Dickinson College Office of International Admissions

Most colleges in the United States reserve their financial-aid offerings for American citizens; however, Dickinson College is proud to offer an array of financial options for international students:

grants and scholarships (gift money which need not be repaid)
low-interest loans (which must be repaid)
work-study opportunities (students earn money by working on campus to contribute to their expenses, such as books and personal needs).

The amount of available financial aid is limited and is offered to the most competitive of our international applicants.

We do expect families to contribute to the student’s educational costs; however, you may be able to help finance your education with non-Dickinson loans or scholarships. If financial assistance is important, we recommend you begin to research options to supplement any financial aid Dickinson may award. This will help you to determine if a financial-aid award is sufficient, or if you’ll have difficulty contributing to your educational costs.

Qualifying for Financial Aid
The number of international students awarded need-based aid from Dickinson will depend on the pool of applicants each year. Reporting of SAT scores is required to qualify for financial aid. To give you a perspective on standardized-test-score minimums, we suggest:

a combined Verbal/Critical Reading and Math SAT score of 1350 or higher, or
an ACT composite of 32 or higher.

If your combined score is lower because of SAT Verbal or Critical Reading section scores, we will consider TOEFL results when reviewing your credentials. In this case, a score of 700-plus in the Math section of the SAT and 250-plus on the TOEFL (100-plus on the Internet-based TOEFL) would be best.

International students also are eligible to compete for Dickinson’s highly selective non-need-based merit scholarships. You do not need a separate application to be considered for these scholarships. Your admissions application will be reviewed based on academic performance, strength of high-school curriculum, standardized testing and demonstrated leadership in school and community activities. Please keep in mind that many of our applicants meet the minimum scholarship criteria; therefore, we are highly selective within that pool. Scholarship criteria may be found at: www.dickinson.edu/admit/scholarships.html.

Applying for Financial Aid
To apply for financial aid at Dickinson, your family must complete the Declaration & Certification of Finances Form and one of the following financial-aid applications:

Students whose parent or parents work outside of the United States should complete the College Board International Student Financial Aid Application. These forms can be printed from our Web site at: www.dickinson.edu/international/intesforms.html.
Students whose parent or parents work in the United States and Canadian citizens should complete the College Board’s PROFILE financial-aid application. This form must be completed and submitted electronically. To do so, go to the above Web site or to the College Board Web site at: https://profileonline.collegeboard.com/index.jsp.

Financial-aid forms must be submitted at the same time as your admissions application. Dickinson does not offer application-fee waivers unless an official at your school attests that payment will be a hardship for your family.

Tips for Financial-aid Application

Always consider funds needed for travel, health insurance, student-activities fee and personal expenses when estimating the family contribution.
Understand that the greater your ability to contribute funds, the better your chance of receiving financial aid to enroll.
Keep in mind that the total cost of attendance increases 4-6 percent each year. Institutional grants or loans offered for your first year may increase to bridge the gap between the increased costs and the family contribution. You will, however, be expected to contribute at least as much each year as you contribute during the first year.

Applicants must record the expected family contribution on the International Student Financial Aid Application and the Declaration & Certification of Finances Form. Be sure both sections relay the same information. This will clarify your situation during the application-review process and ease your 1-20 Student Visa processing, if you are accepted. You must show support for your expected contribution. If your bank will not sign the Declaration of Finances form, it is acceptable for the bank to write a certification letter on its own letterhead, translated into English, or to provide a bank or employer statement. If your family is accessing assests as part of the contribution, supporting documents for those assets must also be submitted. If you have a sponsor other than your parents, they must also supply documents in support of their contribution.


Financial Aid for International Students
Information Overview & FAQ Request Information Application Forms Student/Parent/Alumni Contacts Student Perspectives International Student Quick Facts Travel Log Global Education College Search Tools Contact Us Brochures Get to Know Dickinson Application Overview Advanced Credit Standardized Testing Application Options Your Application Financial Aid Dickinson Community Visa Information	Financial Aid
	Most colleges in the United States reserve their financial-aid offerings for American citizens; however, Dickinson College is proud to offer an array of financial options for international students: grants and scholarships (gift money which need not be repaid) low-interest loans (which must be repaid) work-study opportunities (students earn money by working on campus to contribute to their expenses, such as books and personal needs). The amount of available financial aid is limited and is offered to the most competitive of our international applicants. We do expect families to contribute to the student’s educational costs; however, you may be able to help finance your education with non-Dickinson loans or scholarships. If financial assistance is important, we recommend you begin to research options to supplement any financial aid Dickinson may award. This will help you to determine if a financial-aid award is sufficient, or if you’ll have difficulty contributing to your educational costs. Qualifying for Financial Aid The number of international students awarded need-based aid from Dickinson will depend on the pool of applicants each year. Reporting of SAT scores is required to qualify for financial aid. To give you a perspective on standardized-test-score minimums, we suggest: a combined Verbal/Critical Reading and Math SAT score of 1350 or higher, or an ACT composite of 32 or higher. If your combined score is lower because of SAT Verbal or Critical Reading section scores, we will consider TOEFL results when reviewing your credentials. In this case, a score of 700-plus in the Math section of the SAT and 250-plus on the TOEFL (100-plus on the Internet-based TOEFL) would be best. International students also are eligible to compete for Dickinson’s highly selective non-need-based merit scholarships. You do not need a separate application to be considered for these scholarships. Your admissions application will be reviewed based on academic performance, strength of high-school curriculum, standardized testing and demonstrated leadership in school and community activities. Please keep in mind that many of our applicants meet the minimum scholarship criteria; therefore, we are highly selective within that pool. Scholarship criteria may be found at: www.dickinson.edu/admit/scholarships.html. Applying for Financial Aid To apply for financial aid at Dickinson, your family must complete the Declaration & Certification of Finances Form and one of the following financial-aid applications: Students whose parent or parents work outside of the United States should complete the College Board International Student Financial Aid Application. These forms can be printed from our Web site at: www.dickinson.edu/international/intesforms.html. Students whose parent or parents work in the United States and Canadian citizens should complete the College Board’s PROFILE financial-aid application. This form must be completed and submitted electronically. To do so, go to the above Web site or to the College Board Web site at: https://profileonline.collegeboard.com/index.jsp. Financial-aid forms must be submitted at the same time as your admissions application. Dickinson does not offer application-fee waivers unless an official at your school attests that payment will be a hardship for your family. Tips for Financial-aid Application Always consider funds needed for travel, health insurance, student-activities fee and personal expenses when estimating the family contribution. Understand that the greater your ability to contribute funds, the better your chance of receiving financial aid to enroll. Keep in mind that the total cost of attendance increases 4-6 percent each year. Institutional grants or loans offered for your first year may increase to bridge the gap between the increased costs and the family contribution. You will, however, be expected to contribute at least as much each year as you contribute during the first year. Applicants must record the expected family contribution on the International Student Financial Aid Application and the Declaration & Certification of Finances Form. Be sure both sections relay the same information. This will clarify your situation during the application-review process and ease your 1-20 Student Visa processing, if you are accepted. You must show support for your expected contribution. If your bank will not sign the Declaration of Finances form, it is acceptable for the bank to write a certification letter on its own letterhead, translated into English, or to provide a bank or employer statement. If your family is accessing assests as part of the contribution, supporting documents for those assets must also be submitted. If you have a sponsor other than your parents, they must also supply documents in support of their contribution.	Thanks to a combination of scholarship funds, Damian Glumcher, a fourth-year biochemistry & molecular biology and neuroscience dual major, is charting his path toward a medical/doctorate degree that is not available in his home country of Uruguay. “The economic situation is bad at home, and medical research, while necessary, is a luxury,” he says. “My parents understand this is an opportunity I wouldn’t have otherwise, and I thank the college and [scholarship] donors.” We want to work closely with you as you research Dickinson College and explore the financial-aid process. We expect that, by the time you are ready to apply, we will have emerged as a school in which you are keenly interested. If you have questions, please contact Diane Fleming P’04, Giulia Rinaldis ’97 or Jennifer Love at: International Admissions Dickinson College P.O. Box 1773 28 N. College St. Carlisle, PA 17013 E-mail: studyusa@dickinson.edu Web site: www.dickinson.edu/international Phone: 001-717-245-1231 'Fax: 001-717-245-1442
	To estimate your family contribution: Determine the funds you have available for yearly college costs; Subtract your estimated expenditures for travel (both to and from the United States and within the United States) and personal expenditures, including the international student health insurance and the student-activities fee; and, List the remainder as your family’s contribution toward tuition and room and board fees. Please note that a current breakdown of the annual cost of attendance, including the international student health insurance and student-activities fee, can be found at www.dickinson.edu/departments/finops/annualfees.html These costs are updated every March for the upcoming academic year. If offered admission, you will learn of your acceptance and financial-aid award at the same time. While we hope you join the Dickinson community, it is extremely important that you notify the college immediately if you choose not to enroll so that we may assist another international applicant. Financial Assistance from Non-Dickinson Sources We’re sure you’ve noticed that many schools offer no funding to international students. It takes a lot of searching to find loans and scholarships, but we hope you won’t be discouraged. Possibilities from other sources do exist. Some assistance is specific to students from certain countries. For example, in response to the 1998 Asian financial crisis, the Institute for International Education (IIE) launched the Asian Students in America Higher Education Loan Program (ASIA-HELP) to provide zero-interest loans to 1,400 students from South Korea, Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia. The following Web sites may be a starting point in your search: www.scholarshiphelp.org www.edupass.org/finaid www.fastweb.com www.finaid.org www.iefa.org www.iie.org A word of caution: If a scholarship has an application fee, avoid it, as it most likely is a scam. Other Ideas U.S. government funds, when available, are limited to specific countries. Try writing to the Agency for International Development, Office of International Training, Washington, D.C., 20523, and visit the U.S. Department of State Web site at: www.state.gov. Talk to your school, educational-advising centers or government officials (for example, ministry of education or cultural center of your embassy) about funding opportunities with your government. Explore all options, including parents’ employers, clubs and religious organizations. Students often receive funding from many sources, and smaller scholarships can add up quickly.

	Dickinson College Carlisle, PA 17013