USEF-Nepal's EducationUSA Advising Center announces the Opportunity Funds Program 2020 for outstanding, financially disadvantaged students with a stellar academic record.
The program is for students applying for Fall 2020 admission in Bachelor's programs in U.S. colleges and universities. Participants receive selected up-front costs associated with applying to U.S. colleges and universities such as standardized test fees, application fees, and student visa fees. They also receive dedicated advising.
The Opportunity Funds Program is an initiative by the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Education and Cultural Affairs to make U.S. higher education more accessible to non-elite international students from disadvantaged backgrounds. USEF-Nepal's EducationUSA Advising Center, the official source in Nepal for information and advice on U.S. higher education, will administer the Opportunity Funds Program in Nepal. Through this program, EducationUSA is committed to helping non-elite international students from disadvantaged backgrounds to have the best possible chance to experience higher education in the United States.
With the belief that lack of finances should not deter a talented student from applying to a U.S. university, the Opportunity Funds Program funds selected up-front costs associated with applying to U.S. colleges and universities. The Opportunity Funds Program will NOT fund the costs associated with attending U.S. colleges and universities. Therefore, this program is targeted toward students with excellent academic records and high chances of being awarded full funding from U.S. colleges and universities. Only students with demonstrated financial need – those who cannot afford to pay the up-front costs of applying to U.S. colleges – are eligible for the Opportunity Funds Program.
Students selected for the Opportunity Funds Program will be supported for the following expenses incurred while applying to U.S. colleges or universities:
- TOEFL and SAT/ ACT registration fees.
- College and university application fees.
- Postage/courier fees for dispatching college and university applications.
- U.S. student visa fees and SEVIS fees.
- Travel to a testing center or U.S. Embassy (for students from outside the Kathmandu Valley).
The Opportunity Funds Program supports students applying to enroll in the undergraduate (Bachelor's) degree at an accredited U.S. college or university. The program does NOT support transfer students or students applying at the graduate (i.e. Master’s or Ph.D.) level. Eligible students should be applying to enroll at a U.S. institution in the Fall 2020 semester.
Opportunity Funds Program applicants must meet the following criteria:
- Demonstrated financial need.
- Outstanding academic records.
- 80% or higher (pre-2016) or 3.60 or higher (2016 onward) on SLC/SEE in Nepal.
- Completed Class 11 (or first year of A-Levels, or equivalent) and currently enrolled in Class 12 (or final year of A-Levels, or equivalent) with scheduled completion by summer 2019; or completed Class 12 (or equivalent).
- Applying for the undergraduate degree for Fall semester of 2020 at an accredited college or university in the United States.
Students who do not meet all of the above mentioned criteria should NOT apply for the Opportunity Funds Program. Students who meet the above criteria should complete the Opportunity Funds Program Application Form 2020 and submit it online via the USEF-Nepal website before 4:00 p.m. on Friday, March 29, 2019. Hand written applications, hand delivered applications, or applications delivered by email, postal service or other means will not be considered. Applicants should carefully read Guidelines for Opportunity Funds Program Application Form for detailed instructions on properly completing the Application Form. Applicants should also review Information on Plagiarism prior to submitting their applications.
The Opportunity Funds Program will fund selected students' specified costs associated with applying to U.S. colleges and universities. Additionally, USEF-Nepal will provide Opportunity Funds Program students with special guidance and advising on the college application process, college selection, scholarship search and other aspects of applying to and attending U.S. colleges and universities. Though the Program cannot guarantee the ultimate success of selected candidates in securing admissions or adequate financial aid at U.S. colleges and universities, it provides students the opportunity to apply, which they may not otherwise have had.
For further information about the Opportunity Funds Program, please read Opportunity Funds Program FAQs. Additionally, USEF-Nepal will offer two Question & Answer (Q&A) sessions to address questions relating to the Opportunity Funds Program. To attend an Opportunity Funds Program Q&A session, please be present at USEF-Nepal's auditorium in Gyaneswor, Kathmandu at one of these times:
- Wednesday, March 13, 2019 at 3:00 p.m.
- Friday, March 22, 2019 at 3:00 p.m.
Please note that phone, email, and in-person queries regarding the Opportunity Funds Program will not be entertained.
Qualified students who meet the Opportunity Funds Program criteria are highly encouraged to apply. Please read the following documents to learn more about or to apply for the Opportunity Funds Program 2020:
Opportunity Funds Program FAQs
Guidelines for Opportunity Funds Program Application Form
Information on Plagiarism
Thank you for your interest in the Opportunity Funds Program at USEF-Nepal.
The Opportunity Funding Program at USEF-Nepal does not discriminate on the basis of caste, race, religion, gender, national origin, or disabilities. We particularly encourage women, ethnic minorities, and those who gave their SLC/SEE outside the Kathmandu Valley to apply.
Application deadline: Friday, March 29, 2019 at 4:00 p.m.
For information and application, please visit : www.usefnepal.org/opportunity
