Beyond tuition: Navigating financial aid for graduate studies
The journey to graduate school in the U.S. often starts with a daunting question: how to fund it. On 5th November, the BRAC University Microbiology Student Council (BUMSC) hosted an insightful seminar covering such queries featuring Margaret McElligott (Assistant Director, International Students and Scholars, University of Wyoming).
Drawing on her vast experience in international education and diplomacy, Ms. McElligott shared her personal connection and motivation: “I love talking with students, it’s my favourite thing to do. Most of our largest group of international students, early in my time in Wyoming, were coming from Dhaka. I wanted to understand which universities were producing such amazing undergraduates. And anything I can do to make that easier, to make that clear and less stressful for students going there.” Ms. McElligott’s session went beyond surface-level advice, offering practical steps on securing assistantships, scholarships, and building a compelling application “story”. It offered a clear roadmap, covering everything from the importance of a well-crafted Statement of Purpose to meeting language requirements like TOEFL or IELTS and the I-20 forms and visa application process. McElligott highlighted what professors look for, stressing the importance of sending specific emails that demonstrate genuine knowledge of their work, advising students to read “the last 5 papers” published by them.
The event successfully debunked common anxieties. Jannatul Ferdous (Senior, MNS) shared her relief: “I got to learn a lot about certain specific requirements for student intake in universities abroad. The speaker also cleared certain misconceptions that even with recent political turmoil, immigration laws haven’t changed so far.
