Scholarship Description:
International students applying to The College of Wooster can be considered for both merit and need-based awards. Funding is awarded as the “Wooster International Scholarship” and ranges from $5,000 to full tuition, based on both merit and financial need. The Wooster International Scholarship is renewable annually for each year the student is in good standing at the College (no minimum GPA is needed for renewal). The scholarship does not need to be repaid.
University:
The College of Wooster uses a holistic review process to fully assess your candidacy for admission, thus all materials you choose to submit will be considered. Our Admission Committee gives due consideration to many different expressions of a student’s qualities and abilities: scholastic achievements, extracurricular activities, character, and promise to contribute to the intellectual and social life of our distinct academic community. Students have the option to include performance on standardized tests.
Degree Level:
Undergraduate and Graduate
Merit Based Scholarships:
Both first-year and transfer international students are automatically considered for competitive, merit-based scholarships. Merit scholarships range from $5,000/year to $30,000/year and are based on academic talent, contributions to the high school and local community, personal essay, and recommendation letters.
Students are encouraged to interview with a Wooster representative to share more about their high school activities and accomplishments. Interviews are offered online via our web portal throughout the year, in-person in select cities, and during our International Interview Day (dates announced closer to the event). We also accept interviews through InitialView and Vericant. Interviews are not required for merit scholarship, but are encouraged when possible.
Need Based Financial Aid:
To apply for need-based financial aid, international students must submit the Wooster International Aid Form (IAF), which will be available to complete electronically on their admissions portal. It’s important that you fill out this document accurately and completely. Incorrect or incomplete information can negatively affect your offer of admission. Need-based aid is competitive, and the maximum financial aid package at The College of Wooster for international students covers full tuitions.
Students may also choose to submit the CSS profile or other financial aid forms if they prefer.
Students who are awarded Need-Based financial aid will have that amount included in their Wooster International Scholarship at the time of admission.
Working on Campus:
International students are allowed to work on campus, and many of our students do engage in on-campus employment. Most student jobs pay U.S. $8.80/hour. Under U.S. immigration law, international students can only work up to 20 hours per week while classes are in session and up to 40 hours per week during academic breaks.
Your campus employment is not automatically credited to your student account. Rather, when you begin a campus job, you may choose to have your earnings given to you in the form of a check or applied directly to your tuition for the following semester. More details about on-campus employment are discussed during international student orientation.
Other Scholarship Opportunities:
Model UN Leadership Award
The Model UN Leadership Award, valued at $2,000 annually, recognizes first-year applicants who demonstrate leadership and growth through their high school Model UN experiences and intend to continue to do so at Wooster. Award recipients will be expected to join Wooster’s Model UN, which is consistently recognized for its award-winning success at two national conferences.
Performing Arts Scholarship
The competitive Performing Arts Scholarships, ranging from $2,000 to $8,000 per year, are made to students on the basis of accomplishment and promise in music, theatre/dance, or Scottish Arts. Students receiving the award need not major in the area, but are required to participate in various programs throughout their time at Wooster.
Music Scholarship
Scottish Arts Scholarship
Theatre & Dance Scholarship
Guo Bingwen Wooster-China Friendship Grant
The College of Wooster, which has welcomed Chinese students to campus for over 100 years, recognizes that the Wooster connection with Chinese students and scholars holds even more significance in these tumultuous times. In appreciation of how Chinese students enhance the educational experience for all in our community, The College of Wooster has established the Guo Bingwen Wooster-China Friendship Grant, which offers recipients a $10,000 scholarship ($2,500 per year for four years).
The Guo Grant is named for Chinese alumnus Dr. Bingwen Guo (Ping-Wen Kuo), who graduated from Wooster in 1911. Dr. Guo went on to earn his Ph.D from Columbia University and became found and president of National Southeast University in Nanjing in 1921. Devoting his life to education and the idea of the liberal arts, Dr. Gua sought to balance a well-rounded education with a specialized one, with a focus on international learning.
Recipients of this award will uphold Dr. Guo’s passion for a liberal arts education. Like Dr. Gua, they are encouraged to participate in on-campus activities, such as one of our 120 student clubs and organizations, and to take advantage of opportunities like the Chinese Student & Scholars Association and the International Culture Week to share Chinese culture with the campus community. No additional application is necessary; students holding Chinese citizenship will be considered for this award on the basis of their involvement in their high school and local community.
Funding for Experiential Learning
Wooster provides a unique opportunity for students to receive fellowships to take advantage of research and internship opportunities, both in the U.S. and abroad, and even start their own businesses. APEX Fellowships, Copeland funding, and Launch Club are three of the ways Wooster offers support for pursuits outside the classroom.
