I just want to add that Harvard and Stanford do not give out merit-based scholarships, they do give out need-based scholarships. So they are the exception to the rule, otherwise it is indeed based on how attractive you are to the school. And attractiveness is generally gauged by how diverse you are and what they feel you could contribute... diverse can be measured in number of different ways.
The Balfour scholarship covers 95k for HBS, it's a private scholarship offered every 2 years, this upcoming year is one.
Right now, I'm working on private scholarship applications with one of my clients who is headed to HBS in the fall.
He probably won't qualify for need-based aid, so I'm trying to help him get money by having him apply to private scholarships, one of them $7.5k based on his nationality, then Sainsbury, specific for chartered British Engineers going to M7, which is 50 k, and then hopefully he will pick up another 45 K through the Fulbright scholarship which he was just shortlisted for.
Hes hoping for a J-visa through Fulbright for him and his wife so she can work.
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