SAT Scholarships – For Indian Students, Criteria, Documents, and other resources

SAT Scholarship are financial aid provided to students by universities, grant programs, government initiatives and independent third parties to help students fund and further their education. Usually given on a merit or need basis, they’re essentially free money to help pay for school, and unlike a loan, you don’t need to pay them back.

If you’re aiming to study abroad you can appear for the SAT exam and SAT Scholarships should definitely be a major point of consideration. On average, the cost of studying in the USA is approximately $10,000 to $50,000 a year just to cover undergraduate tuition fees (indicative). This doesn’t even include rent, costs of living, extracurricular activities etc. so you see why SAT Scholarships are invaluable to financing your college goals. 

How to get SAT scholarships

What is the minimum criteria to get a SAT scholarship?

Depending on the type of SAT scholarship you are applying for (see below), you may have different criteria to meet for SAT eligibility. But typically there are some generic criteria you need to meet to qualify for a scholarship to study abroad including:

• Meet academic requirements for the college you are applying to, as well as any other course- specific requirements for your program of study. A SAT Scholarship is the next step after getting your confirmation of admission to a university.
• Meet educational requirements for your course of study, be that a high school diploma, undergraduate degree or masters depending on the level of study you are pursuing.
• Meet the age criteria set by the scholarship provider, if applicable.
• Be from (or apply from/to) a country where the scholarship is valid, if applicable.

What is your probability of getting a SAT scholarship?

According to the National Postsecondary Student Aid Study, out of 10 undergraduate candidates, only 1 will be able to secure a SAT scholarship for their degree. Only 19% of students qualify for college scholarships even with a GPA of above 3.5. Only 0.7% of candidates are able to bag an athletic scholarship and 13% of applicants with great GRE, SAT and GMAT scores secure SAT scholarships.

What types of scholarships are out there?

There are many different types of scholarship based on your skills, abilities and requirements including:

• Academic scholarships:
  
  These scholarships are based on your academic merit. Your school grades, SAT scores, etc all play a part in determining your eligibility. But not all schools require you to get a perfect score, you can secure a scholarship with even a good consistent average to the right university. 

• Community service scholarships:

Volunteering to better your community has multiple benefits, one you probably weren’t aware of before is that you can get a scholarship out of your good deeds!

• Athletic scholarships:

These scholarships are provided predominantly on your ability to play in a sport. These are very common in the US, and universities will often send scouts to monitor your prowess at a school level so you can play for the college team in every sport from football to cheerleading.

• Scholarships for hobbies and extracurriculars

Hobbies are not only enriching for your personal growth but also for cultivating skills that can secure you a scholarship to your dream college. These scholarship often require you to demonstrate your interest through special projects and competitions.

• Scholarships based on applicants’ identities

In an effort to promote inclusivity and diversity, most universities offer scholarships based on your identity as a minority. These scholarship can be awarded for a number of factors including race, gender, ethnicity and disability. 

• Need-based scholarships
  Awarded to prospective students from low income backgrounds, these scholarships champion equal opportunity to those in financial need and are generally based on family income.

• Employer scholarships
  To promote skill building within the workforce, these scholarships are often overlooked in online searches. To see if you qualify, check with your employer and the program you are applying to.

• Military scholarships
  If you or your family have worked in the military, this is a great option to check out. Many universities offer scholarships to veterans, service members and military families to thank them for their service to the country.
  

But the scholarship type, amount and criteria differ widely depending on which colleges you are applying to, the country your dream university is in, etc. Here’s a comprehensive list of the best scholarship currently available to international students hoping to study abroad.

How can you apply for a scholarship?

Each Scholarship will have its own application process, so there is no blanket answer for this. But make sure you thoroughly read the requirements, accurately fill out the application and submit it well in time before the deadline to increase your chances. 

In general you will have to apply for it through the scholarship portal either through your university, school or the third party sponsor. Most scholarships have helplines, FAQs and managers so don’t be afraid to ask questions and reach out to see how you can best improve your chances at securing a scholarship. 

How to find study abroad scholarships?

You can find scholarships to study abroad in many ways from checking online databases, visiting college counsellors or even going to foreign embassies- just make sure the sources you’re checking are verified and accredited to ensure you are not getting scammed ot getting outdated or wrong information that could hinder your chances. 

Here are some resources that can help you find the right scholarship programme:

University Funded Scholarships

The first step to finding a scholarship is checking the websites of the colleges you are already interested in. This will allow you to find the most accurate and current information about the scholarship available to you- and while this shouldn’t be the only factor in deciding your future university it can help make the final decision.

Government Funded Scholarships

You can also check with government portals for state grants, like:

• The U.S. Department of Labor’s scholarship search tool 
• UKCISA (UK Council for International Student Affairs) website
• Edu Canada’s International Scholarship Portal

Third Party Funded Scholarship

Some smaller charities also offer scholarship, and the competition for these are more niche and so might be less competitive. Similarly, checking out scholarship from organizations in your field of interest (even professional), religious, ethnic and community organizations are also good options. However, it’s advisable to be cautious to only explore credible sources that have been verified to ensure you don’t get scammed. 

Other resources to find SAT scholarship programs

You can also learn more about SAT scholarship from your own school. Don’t be afraid to reach out to a career counsellor, or financial aid officer from your university to be aware of all your options!

Best Scholarships for Indian Students to Study abroad

	Scholarships/ Grant Title
1.	The Jamsetjee Nusserwanjee Tata Endowment for The Higher Education Of Indians
2.	Inlaks Shivdasani Scholarships
3.	Ritchie-Jennings Memorial Scholarship Program
4.	Shastri Research Student Fellowship (SRSF)
5.	The Oxford and Cambridge Society of India Scholarships (OCSI)
6.	Tata Scholarship Cornell University NY
7.	Lady Meherbai D Tata Education Scholarship
8.	Tata Scholarship Cornell University, NY
9.	Japanese Government (MEXT) Postgraduate Scholarships
10.	The Rutherford International Fellowship Programme
11.	Chevening Scholarships
12.	Dr. Manmohan Singh Scholarship
13.	GREAT Scholarships by the British Council
14.	The Global Study Awards
15.	The Commonwealth Scholarships

Top US Universities with the Most Scholarships for International Students 

University Name	Number of International Students with Scholarships (20-21)	Average Scholarship Amount (20-21)
Haverford College	48	$71,496
Columbia University	287	$70,807
Skidmore College	90	$70,000
Wesleyan University	84	$69,698
Wellesley College	84	$69,660
Yale University	264	$67,048
Washington and Lee University	74	$66,671
Stanford University	225	$66,000
Cornell University	199	$65,286
Duke University	176	$64,724

SAT Scholarship Programs for International Students

Scholarship Name	Applicable for	Amount Covered
Yale University Scholarship	Yale University	$500-$70,000 per year
ACI Foundation Scholarship	US Universities	$10,000 – $15,000
Onsi Sawiris Scholarship	Stanford University, The University of Chicago, Harvard University, The University of Pennsylvania.	full tuition, living allowance,travel and health insurance.
Rotary Peace Fellowships	Universities in USA, Japan, UK, Australia, Sweden, Thailand	Tuition and fees, room and board, round-trip transportation and all internship and field-study expenses.
American University Scholarships	US Universities	$6,000 – $25,000 per year
GREAT Scholarships	UK Universities	minimum of £10,000 towards tuition fees

Documents required for Scholarships

Although the documents required for a successful scholarship application vary based on program, initiative and school there are some documents that are most commonly requested and that you should have handy in your application process. This scholarship document list includes:

1. Completed Scholarship Application Form
2. Photo Identification (ID) or Passport
3. Notarized copies of Transcripts and Diplomas
4. Statement of Purpose (SOP)
5. 1-2 Letters of Recommendation
6. CV or Resume
7. Test Scores (SAT, ACT, IELTS, etc.)
8. Proof of Eligibility
9. Letter of Acceptance (from your institution)

Other documents required for scholarship form may include:

10. Essay (to explain your scholarship circumstances)
11. Portfolio (for skill based scholarship)
12. Medical reports or Health Evaluations (to prove disability)
13. Family financial reports (like proof of income, tax returns, etc.)

Final conclusion about SAT Scholarships

SAT Scholarships are highly competitive but also very rewarding as they can subsidies your tuition and living expenses a great deal and make studying abroad a viable option for more candidates. Although the probability seems low, given the number of applicants and wide variety of programs available it’s definitely an option worth considering and exploring. A good application can make the difference of tens of thousands of dollars saved.

If you’re not sure where to get started on your scholarship journey, ask what’s one thing that you’ve done that is worthwhile?
For example, if you plan on studying business in university, have you done any internships? Or maybe started your own business?
Being a teenprenuer isn’t easy, but if you’re an innovator, dreamer, strategyzer or thinker it could be just the push you need! Great for your CV and your own personal growth and development, starting a business is a great way to secure a scholarship and prove your drive to colleges.

A program that could benefit you in this quest is Clever Harvey’s JuniorMBA. With courses in Marketing, Strategy and Technology amongst others, you can test drive a career in your dream field and prove to your university that you have what it takes to make it on site. A combined learning-working experience, you’ll learn degree level theory at a high school level understanding and work on projects for industry leaders like PUMA and Samsonite. The exposure is great for your own growth and understanding as well as for your CV when applying for scholarships! Check out Clever Harvey here.