Fordham Gabelli’s Checks In With Its Veterans in Global Leadership Fellows
The Gabelli School of Business at Fordham University recently highlighted a group of military veterans currently part of the school’s Veterans in Global Leadership (VGL) fellows program.
VGL was founded by Jayson Browder, a Fulbright scholar and a U.S. Presidential Management Fellow at the White House. Browder, PCS ’13, founded VGL with the intention to help “student veterans prepare and apply for prestigious internships, fellowships, and scholarships.”
Browder explains how a VGL program might make the difficult transition to civilian life a little more manageable for veterans: “[Vets] have implemented foreign policy abroad and have been tasked with solving complex problems. Now that they are back from the longest wars in our nation’s history, they’re looking to solve more problems and create an impact in their communities here in the states and abroad.”
After a 20-year stint in the Marines, VGL fellow Coleen Harper opted to major in nonprofit leadership at Gabelli. She founded D’ St. Aubyn’s Cause, which seeks to “diminish the rate at which veterans, single parents, and the elderly fall victim to homelessness.” Harper explains her motivation, saying, “My fears of becoming homeless were ignited as I proceeded through the process of retirement. This propelled me to make a difference rather than becoming a part of the problem. “A program like VGL can certainly help make an achievement more attainable.”
VGL fellow Robert Molina was an aviation logistics clerk in the Marines who now serves as communications chief of the Fordham Veterans’ Association as he completes a degree in political science and economics.
Fordham Veterans’ Association President Kevin Knightes arrived having previously served with that Hospital Corpsman Pharmacy Technician with the U.S. Navy for four years. He is now working toward an bachelor’s in Middle East Studies with minors in Arabic and Philosophy.
Of the VGL fellowship, Knightes writes, “I found that VGL aligned with my goal to continue service, but it will also introduce me to a vast network of like-minded people to share resources with.”
Value Without the Price Tag: How MIT Sloan Assists Low-Income MBA Students
It’s no secret that attending an MBA program can often come with a hefty price tag—and when it comes to one of the top MBA programs in the country, you can guarantee you’ll be paying a lot for the high value of that program. At the Sloan School of Management at MIT, rated as the fourth best business school in the country by the U.S. News and World Report, one year of tuition will set you back $68,250. Factoring in additional fees, such as insurance, food and supplies, the cost is upward of $100,000.
For ambitious students with the skills to attend the best-of-the-best MBA programs, it’s a shame that money should be a determining factor in what program they can attend. Thankfully, most business programs work to ensure that all students—regardless of income—are able to attend the program that fits their qualifications. At MIT Sloan, there are a variety of ways for low-income students to qualify for financial aid based entirely on their financial need.
Below are just a few of the opportunities the school provides for low-income students to pay for their MBA, ensuring that the most talented business students can attend their school regardless of finances.
Loans
Once a student is accepted to MIT Sloan, they will begin a three-tiered financial aid process to determine financial need and the best way it can be addressed. The admissions process itself is needs-blind, ensuring that financial circumstance will not be a factor in whether or not a student is admitted to the program.
After admittance, students should file a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and Graduate Loan Application, which will help determine their eligibility for federal and private loans by working alongside the MIT Student Financial Services.
Assistantships
A number of MBA students each year may also have the opportunity to be a teaching or research assistant. These roles, which may include grading assignments/exams, working directly with students or assisting with research both help students pay for school as well as provide important experience and exposure to the research and education programs at Sloan.
Starting in the second semester, students will also have access to TA and RA positions as well.
Fellowships
Each year, MIT Sloan offers a number of competitive fellowships/scholarship to incoming and second-year MBA students. Although these scholarships are merit-based rather than need, they provide low-income students another excellent opportunity to subsidize their education and often include additional ways to gain experience and improve one’s career.
Aside from the Legatum Fellowship and the MIT Public Service Center Fellowships, which have their own application process, all admitted students to MIT will be considered for fellowships that they are eligible for, and do not require a separate application. The fellowships may range in support from $10,000 to full tuition coverage.
You can find more information about the variety of fellowships offered at MIT Sloan here.
Additional Scholarships
A number of other scholarships are available for students at MIT Sloan that may be given out based on a wide variety of factors such as merit, identity, or nationality. These scholarships may range from funding for tuition and coverage of school-related fees to mentorship and the chance to build relationships with industry professionals. For the most part, these scholarships must be applied to separately after admittance to MIT Sloan. More information on these scholarships can be found here.
Even after need-based loans and assistantships, these scholarships may help further bridge the gap in costs for students attending MIT Sloan. These many opportunities for funding ensure that the most talented students can attend the best-fit school for them, allowing MBAs to focus on getting their degree rather than getting their wallets out.
Texas A&M Mays Business MBA Scholarship Spotlight
Earning an MBA isn’t cheap. At Texas A&M University’s Mays Business School, full-time MBA students can expect to spend $36,079 a year on tuition and fees, and that’s only for residents. For domestic non-residents, the cost increases to $52,471 and for international non-residents it’s $52,598. Then, by the time you add room and board costs, books and supplies, travel, and personal expenses, full-time MBA students at Mays can expect to spend between $60,071 and $77,073 a year.
It’s for that reason that scholarships and financing are so essential for MBA students. Anything that is available to mitigate the cost of tuition and living expenses increase the ROI of the MBA and decreases the burden.
At the Mays School, many full-time MBA students receive scholarships and other financial assistance to negate the cost of the program. The awards vary and range from $3,000 to $35,000. The support is offered in four ways:
- Automatically with Admission: All admitted MBA students will be automatically considered for scholarship support, without needing to submit additional information. However, to be considered, MBA students should apply no later than Round 3.
- Merit-Based: Based on the strength of an MBA student’s application, they may be considered to receive a merit-based scholarship, which can include academic achievements, professional accomplishments, or potential for success.
- Resident Tuition: For non-residents (domestic and international), there’s an opportunity to receive resident tuition status based on the merit of their application. This results in a savings of around $20,000.
- Activity Scholarships: These scholarships are only available for those MBA students who participate in specific programs, and are typically awarded after enrollment.
Scholarships and fellowships from the Mays School may be paid in a lump sum (one payment) or monthly during a semester. It is up to the Mays School to determine how each award will be paid to the student. The award is distributed based on the academic calendar and cannot be changed.
One sample scholarship is the Texas Business Hall of Fame (TBHF) award. According to the guidelines, candidates eligible for the scholarship must exhibit entrepreneurial aspirations as well as leadership in academic and campus activities. Recipients are chosen after a round of nominations and an interview process. The scholarship award can be as much as $15,000.
Mays Fellowships
Beyond scholarships, the Mays Business School also offers fellowships for incoming graduate students. These fellowships are only available to domestic candidates and require an application to be considered.
One such fellowship is the Graduate Diversity Fellowship. This fellowship is awarded to students who have a history of success in a diverse environment. The fellowship provides MBA students with a $13,000 annual stipend, $5,000 annually for tuition and fees and a graduate assistantship position that pays $7,000 per year, including health insurance. The total award package for two years is $50,000.
Graduate Assistantships
For those MBA students who do not receive a scholarship, there is still an opportunity to mitigate the cost of their tuition with a Graduate Assistantship. MBA students may be hired as teaching, research, or non-teaching assistants, working on average twenty hours per week. Interested students should contact their graduate advisor for help or can look for open positions on Jobs for Aggies.
Texas Aggie Graduate Grant (TAGG)
Texas A&M also offers need-based awards. Determined by the Scholarships & Financial Aid Office, Texas residents can receive a tuition stipend up to $1,500 per semester, for a maximum of $3,000 per year. This need-based grant is only eligible for those students who have not received another major scholarship or fellowship and requires a TAGG application to be eligible.
Additional Scholarships
Finally, Texas A&M offers a few unique scholarship opportunities for minority students and students willing to submit a separate application. Some of these scholarships include:
- Hispanic Scholarship Fund: This scholarship is designed for students of Hispanic heritage and offers awards from $500 to $5,000.
- AIGC American Indian Graduate Center Scholarship: Scholarship awards vary and can be for as much as $30,000.
- Congressional Black Caucus Foundation Scholarships: These scholarships are awarded to deserving students and vary in amount and type each year.
- Allen Roth Marketing Scholarship: This award requires a 250-word essay on “Why a home is important.” The winner receives $1,000.
For more information on specific MBA scholarships that you will be eligible to receive, students should contact the Scholarships & Financial Aid office. Contact information found here.
Find The Right UCLA Anderson Scholarships And Fellowships
Though earning an MBA is ultimately a fruitful endeavor, the initial cost can leave students tapped out. Luckily, more schools are making an effort to help talented students ease the financial burden of getting a degree, via scholarship support. Many institutions now have a host of resources that counter-balance the intimidating price tag of pursuing an MBA.
Top Scholarships at Columbia Business School
Earning an MBA from Columbia Business School (CBS) is an incredible opportunity. It is no secret that CBS offers an enviable education, but it is also located in the heart of New York City, where MBA students will be surrounded by opportunities and industry giants. Of course, being in the fastest-paced, most populous city in the United States comes at a price. Literally. New York is listed as number one on Investopedia’s Top 10 Most Expensive Cities in the U.S. Luckily, CBS offers a wealth of scholarships to make grad school in the city more manageable.
Merit-Based Scholarships
Merit-based scholarships are an excellent option for motivated students with impressive undergraduate GPAs and work experience. Also, if students do not receive a fellowship in their first year, they will have another opportunity in their second year.
• Forté Foundation Scholarship: The Forté Foundation offers scholarships to outstanding women through their Forte Fellows program. The fellowship exists to encourage larger numbers of women to pursue an MBA education. There is no application information required from students at CBS, as nominees are selected by the school’s director of admissions. Forté Fellows receive multiple benefits, including participation in the MBA Women Leadership and Financial Services FAST Track Conferences. Students in the program are also included in the Forté Fellow resume book, which is distributed to Forté Sponsor companies like J.P. Morgan and IBM Global Business Services.
• Toigo Fellowship: CBS is one of the Robert Toigo Foundation’s featured MBA programs. The Toigo Foundation’s mission is to encourage diversity in finance, so this fellowship is available to under-represented groups. Driven minority students will be eligible for consideration. Fellows attend a weekend summer session to prepare them for business school. During this session, students are assigned mentors to guide them throughout school and their careers.
• Columbia Fellows Program: Columbia Fellows is available only for the first year of the program. The scholarship includes a partial- or full-tuition award for applicants who have shown the creativity and initiative to be true leaders in business.
• Board of Overseers China & India Fellowships: This fellowship is available to students from China and India. Scholarships are awarded by the Board of Overseers, which is comprised of industry giants across a variety of fields.
• Meyer Feldberg Distinguished Fellowship Program: This fellowship is extremely competitive and is granted to students who have shown outstanding leadership skills and academic initiative. Students applying must demonstrate an impressive track record in areas like entrepreneurship and social ventures. Fellows are given full tuition and lifelong membership in the prestigious network of award recipients and donors.
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• R.C. Kopf Fellowships: The R.C. Kopf Fellowship is granted to students with an interest in international business. Italian, French, British and U.S. citizens can all earn the Kopf Fellowship. Applicants should be accomplished in academia, but also exhibit personal and professional behavior that makes them an asset to the community.
• Gerardo Werthein Scholarship: This scholarship is specifically for MBA students who have lived or studied in Argentina and who are interested in returning to work in Argentina. The scholarship is granted based on financial need.
• Ela Lemelbaum Scholarship: Israeli students are eligible to receive the Ela Lemelbaum Scholarship, which provides tuition support options for both first and second years of study. Preference goes to students who have studied at the Interdisciplinary Center in Herzliya, Israel. This scholarship is renewable during the second year.
Other Scholarship Opportunities
CBS also offers a variety of need-based scholarships to students, which may yield tuition support ranging from $7,500 to $30,000. Need-based scholarships are based on every aspect of a student’s assets. About 50 perfect of applicants are granted need-based awards. These scholarships are automatically renewed during a student’s second year. There is a rigorous four-part application process. Students may also seek out and apply for external scholarships.
Best Boston MBA Programs For Your Buck
It would be a gross understatement to characterize earning a business school degree as a major investment of time and resources. For the vast majority of applicants, choosing the right school is often a matter of choosing the one they can afford. But if there’s any city in the North America that offers a veritable gallery of business schools for any budget, it’s Boston. We surveyed the Boston scholarship landscape so you don’t have to, and here are the best Boston MBA programs for your buck:
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