How to answer questions on your financial resources for grad school?

[lubinli]

Hello all,

(Sorry that I haven't been an active participant at the forum. As a newcomer to the application process, I feel pretty clueless/don't want to misguide people in response to most of the questions posted here.)

I am an international, master's program applicant, and I was wondering if anyone has any advice on how to fill out the "financial resources" section of certain applications (i.e. questions asking you $______ that you/your family/outside scholarships/other sources can contribute to your grad education). I plan on using my savings and taking out loans, but it's too early to know the exact numbers. Any guidance on how to answer such questions? Should I leave some "gap" between the budget and my total financial resources, in hoping for scholarship/financial aid consideration?

I know that my chance of getting funding is very slim, especially at public universities, but I can't stop wondering if stating my ability to shoulder the full cost of the education would result in the committee passing me up entirely for funding considerations. On the other hand, I have heard horror stories of schools rejecting qualified international (PhD) candidates only because they cannot fund them (see:).

Thanks a lot!

[RiseofthePhoenix]

Ask the school that you're applying to for instruction on how to fill out the financial statement form. Most schools will simy ask you to sign and date the form and wait until you get admitted before requiring you to fill it out.