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Application Fee Waivers
- By: Scholarships Cafe
Finding the perfect opportunity to advance your education can be mentally tasking and quite financially demanding. What with the transcripts, travel itineraries, assessment tests in some cases and application fees. These monetary obligations can leave such gaping holes in your pockets. Then there is the fact that some of these costs are recurring like the application fees. An application fee is a non-refundable amount paid to start the admission process in most schools. These fees range from $50 to $150 and are used to offset the cost of reviewing applications and making final decisions. What's most disturbing is that you would have to pay for every school you apply to. So say you apply to 5 schools with an application fee of $50, that would be $250 and this is in no way a guarantee of your admission. For most students, this is not sustainable and is usually a huge barrier to fulfilling their graduate school dream.
While some universities and schools do not require an application fee, others offer application fee waivers where applicants do not have to pay these fees. This is mostly extended to students that have shown that they are financially incapable of meeting this requirement. That or the applicants meeting certain criteria. The exact requirements and application process for a waiver are peculiar to each school. For instance, you can get a waiver by applying online in some cases, or by visiting the school in other cases. Also in some cases, waivers are granted to students whose parents or grandparents are alumni of the school. If you do not fall into any of these groups, fret not. There's an easy trick up your sleeves you can use and that is, simply asking for an app fee waiver! This request could be anchored to outstanding academic performance or financial need.
Here's a sample of a request mail you could send to a school:
Dear Professor XXX
Director of Admission,
University of XXX
USA
REQUEST FOR APPLICATION FEE WAIVER
I am writing to request for an application fee waiver to submit my application for the Master/PhD program at the Department of XXX, University of XXX, USA.
My name is Ayomide Oluwaseun. I recently completed my bachelor’s degree in physics at the University of Efon Alaaye. I have always been interested in infectious disease right from high school. My dream is to have my own research group and contribute towards solving mysteries about pathogens.
My inability to pay the application fee is because of my family financial status. I am from a family of 5 with a total annual income of XXX. My siblings even struggle to attend classes as a result of uneven distribution of income and cost of education in my home country.
I am optimistic that my dream of becoming a Professor of microbiology will be further enhanced if this request can be granted.
Thank you for your anticipated response
Best wishes,
XXX.
Below are schools with application fee waivers for the Fall 2023 admissions cycle. It would be a great idea to apply to these schools.
1. Michigan Tech
2. University of Dayton
3. Clemson University
4. University of Massachusetts Amherst College of Engineering (Limited for international students)
5. Cornell University (Upon request)
6. University of British Columbia (Applicants from 50 least developed countries)
7. University of Michigan (US citizens, PR, Undocumented or DACAmented Students)
https://t.co/UxUdRw9x6G
8. The University of Arkansas at Little Rock (Use 'GRFREE4' to apply for free)
9. Miami University- Undergraduate (Nov 1,2022 deadline)
10. Northern Arizona University (fee waiver code #NAUGRAD23)
11. Iowa State University (Vouchers/Waivers only come from the program to which you are applying)
12. Colorado State University
Applicants must demonstrate participation in or affiliation with specific programs and/or partnerships.
13. Tulane University (No Application Fees are charged for the School of Science and Engineering Phd Graduate Programs and Certificate Programs)
14. Yale University
Fee waivers may be granted on the basis of:
Participation in a special program, event, fellowship, or status documented financial hardship
15. University of Lynchburg
16. University of Southern Maine
17.North Arizona University
We understand that the journey is not easy and that is why Scholarships Cafe constantly provides help like this to help you navigate successfully and to make it easier financially and otherwise. Remember the above is simply a sample and we always champion Doing-it-yourself. So, any and every application you make at all stages should be unique and carry your personal touch. We want to see you win. We're rooting for you.
Cheers!