Winning a $20,000 graduate scholarship in the USA changed the course of my academic and professional life. It allowed me to pursue a Master’s degree at a top-tier U.S. university without going into debt, exposed me to global opportunities, and helped me build a life I once only dreamed of.
If you’re an international student or even a domestic applicant dreaming of studying in the U.S., this step-by-step guide will walk you through the exact process I used to research, apply for, and win a prestigious graduate scholarship worth $20,000.
Whether you’re pursuing a master’s in Public Health, Engineering, Business, or Arts — these steps will apply to you too.
My Background Before Applying
Before diving into the steps, let me quickly share my background:
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Nationality: Nigerian
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Undergraduate GPA: 3.72/4.0 (First Class Honours)
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Test Scores: TOEFL – 104, GRE – 312
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Target Program: Master of Public Administration
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Target University: A public university in Texas
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Scholarship Awarded: Graduate Fellowship + Research Assistantship (combined worth $20,000)
Step 1: I Researched the Right Universities and Programs
My Goal:
Find U.S. universities that:
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Offered strong graduate programs
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Had funding or scholarships available for international students
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Didn’t require outrageous tuition upfront
What I Did:
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Created a spreadsheet of 20 universities
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Checked program rankings on US News & World Report
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Explored international student funding pages
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Prioritized public/state universities and those with assistantships
Tools I Used:
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Each university’s official website
Step 2: I Tailored My Personal Statement
This was the most critical component of my application. A generic personal statement won’t cut it.
What I Included:
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My academic and career goals
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Why I chose that university
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My community leadership experiences
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The problem I hoped to solve in my country after graduation
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Why I deserved funding
Pro Tip:
I researched the professors and the school’s mission, then connected my essay to their values.
Step 3: I Polished My CV for Graduate Admissions
Many people treat a scholarship application like a job — and they should.
My Graduate CV Highlighted:
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Research projects in undergrad
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Internships relevant to my field
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Volunteering & leadership roles
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Skills (e.g., SPSS, data analysis, public speaking)
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Awards and honors
Tip: I used a clean 1-page format tailored for graduate programs.
Step 4: I Secured Strong Letters of Recommendation
Here’s What Worked:
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I chose professors who knew me well
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I gave them my CV, personal statement, and a summary of the program
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I reminded them of my achievements with them (e.g., “Remember I was the team lead for the HIV-AIDS awareness campaign project?”)
Result:
They wrote compelling letters that tied my work ethic to my potential for graduate success and why I was worth funding.
Step 5: I Took the Right Tests
I wrote:
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TOEFL (104) – required for international students
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GRE (312) – not mandatory for all programs, but I took it for competitiveness
How I Prepared:
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Used Magoosh and ETS practice materials
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Studied 2 hours a day for 2 months
Tip: Some programs are now test-optional. But good scores still give you an edge, especially for scholarships.
Step 6: I Reached Out to Professors and Departments
This was the game-changer.
What I Did:
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I emailed 3 professors whose research aligned with mine
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My email was short and polite:
“Dear Dr. Smith,
I’m applying to your MPA program and deeply interested in your work on urban governance. I hope to contribute to similar projects. Is there any assistantship or graduate funding you’d advise I apply for?
Regards,
Chris”
Result:
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2 replied
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One referred me to a funded Research Assistant position
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That became part of the $20,000 award!
Step 7: I Submitted My Application Early
I applied 3 weeks before the deadline. Why?
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Early applications get more attention
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Assistantship slots may be limited
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Professors often review applications as they come in
Step 8: I Applied for Internal and External Scholarships
Besides assistantships, I also applied for:
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The university’s internal Graduate Fellowship
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An external international development grant (I didn’t win that one, but I learned a lot)
Tip: Don’t rely on just one funding source. Stack multiple opportunities.
Step 9: I Prepared for the Interview
Some scholarships require an interview (mine did).
Interview Questions I Got:
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Why this university?
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How will this program support your long-term goals?
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What leadership experience do you have?
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Tell us about a challenge you’ve overcome.
Tips:
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Be calm and confident
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Rehearse answers, but don’t memorize
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Express gratitude and clarity in your goals
Step 10: I Followed Up Politely
Two weeks after submitting my application, I sent this:
“Dear [Scholarship Coordinator],
I’m writing to thank you for reviewing my application. I remain enthusiastic about contributing to your graduate program. Please let me know if any further documents are needed.
Best regards,
Chris”
It helped. One professor said she appreciated my professional tone and initiative.
The Outcome
Here’s What I Got:
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Graduate Fellowship worth $10,000 (tuition reduction + monthly stipend)
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Graduate Research Assistantship worth $10,000 (9-month part-time work)
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Total Funding: $20,000
It covered:
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Full tuition
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Housing
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Living expenses
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Books
I started my program debt-free, built relationships with top researchers, and gained work experience through the RA position.
Bonus: What I Did After Winning
Once I won, I:
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Sent thank-you emails to every professor and recommender
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Booked my visa appointment
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Joined admitted students’ forums
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Prepared a budget (using my scholarship wisely)
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Started researching internships from day one
How to Gain More Money from Your Scholarship
Winning a scholarship is a great first step. But did you know that many students leave thousands of dollars on the table every year simply because they don’t know how to get more funding after winning a scholarship?
If you’ve already won a scholarship — whether it’s $10,000, $20,000, or even $50,000 — there are strategic ways to increase that amount through renewals, add-on grants, fellowships, stipends, assistantships, and more.
This guide shows you how to gain more money on the scholarship you’ve already won — ethically, strategically, and effectively.
Table of Contents
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Understand What’s Included in Your Scholarship
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Explore Scholarship Renewal Opportunities
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Apply for Supplementary Grants and Fellowships
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Get Paid Positions Through Graduate Assistantships
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Apply for On-Campus Jobs
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Negotiate or Appeal for More Funding
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Win Performance-Based Bonuses
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Apply for Summer Research or Conference Funding
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Join Ambassador or Peer Leader Programs
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Start a Crowdfunding or Sponsorship Campaign (Legally)
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Budget Smartly to Stretch Your Funds
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Conclusion
1. Understand What’s Included in Your Scholarship
Before asking for more, you need to fully understand what your current scholarship covers. Check:
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Tuition (Full or partial?)
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Accommodation (Paid directly or reimbursed?)
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Living stipend (Monthly or semester-based?)
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Book/material allowance
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Travel (International or domestic?)
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Health insurance
Knowing the gaps helps you identify areas where more funding is needed, such as housing, meals, or conference travel.
2. Explore Scholarship Renewal Opportunities
Many scholarships are renewable — meaning you can get the same amount or even more for additional years if you meet certain requirements.
What to check:
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GPA or academic performance conditions
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Volunteer/community service hours
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Research or participation reports
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Specific milestones (e.g., publish a paper, complete thesis)
How to maximize:
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Maintain excellent academic standing
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Communicate regularly with the scholarship coordinator
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Express interest in renewal early (ideally 6 months before renewal)
Pro tip: Some foundations increase scholarship amounts in the second year based on merit or financial need — ask!
3. Apply for Supplementary Grants and Fellowships
Even if you’ve already won a major scholarship, many schools, governments, and NGOs offer top-up funding in the form of:
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Travel grants
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Summer stipends
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Research fellowships
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Professional development grants
Where to look:
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Your department bulletin board or newsletter
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International student services office
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External grant portals like Fastweb, Scholarships.com, or OpportunityDesk.org
Example:
If you’re studying public health, apply for a Global Health Summer Field Grant worth $2,000–$5,000 to fund overseas internships.
4. Get Paid Positions Through Graduate Assistantships
If you’re a graduate student, assistantships are one of the best ways to gain more scholarship-level funding.
Types:
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Teaching Assistantship (TA) – Helps professors with classes
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Research Assistantship (RA) – Works on funded research projects
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Graduate Assistant (GA) – Helps with administration or lab tasks
Benefits:
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Monthly stipend ($500–$2,000/month)
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Full or partial tuition waiver
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Valuable experience in your field
How to get one:
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Email faculty or graduate coordinators directly
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Apply through the department’s portal
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Mention your interest in your scholarship thank-you letter
5. Apply for On-Campus Jobs
Most schools allow students (especially on F-1 visas in the U.S.) to work up to 20 hours per week on campus.
Jobs include:
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Library assistant
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Computer lab tech
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Dormitory receptionist
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Peer tutor
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Cafeteria crew
Even if your scholarship covers tuition, an on-campus job can give you $4,000–$8,000 annually in spending money or savings.
6. Negotiate or Appeal for More Funding
Few students realize this: you can ask for more — especially if you can show valid reasons.
When to consider appealing:
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Your financial situation changed (e.g., parent lost a job)
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The initial scholarship offer is less than what other schools gave
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You received new awards or achievements
How to appeal:
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Write a polite, professional email or letter
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Explain your achievements or challenges
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Be specific about what additional support you’re seeking
Sample appeal:
“I’m grateful for the $15,000 scholarship offer. However, due to recent economic hardships and a competitive offer from [School B], I’d like to respectfully request a reconsideration for additional support.”
You may be awarded $2,000–$10,000 more just by asking!
7. Win Performance-Based Bonuses
Some programs give bonus money or increased stipends for students who:
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Achieve Dean’s List or academic excellence
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Win academic or research competitions
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Publish papers or represent the university
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Join honor societies (Phi Beta Kappa, Golden Key, etc.)
How to earn it:
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Maintain a GPA of 3.8 or higher
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Seek research presentation opportunities
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Ask your scholarship provider if performance bonuses exist
8. Apply for Summer Research or Conference Funding
Universities and scholarship foundations often set aside thousands of dollars annually to fund:
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Academic conferences
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Study abroad programs
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Research projects
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Summer fieldwork
These awards can range from $1,000 to $10,000 and are often underused.
Where to find them:
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Graduate school or international office website
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Conference hosting organizations
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Program coordinators or advisors
9. Join Ambassador or Peer Leader Programs
Some scholarship programs (like Chevening, Mastercard Foundation, or Fulbright) offer paid ambassador roles to returning scholars.
Duties include:
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Speaking to prospective applicants
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Writing blogs or social media content
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Organizing orientation sessions
You can earn $1,000–$3,000 per semester while also gaining visibility and networking.
10. Start a Legal Crowdfunding or Sponsorship Campaign
Many scholarship winners raise extra funds through legal and ethical channels, such as:
Crowdfunding platforms:
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GoFundMe
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Fundly
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Indiegogo
Private sponsorship:
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Local businesses or foundations back your study abroad efforts
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Religious or community organizations
Be honest: make sure you’re not violating your scholarship terms or visa laws.
Tip: Create a compelling video explaining your goals and why you need top-up funding. Some students have raised $5,000–$15,000 successfully this way.
11. Budget Smartly to Stretch Your Funds
This isn’t about increasing your scholarship, but making it feel like more by cutting waste and planning smartly.
Ideas:
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Live with roommates to split rent
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Buy second-hand textbooks or rent them online
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Cook your meals instead of eating out
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Use student discounts everywhere (apps, stores, subscriptions)
By budgeting well, you can turn a $20,000 scholarship into the lifestyle equivalent of $30,000 or more.
12. Conclusion: Maximize Every Dollar and Opportunity
Getting a scholarship is a blessing. But getting more out of that scholarship is a skill.
Whether it’s through renewals, assistantships, side jobs, grants, or financial appeals, there are dozens of legal, ethical ways to grow your funding.
Final Tips for You
1. Apply Widely
Don’t stop at one application. I applied to 6 universities.
2. Customize Every Essay
Make it about you, but also about them (the school’s values, vision, or faculty).
3. Be Persistent
I faced multiple rejections before this win.
4. Believe in Yourself
You don’t need to be perfect. You need to be prepared.
5. Think Long-Term
Scholarships aren’t just about money. They’re a platform to grow and create real change.