Federal Loans and Work Study

If you are a U.S. citizen or permanent resident, you are eligible to apply for federal loans and work study to help finance some of the costs of graduate school.

To apply, please submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) through the U.S. Department of Education at fafsa.ed.gov.  You must select GW as a recipient of your application by using code 001444 in Step 6 of the FAFSA.

To ensure timely notification of your federally awarded package, please submit your FAFSA no later than February 28.  Please do not wait for an admission decision before you fill out the 2013-2014 FAFSA.  

If you need additional information, please visit the GW Office of Student Financial Assistance website.

The Carlos Slim Scholarship

The George Washington University is pleased to accept applications for The Carlos Slim Scholarship, the result of a partnership between the Fundacion Carlos Slim and the university. The Carlos Slim Scholarship creates an elite leadership development initiative for Mexico’s very best graduate students in the disciplines of engineering, business, and international affairs.

Mr. Carlos Slim is an international business leader committed to improving the human condition by alleviating poverty, improving healthcare, and investing in Mexico’s young scholars. The George Washington University enjoys an outstanding, international academic reputation and a unique location in the heart of the US nation’s capital.

The Slim Scholars’ focus will be global with a special emphasis on issues relevant to Mexico’s leadership role in the world. Slim Scholars will have the opportunity to build relationships with George Washington leadership, international economic institutions, and influential political and thought leaders while gaining practical skills to prepare them for leadership responsibilities in Mexico.

Among the benefits Slim Scholarship recipients will enjoy:

• An assigned advisor to guide educational experience
• A mentor to oversee practical experience
• Two additional elective courses
• Full access to graduate career development offices
• Intense leadership training and team-building activities

Additional hands-on learning will be provided via special summer internships, travel opportunities to key US cities, and a variety of culturally enriching programs. These intellectually robust experiences will help students understand the significance of leadership and communication in influencing public policy on many fronts, including immigration, healthcare, and poverty.

Selection Criteria:

1. The recipient must be a graduate student that has applied for admission in a graduate program in the School of Business, the School of Engineering and Applied Science, or the Elliott School of International Affairs
2. The recipient must be a citizen of the country of Mexico
3. The recipient must have a meritorious academic record as evidenced by his/her undergraduate GPA and as measured by her/his performance on relevant entrance exams
4. The recipient must have demonstrated prior leadership experience either in their career or through undergraduate activities.
5. The recipient may be required to successfully complete an interview process.

To learn more about specific program application deadlines contact:

-Dr. Javier Antonio Elguea, President , Technological Institute, TELMEX, Parque Via 190-piso 15, Col.        Cuauhtemoc, Mexico D.F. CP 06599, P: 5222-5312, JELGUEA@telmex.com

-Elliott School Graduate Admissions: 1957 E St., NW, Suite 301, Washington, DC 20052, USA, 202-994-7050, esiagrad@gwu.edu

Yellow Ribbon Program for Veterans at GW

The George Washington University has increased its financial assistance for graduate student-veterans for the 2012-2013 academic year.  Through the federally-sponsored Yellow Ribbon Program, U.S. colleges and universities have the opportunity to fund tuition expenses that exceed a base amount paid by the government.  GW contributes up to 50 percent of the student-veterans’ additional expenses, an amount that is matched by Veterans Affairs.  For the 2012-2013 school year, the university will provide up to $5,500 for graduate students.

“We are pleased to build upon GW’s leadership in providing education benefits for individuals with military experience,” said Andrew Sonn, Ed.D.’09, assistant vice president for GW’s Student and Academic Support Services Division. “This also carries on the GW tradition of GI Bill participation that began with the first 1944 GI Bill recipient Don A. Balfour (A.A. ’44, B.A. ’45) and continues to the present day.”

This year, more than 900 student-veterans are enrolled at GW, including more than 400 who have applied to the Yellow Ribbon Program.  About 70 percent of those students are enrolled in graduate programs.  There will be no cap on the number graduate Yellow Ribbon students that the university will support.  The university has also reallocated its funding to enable student-veterans to receive Yellow Ribbon tuition benefits during the summer semester.  This year-round allocation is particularly important because it enables student-veterans to maintain their VA housing benefit, which depends on their status as a full-time student.

GW has earned accolades for its commitment to veterans, including being named a top “military friendly” school by GI Jobs magazine and ranked 16 out of 100 colleges – and second for private schools – in the Military Times’ “best for vets” college ranking.

“GW’s commitment to veterans is apparent by its  commitment to the Yellow Ribbon Program. Participating in the Yellow Ribbon Program at GW opens doors for so many veterans who are leaving the service and want to continue their education at one of the top institutions in the country,” said Tommy Davis, president of GW Veterans.  “GW was the first university to accept the original GI Bill for veterans, and it is continuing the legacy of support for veterans in the Yellow Ribbon Program.”

from GW Today, May 2012

FAFSA Deadline in One Week

Applicants to the Elliott School interested in financial aid need to apply.  US Citizens and permanent residents are encouraged to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) in order to be considered for need-based aid and to receive federal student loans. Visit the FAFSA website for complete instructions and to apply.  The GW code is 001444.

GW’s priority deadline–which means you will receive your aid package in early April–is February 18.

All applicants who applied by January 15 will be considered for merit-based fellowships regardless of FAFSA submission.

Funding Opportunities for Students from Europe and Eurasia

A comprehensive list of nearly 100 European/Eurasian government and private foundation scholarships for study in the U.S. is available on the EducationUSA online resources page: Funding Opportunities for Study in the US for Students from Europe and Eurasia.

Highlights include:

• The Luys Foundation (Armenia) provides financial support, mentoring and other services to Armenian students aged 18-40 attending the world’s leading universities.
• Civil Service Awards (Georgia) support graduate study in the United States leading to Master’s degrees in public health, environmental policy, and related public policy fields.
• Republic of Tatarstan Higher Education Fellowship Program (Russia) awards highly qualified students full fellowships for graduate-level study in the U.S. Funded by the Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Tatarstan and administered by American Councils for International Education.
• The Edmund S. Muskie Graduate Fellowship Program provides fellowships for master’s degree-level study to emerging leaders from Eurasia for study in the United States. Eligible fields of study include: business administration, economics, education, environmental policy and management, international affairs, journalism and mass communication, law, library and information science, public administration, public health and public policy.

Fellowships

Start looking now for your graduate study fellowship opportunities!

The Elliott School of International Affairs considers all MA and MIPP applicants who submit a complete application by January 15 for competitive, merit-based tuition awards.  There is no separate application for these fellowship awards; simply submit all required application materials by January 15th.

GW’s Office of Graduate Student Assistantships and Fellowships
is a good place to begin your search for other types of funding opportunities as well.  They have information on:

• School/Department funding
• GW Fellowships
• National Fellowships
• the National Fellowship Databases
• and other financial opportunities (such as serving as a Residential Graduate Fellow)