Lehigh University - [LehighU], Pennsylvania, Bethlehem - Scholarship

• Unfortunately, I never got any scholarship during the course. Most of the scholarships that are available in my university are merit-based, and my lower GPAs might have made a difference to remain behind while considering the beneficiary.
• On the other hand, except university scholarships, there had been some independent scholarship provisions which students could apply individually. Most of these required the essay of some sort on specific topics. For instance, one that I came across asked the applicant to write about any woman in a STEM majoring that inspires them most. There were a good number of these, but I didn't look through them in detail since I was more occupied with getting ready for class work and adjusting to the program.
• Some of my classmates received scholarships through the university. Especially, some of them had been given a 35% waiver of tuition because their profiles were quite impressive, such as a high GPA and extensive experiences in the past. Some of my peers had full-time work experience, unlike me, who just finished their undergraduate studies with professional experiences limited to internships, which could have helped strengthen their scholarship applications. The university seemed to value a combination of academic excellence and practical work experience when awarding these scholarships.
• Regarding the overall number of students who receive scholarships annually, I am not fully aware of the exact figures. However, from what I observed, most scholarships provided by the university were merit-based and aimed at high-achieving students with a strong academic record and good professional achievements. These were quite competitive scholarships, and the amount awarded varied from scholarship to scholarship, but it seemed that a common figure for those who qualified was a 35% reduction in tuition.
• In all, even though I never got the scholarship, the existence of merit-based scholarships and sources for external funding means options were available toward financial aid, provided one meets the eligibility criteria. It is always advisable to try all available opportunities, especially those outside the university.
   

• I chose off-campus accommodations and mainly used Facebook to seek a place to stay. I joined community groups for people who advertise subleasing, leasing, or are looking for roommates.
• The university also has its own website for finding places to stay and roommates. My monthly rent is $550 for a 5-bedroom, 2-bathroom house rented through "Amicus Properties." Maintenance is handled by them; however, gas and electricity are the tenants' responsibilities. The house came furnished with a dresser, nightstand, table, chair, and bed frame, although I had to buy a mattress.
• The main challenge I encountered was finding roommates and coordinating to lease the house together, since this greatly reduced costs. It's much cheaper renting an entire house and splitting the rent with roommates than paying owners who rent rooms at $700 or more individually. Coordination and guidelines for the house before occupying it were essential.
• I recommend that students start their housing search well in advance and ask the current students for advice on what to look for in a house. The rules for the house should be well-defined and all of them agreed to before the lease is signed to avoid future conflicts. My house is close enough to walk to campus, and most of the Indian students are found to stay off-campus in the surrounding housing areas.
• My accommodation is really close to campus, my classes happen all around the campus but i would say I'm relatively close and walkable from everything. Indian students are spread out everywhere.
   

Lehigh University does not offer scholarships for MS in Industrial Engg

Huge on-campus opportunities, vibrant and diverse culture, smaller Indian crowd than other colleges, great for Industrial Engg

Financial aid is available for need-based and merit-based. I received some of both, as many undergrads do. Lehigh is generous with financial aid because they want everyone to be able to afford to come, but there are many wealthy students who can afford the bill.

I opted for this college because it is a small school that offered the major I wanted in a really nice location. Not in the city but with enough to do in the area. I am a runner, so it's nice to have trails nearby.

Yes; you complete your FAFSA and other college board application (~$25 a year). If your parents own a business, they also have to do a supplement for every business they own. Lehigh also has a financial aid application that needs to be filled out as well.

I knew I wanted to major in mathematics and probably go toward the actuarial science track, so I wanted to go to a school that had a great business school and math classes. Lehigh is also known for its engineering program, so I assumed the math program would be great as well.