Are you looking to study abroad in the United States of America, but don’t know where to begin? Look no further than Berea College, a tuition-free institution that offers international students the opportunity to study in the United States completely free.
Someone will say; “Nothing is free in America”. As true as that can be, this guide is going to prove you wrong. This is not your normal scam article, every piece of information given here is verifiable and you will also hear from people who use this route.
Thus, in this article, we will discuss how to apply to Berea College, the benefits of studying in the United States, and how to make the most of your tuition-free experience. With the right preparation and dedication, you can make your dream of studying abroad in the United States a reality.
Is Berea College free for international students?
Yes! Berea college is completely free for international students, starting with a No application fee, free tuition, free accommodations, free feeding, and the opportunity to work on campus while you are in school.
There is a catch though, when applying to Berea college you will be asked to pay a small amount of money called the deposit fee. This fee is for emergency purposes throughout the time you will be studying in the school.
N|B: You will only be required to make this payment when your admission status has been confirmed.
The school has a long history of admitting international students, not minding religion, ethnicity, or race. Located in Berea in Madison County, Kentucky, in the United States. Berea is known for its art festivals and historic restaurants.
So, if you like a historical setting and good culture, this school is definitely your sure bet to studying in the USA completely free as an international student.
Berea College Financial Aid for International Students
Compare to other schools in united state, Berea College is the only college that gives fully funded scholarship to all enrolled international students during their first year.
This mix of financial aid and scholarships helps to cover the costs of tuition, accommodation, and feeding.
International students are directed to save $1,000 (US) every year in following years to contribute to their other expenses. During summer you given a work at the College in order to fulfill this requirement.
Accepted international students must pay a $50 (US) entry fee and a $2,200 (US) deposit to secure their spot. This deposit can be utilized for certain costs by international students during their four years of attendance.
Additional financial help is available for students who are unable to pay the entire or a portion of the deposit.
Throughout the academic year, all international students are offered a paid on-campus work through the College’s Work Program. Students may utilize their earnings (about US $2,000 the first year) to meet personal expenses.
What is the Berea college cost for Non-International Students?
All admitted students receive our No-Tuition Promise, which covers 100% of tuition costs. The mission of the school is to help eligible students achieve their dreams of going to school and obtaining a degree for both international and non-international students.
At Berea college you will get the;
- an affordable, elite degree at one of the best private colleges in the nation
- work experience and a resume
- funded internships and study abroad
- 60+ areas of study with unlimited academic support
- and a close-knit, diverse campus community
What is Berea College Acceptance rate?
Berea college has an acceptance rate of 38.2%. This means that of 100 applicants to the school, only 38 are admitted which shows how selective the college is in admitting students.
While I was doing this research, one question that kept popping up at every turn was; Is Berea College difficult to get into? The simple answer is yes! the school is very competitive.
That being said, If you fulfill Berea College’s standards for GPA, SAT/ACT scores, and other application components, you have a good chance of admission. However, if your GPA or SAT/ACT scores fall short, you will have a very low probability of acceptance, even if you fulfill all of the other admissions standards.
What are the Berea college Admission Requirements?
As of the time of this article, Berea college only offers undergraduate studies. If you a master’s or a PhD student, this college is not for you.
That being said, the requirement for applying to this school is pretty straightforward. if you have all the right documents and you follow the step-by-step guide that will be listed in the next section of this article, you will definitely be on your way to studying in the USA on a fully funded scholarship.
The following listed documents are a must-have if you are an international student that is applying to Berea college. All information is submitted via the Berea college application portal.
[wptb id="5847" not found ]What is Berea College Worldwide Wednesday?
This is a chosen date by the school management to help educate international applicants about the school and their application process. it features a 20mins information session with a school admission counselor and a 60-90 mins live virtual tour of the campus. This is completely online. you can choose your time and date from the table below;
[wptb id="5850" not found ]How to Apply to Berea college(Step-by-step)
#1. Complete Required Profile Sections:
First, you will need to after accessing the application form to create your profile. Thus, make sure that the information you are filling up here is correct and verifiable. As the wrong information can throw your application out.
Berea college application for international students
#2. Choose Application Term:
In this step, after creating your profile, you will select the term you want to apply for. Right now the school is currently accepting applications for the fall of 2023. Do well to refer to the application deadline section of this guide.
#3. Upload Your Academic Recommendations
This is a very important step in your application. it is advised that you talk to whomever you want to write your recommendation letter ahead of time. This is because you don’t want to catch them unaware. For Berea College, you can add their email here or upload the recommendation they have written in step seven which I prefer to do.
#4. Write and Upload your Essay
When it comes to applying to any school, your essay plays a very important role. I have seen some students fumble at this point because of a lack of preparation. This is where you sell your potential to the admission community. So, If you don’t know how to write an admission essay check out our guide on the step by step guide on how to write an admission essay.
READ ALSO: How to Write an Amazing SOP and Gain Admission to Top School 2023
For Berea college, the essay will be 2-5 pages long. preferably typed, double-spaced in no less than 10px font size. Your essay should address the following;
- An overview of your educational and life experiences
- What do you plan to do after completing your education?
- why you wish to return(not return) to your home country
- Description of ways you have positively impacted your community.
#5. Upload Your Test Scores
The next step after uploading your essay is to Upload Test Scores. As an international applicant, a copy or image of any of the approved tests is required to be submitted. Here is the minimum score you must have to be admitted into the school.
[wptb id="5858" not found ]Owing to the fact taking these tests and getting your results usually take time, I will advise you to start early so as not to miss your deadline to submit your application just because you were waiting for your test score.
#6. Upload Required Documents
In this step, there are two major documents that need to upload. That is; your International Financial Resources Form(IFR Form) and Your Academic Records.
The IFR form is the document that explains your personal and financial resourses. This should be filled by either a school administrator, a religious leader, or employer that can vauch for you.
The second document that will uploaded here is your academic rocords from secondary school. For west African countries like Nigeria, your WAEC will come in handy at this point.
#7. Upload Optional Documents:
At this point you are almost done with college application. These are optional document but very important that will help boost your chances of getting admitted into the school.
If you didnt provide email for your academic recommendation letter in step 3, this is where you can upload the recommendation letter yourself.
You can also upload documents like your resume, letters of recommendations, etc.
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#8. Submit your Application
If you have read to this point? congratulations, you are on your way to fulfilling your dream of studying in USA on a fully funded scholarship. Berea college does not charge any fee to send in your college application. so, when you are done filling and uploading all the required information, do well to go over them again before hitting that SUBMIT button.
There is no fee waiver code, all you need to do in this step is to agree to the term that all the information you provided are true and verifiable, the click on the “Next: Billing and payment”
Application Deadlines
Applicants wishing to be considered Early Action must submit all application components by October 15. The Regular Deadline for August enrollment is January 15.
[wptb id="5864" not found ]Frequently Asked Questions:
When are admissions decisions made?
A confirmation email will be issued to the applicant after the application has been processed. In December, all Early Action applicants will be informed of their admission decision status. Regular admissions decisions will be made available by March 31.
When do accepted students recieve an I-20
After submitting the required $2,200 payment and completing all relevant papers, accepted international students will be awarded an I-20 (e.g. passport bio page, medical history form).
When should i pay the $2200 Deposit fee?
If the student intends to enroll, payment must be made before May 1st. Students who have been admitted to Berea will receive a letter from the Office of Admissions with the payment deadline and directions for making payment. Depending on the student’s family financial situation, the College does have several sources of financial aid to help cover this price. The I-20 is not given until the necessary payment is paid.
Can international apply for a spring term admission?
No. New international students may enroll only in the Fall Term of each year
Can I move with my families?
No, Berea College is unable to provide accommodations or financial assistance to families. Students should also be informed that their earnings from the Berea College work program are insufficient to cover both their personal expenditures while enrolled and family assistance back home.
Does Berea college accept international transfer student?
Yes they do! Although Berea College accepts international transfer students, we normally save our extremely limited space for students who have had no chance to study higher education in their native country or abroad. Furthermore, if you have obtained any university credit after finishing high school, you must follow the international application guidelines and send any transcripts from previously attended universities.
Conclusion:
Now that you have this information, what are you going to do with it? i bet your excuse has always been money. this is the opportunity you have been waiting for. Like one of my friend ( waka waka doctor ) will say “you must travel by fire by force”. take hold of this opportunity and make this best out of it.
Members of the International Admissions Committee examine and evaluate all qualified applications holistically, taking into account academic qualifications, financial need, ambition and sense of purpose, recommendations, and cultural and geographic diversity.
Hence, my advice is to put your best foot forward.
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