University working to increase international aid

In the past, Tufts has not been an educational option for international students who need financial assistance. But this is changing with the University's small but expanding international aid program.

The International Center estimates that it costs international students $4,000 more a year to attend Tufts than domestic students, brining the total cost to $42,551 for this academic year. The extra costs include transportation and living expenses. But students who are residents of other countries are ineligible for much of the traditional financial package _ such as Federal Work Study, loans, and grants.

In the 1999-2000 school year, however, Tufts initiated a program to increase aid for international students because "as a increasingly international institution, we decided to try and help these students," Interim Director of the Office of Financial Aid Pat Reilly said. Aid had previously been unavailable because aid available to domestic students was already limited.

The number of international students receiving aid is very small, as the current "pilot program" only offers money to between four and seven people per class. Dean of Admissions David Cuttino explained that the program is designed to help a "limited number of students" who need "substantial assistance" to attend Tufts. Scholarships typically range from $10,000 per year to full tuition. Roughly 25 of the 343 international students attending Tufts in the last academic year received this aid.

Applications from international students are initially reviewed with all other applications in the first read through. Those which pass the first read are separated for additional elimination. The University can only support the need of a few international students who apply for aid. The process is extremely difficult, as more than 100 applications that would receive admission, but require aid are whittled down to about six. These students are then notified of their acceptance and receive the University's financial aid offer soon after.

Freshman Boryana Damyanova of Bulgaria described her anxiety when receiving her acceptance letter, because she was "still unsure if [she] got the scholarship and could attend."

The chance of being accepted with aid is somewhere between one and two percent, with hundreds of students applying from across the globe.

The Admissions Department faces many difficult choices, as there are typically well over 100 students per year deemed qualified to attend but who need assistance. "A major question we have is what strategy to pursue," Cuttino said. "Should we select candidates from under-represented countries or outstanding students from countries which are already represented?"

The department currently decides this process on a case by case basis _ varying each year depending on the applicants.

Once the applicants have been selected and offered admission, the University stays in contact as they prepare for college. In order to obtain a visa to study in the United States, students must fill out a form proving they have the resources to finance their education.

Damyanova said the University was "extremely supportive," and that her sponsor, Bruce Male, helped her in a variety of ways, from "meeting [her] at the airport to helping [her] set up [her] room and being able to answer any questions."

Other resources outside of sponsors, who support and help students adjust to life in the United States, include the International Center and International Orientation.

Male is also a trustee and head of the International Board of Overseers, which is seeking to expand international aid by finding new funds. One new program seeks to match individual sponsors to students.

Although full tuition is a substantial amount of the Tufts education, International Scholars still face the problem of paying the remaining $15,000 per year. Parents are often unable to contribute as the median family income in many developing countries is below $10,000 per year.

Nikolai Schwertner, a senior also from Bulgaria who does not received financial aid, attempted to help pay for some of his education by getting a job back home. He quickly discovered that obtaining a job was difficult, and also of little help. "In Bulgaria, I would be working for the equivalent of ten cents per hour, at the best job I could find," he said.

Once in the US, restrictions regarding off-campus employment for immigrants also prevents students from earning money. The US Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) severely limits off-campus work _ students can only work for 12 months during and immediately after their college careers and must engage in what the INS calls "practical training." First-year students are never granted permission to work outside of their universities.

Faced with high costs of education, the students may work with Tufts officials to find ways to raise the additional money. Many international scholars are Resident Assistants, and in addition, hold work-study jobs around the campus. Some students elect to stay in the US over the summer and work on or off-campus in internship or research positions.

The students tend to be busier than the average undergraduate _ Damyanova works two jobs while taking five classes in her first semester of study.

Despite the prospect of the four years of hard work and extremely low odds of acceptance international students apply to Tufts and other American universities because of their strong reputations and resources not available in home countries.

Schwertner, a computer science major, noted the major Bulgarian university had "about six computers for several thousand students" and even these "were ancient 486 machines."

To draw these students from all over the world, Tufts this year has sent representatives of the Admissions Office to Southeast Asia, Eastern Europe, and Latin America to encourage perspective applicants.

Admissions officials are in contact with guidance counselors from across the world to inform them of developments in the program. The University wants to create strong contacts with any school willing to educate students on study abroad options.

International Students face the difficulties of the college application process as an outsider, according to Cuttino. "Imagine telling your parents you want to attend college in Britain," he said. "Think of the concerns they would have."

Director of the International Center Jane Etish-Andrews said these efforts increase awareness but come with a catch. "We've done these efforts cautiously," she said, "because we know our resources are very small and very few people will be offered admittance."

Tufts is sensitive to this, Cuttino said, and the University has taken precautions _ sending out letters and including the information on a website _ to make sure all perspective students are aware of the odds they face.