tell a little bit about yourself—why you want to attend that university and what your goals for the future are
- Indicate what kind of financial hardship you are experiencing—whether you receive public assistance or are in a situation that puts a burden on your finances
- Include your family’s annual income and the number of people in your household – possibly with a Certificate from an Authorized Person/Body/Institute.
- Provide your counselor’s contact information
Don’ts When Writing an Application Fee Waiver Letter
- Lie about your financial situation
- Include the unnecessary information
- Write more than a few paragraphs
- Wait for the last moment to send your letter
- Send the same letter to all schools you apply to
- Use vague language
Sample Application Fee Waiver Letter
Even if you’re merely requesting a price decrease or a payment postponement until later, you’ll need to supply some crucial information. Explain why you’re requesting a fee decrease in the first paragraph of your letter. The first step is to create a letter format that you may use to write your message in. You should also be sure to utilize the recommended font size, which is 12 points, as well as a simple and easy-to-read font style, such as Times New Roman or Arial.
However, you should not assume that all universities in the United States offer application fee waivers. The fact is that just a few colleges allow such waivers, making it critical to examine whether or not a school accepts waivers before submitting an application. It’s also worth noting that most colleges will only accept waivers from students who are experiencing financial hardship.
Application Fee Waiver Letter Sample
Here is a typical sample of an application fee waiver letter for an international student.
Dear Sir/ Madam,
My aim of writing this letter to request a waiver of my application fee. I am sending this application to be considered for admission into the spring program for Master’s Degree in Business Administration at your esteemed university.
since the beginning of this new academic year, I have applied for the same course at another university in London and have already paid their application fee. However, I am now more interested in joining your academy because of its reputation and better faculty.
I come from a middle-class family and my father is a retired military officer who gets a pension. My mother takes care of our home. The money we get is barely enough to cover our basic needs and so we cannot afford to pay more than one application fee.
Please consider my request and feel free to contact me if you need any further information. I am looking forward to hearing from you soon.
Yours sincerely,
Name
Conclusion
It is not a guarantee that you will be admitted if you submit a college application cost waiver. With that in mind, taking the time to submit a college application fee waiver letter and apply for any grants or scholarships that a school may provide can help you increase your chances of acceptance!
As an international student, we hope that this page will assist you in learning about graduate and undergraduate school application fee waivers. Some of your questions have been answered. If you still have questions about the waiver of application fees for college, university, or graduate school programs, please subscribe to our website: www.jobsandjapa.com for more information. You can leave a comment on this blog article and ask your query. Some of the most frequently requested questions have previously been addressed. You can ask any queries you have in the comments section. The FAQ area will be updated on a regular basis.
Frequently Asked Questions FAQ About Fee Waiver for International Students.
If I apply to private schools and universities, am I eligible for an application cost waiver?
No, exemptions are only valid for institutions that use the Common Application or Coalition Application systems. You can inquire about waivers from each private school’s admissions office.
Do you require a particular form to waive the application fee?
There is no need for a specific form. Most universities that accept Coalition or Common Applications. Unless they don’t use this means, you might hear them write to the University.
Do I Have to Accept My Waiver of Application Fees?
No, if you don’t want to use your application fee waiver, you don’t have to take it. You might be able to pay for your college applications through other means, such as applying for scholarships or financial help. If you’re unsure whether or not to accept your fee waiver, speak with a trusted adult, such as a school counselor or parent, who can advise you on what to do.
What is the best way to find out which institutions give waivers?
The vast majority of institutions provide some form of application cost waiver. Check out the College Board’s website to see which colleges offer these programs and how to apply. A quick Google search will not be a bad idea after all.
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