Wesleyan Freeman Scholarships for Asians

Brief description:

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The Wesleyan Freeman Asian Scholarship Program provides expenses for a four-year course of study toward a bachelor’s degree for up to eleven exceptionally able Asian students annually from selected Asian countries and regions.

This program is made possible by Wesleyan University and the Freeman Foundation, which aims to improve understanding and to strengthen ties between the United States and the countries and regions of the Pacific Rim. The program’s goal is for Freeman Asian Scholars to become leaders in their home countries.

Host Institution(s):

Wesleyan University, Connecticut, USA

Field of study:

Wesleyan provides instruction in 47 major fields of study.

Number of Awards:

Up to 11 awards will be awarded annually.

Target group:

Nationals of People’s Republic of China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam.

Scholarship value/inclusions:

Tuition and student fees (called “full tuition scholarship”) regardless of his or her family’s financial situation. Although costs are not yet established for 2010-2011, in the 2009-2010 school year tuition and fees total $40,392. Families wishing to apply for financial aid to assist with the costs associated with room, board, travel, and books and supplies should submit The Profile ^TM Form of the College Scholarship Service (CSS) by February 15. Wesleyan’s Financial Aid Office will determine the family contribution. The family contribution is comprised of a parent contribution based on the parent(s) income and assets, as well as a student contribution. A scholarship applicant who is not requesting financial aid to cover the costs beyond tuition will need to provide documentation that his or her family has the financial resources to pay those costs by submitting the Certification of Finances Form. The form must show that the family can fund approximately $16,000 per academic year. (Again, the cost of attendance is not yet set for the 2010-2011 academic year, but the additional budget for new matriculants in the 2009-2010 academic year is $13,705 not including travel; residential comprehensive fee $11,040; books and miscellaneous $2,665).

Eligibility:

Applicants for the academic year beginning in late August must have completed their secondary schooling* (high school) by then and must be citizens or permanent residents of one of these eleven countries or regions: China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, or Vietnam. Preference will be given to those currently living in one of these eleven countries or regions and to those who would otherwise be unable to study in the United States. Individuals with dual U.S. citizenship or who are permanent U.S. residents are not eligible. Students who must fulfill a military service requirement may apply in their final year of school but waiting until the year in which one can enroll is preferable.

*Students following the British O- and A-level system typically will be enrolled in their second year of the A-level program at the time of application. We cannot consider students from Malaysia on the basis of forecast SPM results; students there should be enrolled in the second year of the STPM at the time of application. Students already enrolled in university are not eligible for Wesleyan Freeman Asian Scholarships. In South Korea, a student may accept a place in a Korean university for February 2010, pending our scholarship decision.

Freeman Asian Scholars are expected to return to their home countries upon completion of their degrees. (We understand that some students may wish to continue their education with graduate studies in the United States, which would be at their own expense.)

Selection Criteria:

Admission to Wesleyan and the selection process for Wesleyan Freeman Asian Scholars is extremely competitive. We plan to award the scholarship to one student from each of the eleven countries or regions. Selection criteria include academic achievement; intellectual curiosity; a high level of discipline and commitment; strong personal qualities; extracurricular involvement, especially community service; and English language ability.

Application instructions:

Applications must be postmarked or submitted online by January 1, 2011. Successful applicants will be notified by April 1, except in Japan, where they will be notified by March 1. Alternates also will be chosen in the event that any of those initially selected decide not to accept the offer. Wesleyan will provide the necessary forms for obtaining an F-1 student visa to the United States.

Please note that there is no longer a printed application packet available. Applicants must access the required forms electronically.

It is important to visit the official website (link found below) for detailed information on how to apply for this scholarship.

Contact information:

Terri Overton, Associate Dean of Admission on the Wesleyan campus, coordinates the recruitment and selection of Wesleyan Freeman Asian Scholars, but there are many other sources of helpful information and advice. Wesleyan alumni in the eleven countries and regions, as well as local AIG offices and U.S. Education Advising Centers, can provide further information to students interested in applying.

See the contact information of the local AIG offices at this link.

Website:

Official Scholarship Website: http://www.wesleyan.edu/admission/international/freeman.html