As an international student, you may have heard that American colleges and universities apply a holistic approach to the application process. But, what exactly does that mean? Colleges look at everything you accomplish in your high school years by assessing the rigor of your curriculum, your grades, standardized exams, essays, recommendations, and activities. How do you contribute to your school and your community? How do you balance your education with participation outside of school? How are you active outside of the classroom?

Once an international student has decided upon their set of undergraduate studies in the U.S., there’s often a lot of planning that goes into making their stateside academic journey a success. But the academic calendar isn’t the only aspect of U.S. collegiate life that needs plotting. Don’t find yourself unwittingly caught off guard by the academic breaks your American peers might more easily fulfill at a moment’s notice by virtue of their proximity to home. Some university breaks aren’t long enough for a complicated international trek to see family and might, instead, require some thoughtful alternatives. Here’s a quick primer on the breaks an international student might encounter while studying in the U.S. and a few quick ideas for taking full advantage of them.

What is a Third Culture Kid?

Are you a dual citizen? Do you live in a country outside of your citizenship? Do you dream in multiple languages? Do some of your friends look at you funny when you call soccer “football” or talk about “maths” class?

If you answered yes to more than one of the questions above, you might be a third culture kid.

There is a scholarship (or many scholarships) out there for everyone. Every student has some skill, interest, experience, or characteristic that may make them an attractive candidate for one scholarship or another. And while we often refer to scholarships as “free money,” scholarships don’t actually come for free. It takes work to thoughtfully consider your strengths and research the scholarships that might be most appropriate for you. While the effort that goes into finding and winning scholarships may be akin to a part-time job, we at College Coach want to make your job a little easier. This on-going scholarship series highlights a new scholarship each week. Check out the below, along with the other posts in the series, and you may discover a funding resource that will make covering that college bill a little (or a lot!) easier.

Each November, college campuses across the U.S. promote the benefits of cross-cultural exchange by celebrating International Education Week. The “You Are Welcome Here” hashtag is a welcome message to international students everywhere. This brand new scholarship opportunity helps colleges financially support the diverse group of international student leaders and learners on their campuses.

Scholarship: #YouAreWeclomeHere Scholarship

Guest post by educations.com

Higher education is always associated with costs. While tuition is something that is taken for granted for many of us, the extent to which it becomes a concern fluctuates from year to year. A study on student trends by educations.com found that tuition is one of the growing major concerns for prospective students wanting to study abroad. This trend is visible across the different continents.

Fun fact: There are approximately 185 different types of visas in the U.S.!

These 185 visa classifications break down into two main categories: non-immigrant for individuals who are here on temporary stays, and immigrant for individuals who will reside permanently in the U.S. For more information, visit the U.S. Department of State Bureau of Consular Affairs.

It’s August. You’re getting ready to pack your bags, board a plane, and travel to the United States to begin your college career. Part of your experience will include navigating a different culture. Here are some tips to ease your transition to life on an American college campus.

There is a scholarship (or many scholarships) out there for everyone. Every student has some skill, interest, experience, or characteristic that may make them an attractive candidate for one scholarship or another. And while we often refer to scholarships as “free money,” scholarships don’t actually come for free. It takes work to thoughtfully consider your strengths and research the scholarships that might be most appropriate for you. While the effort that goes into finding and winning scholarships may be akin to a part-time job, we at College Coach want to make your job a little easier. This on-going scholarship series highlights a new scholarship each week. Check out the below, along with the other posts in the series, and you may discover a funding resource that will make covering that college bill a little (or a lot!) easier.

International students may face many obstacles over the course of their studies in the United States—not least among them being the cost of a U.S. education.  If you’re an international student who can explain how you’ve conquered a challenge in attaining your degree, this scholarship may be able to help you overcome the hurdle of paying for college in the United States.

Scholarship: International Student Voice Magazine Scholarship

Did you receive a scholarship from a US college or university? Consider yourself fortunate; everyone loves free money! For many college students and their families, education loans are part of the paying strategy. Loans are not free money. If you are an international student and regular reader of our blog, you already know that there are certain types of financial assistance that you will not be eligible for if you decide to pursue a US degree.

What about loans? Can they be part of your paying strategy if you don’t receive enough in scholarships or haven’t saved enough to cover your education? Given the reality that student loans are a big part of how families are covering college costs today, we wanted to explore the options available to international students.

As an international student living overseas, applying to colleges in the United States can feel like a daunting experience. From large public universities in quaint college towns, to small liberal arts colleges to private urban institutions, the variety of American post-secondary options is dizzying. A campus visit is highly encouraged for students to assess fit and explore the many types of colleges and universities out there. On these visits, students can take tours and talk to admissions officers, meet current students, and ask questions about majors, special programs, and extracurricular activities. For American students, visiting colleges can already be an expensive experience with travel and accommodation costs. For international students, the expenses are even more extreme given the significant amount of travel time. So, what can international students do when campus visits aren’t an option?