Yoseph deals with the larger issue of obtaining scholarships for academic studies in the United States, the availability of other options besides direct scholarships and on how one can better prepare for such a future.

How can I apply for scholarships in the United States?

Hi Yoseph,
Congratulations for being one of the few Ethiopians to go to Harvard University! I learnt so much from your interview with Fehn about admissions to Harvard. I am looking for a scholarship in the United States, but Harvard is too competitive for me. What do I need to do to get scholarships at other universities in the US?
Negus
Dear Negus,
Thank you for your kind remarks, and for your relevant question. A lot of students and professionals have been asking me similar questions, so I will try to give a broad answer that can satisfy yours and most people's curiosity.
There are universities and colleges that offer scholarships all around the world, and yes there are scholarship opportunities in the United States. As a matter of fact, there are quite a number of opportunities that an Ethiopian student like you could be eligible for. First it would be helpful if you understand some of the terminology used by American institutions. There is Undergraduate study, what we call a first degree or Bachelor's Degree, and there is Graduate Study, which comprises master's degree and doctoral degree. There is also a Specialized Professional Study, which includes the study of law, medicine, nursing, etc. If the institution is a college then it only offers undergraduate study, but if it is a university then it has graduate courses. Also, it is important to remember that if you are not an American citizen then you fall under the category of international students, so whenever you search for universities and go to their websites, look for the 'international students' section.
There are over 3,200 accredited colleges and universities in the United States, and few of them offer scholarships for international students. There are certain reliable sources that can give you an accurate list of these institutions. The US Embassy in Addis Ababa offers Education Advising Services, and they have a library with reference books that have extensive information about universities and colleges. This is a very valuable resource center that is accessible to the public. Also, there are certain Internet sources that you can use, such as the 'Education USA' and 'Peterson's.' These websites are reliable sources to find information about colleges and universities, but be very careful when using other Internet sources.
Once you know how to look for institutions and get information about them, the following step would be to know the requirements to get into the institutions you are interested in. Usually, there are standardized tests one would need to take, either TOEFL or SAT or GMAT or GRE, and each institution will have information on its requirements for international students. These are some of the tests you will have to take prior to applying to these institutions, and you can find more information on them at the US Embassy or at their respective official websites.
When it comes to scholarships it becomes a bit tricky. Very few universities offer financial aid and scholarships to international students, and each university has its own criteria for awarding financial aid to international students. Finding the list of these universities is not easy, but still there are resources at the US Embassy that you can use and some websites such as 'EduPass' that will give you a list of such universities. If you are not sure whether a university offers financial aid or not, you can contact them by sending them an email using contacts on their websites. Admission is something that many universities take very seriously so you will be able to get information from admissions officers easily. And if they offer financial aid to international students, you will be able to get the financial aid forms from their websites or they will send it to you by post.
There are other kinds of scholarships that you might be eligible for, and these are usually competitive. 'International Education Financial Aid' and 'FastWeb' have big database of scholarships which international students like you can apply for. Searching for such opportunities can be very tasking and would take a lot of time, but it is not impossible to find.
So, there are colleges and universities that offer scholarships in the US and there are other sources to fund your education in the US, but they are all competitive. You would have to shine from the crowd for you to impress the providers of that financial aid. Think of it the same way as you paying 5,000 Birr for someone's education. That someone must be very outstanding to make you invest 5,000 Birr in their education. The same principle applies when looking for scholarship opportunities in the United States. It is not easy, but it is not impossible either, and if you are dedicated to get good education in the United States, you must be ready to do a lot of research.

Yoseph can be contacted at askyoseph@gmail.com