Although the benefits of receiving a scholarship are obvious, many students don’t apply for them because they’re either not sure how or they don’t believe they will qualify.

We’re here to tell you that USAC has a variety of scholarships that fit any and every student. From program and major-specific to general study abroad scholarships, there is something for everyone.

We also make it super easy to apply for all of USAC’s scholarships with just one application in your Gateway.

Sometimes a scholarship affects a student in ways we didn’t imagine. We reached out to some past scholarship recipients to hear how receiving a scholarship helped them achieve their dreams of studying abroad. Here’s what they had to say.

Claire Martin, University of Texas at Tyler, studied in Prague in Spring 2015

Growing up in a small town in East Texas, most people I know don’t leave the state very often, let alone the country. In fact, I didn’t know a single person who had actually studied abroad when I decided to apply. After looking into it, I realized that studying abroad wasn’t all that much more expensive than my average semester at home would be, especially after I took my average rent, books, and transportation costs into consideration. Trust me, as a Finance major, I would know!

I decided to make the leap and embarked on a journey that would undoubtedly change my life forever. Luckily for me, my school had just recently partnered with USAC, making me the first student from the University of Texas at Tyler to study abroad with them. This enabled me to apply for and receive a scholarship from USAC which I put directly towards my spring semester in Prague, Czech Republic.

This scholarship definitely helped me cut down on my student loans and allowed me to spend the gobs of money I had saved up solely on traveling throughout the semester. During the four months, I traveled to over 16 cities across 10 different countries. I made a thousand memories and met my roommate who would become my favorite travel buddy and best friend, even to this day.

Since then, I’ve volunteered for a couple of months in Madagascar and I currently work for a non-profit in Thailand. I can honestly say that none of this would have ever happened without studying abroad. I’m forever thankful for USAC and all of the memories and friends I made. Praha will always have a piece of my heart.

Jerson Valdez, University of Nevada, Reno, studied in Alicante, Spain in Spring 2017

Receiving the Gilman Scholarship affected my ability to travel abroad by allowing me to live comfortably in my program city without having to worry about any sort of financial situation that could get in the way. It has really made the living situation easier and I can comfortably set my mind on enjoying my experience here.

Samantha Wicks, Boise State University, studied in San Ramon, Costa Rica in Fall 2016

I think that receiving this scholarship helped me to take the classes that I wanted to, and I was able to go on a study abroad experience – without this scholarship, I might not have been able to afford the program. The money that I received with this scholarship allowed me to use the money I had saved to travel and see more of the country and the culture. Without this, I wouldn’t have been able to see the parts of the country that I was able to, and wouldn’t have been able to learn about the indigenous culture in more rural areas.

Coryl Jackson, University of Nevada, Reno, studied in Accra, Ghana in Spring 2017

One of the many wonderful aspects of the Gilman Scholarship is the fact that it allows students like myself, who would not otherwise have the opportunity to study abroad, the chance to go. In high school, I first heard of studying abroad, and I thought of how incredible it seems. The notion of being able to see the world while getting my degree thrilled me. When I got to college and realized the reality of the cost of doing so, I felt a bit discouraged. This scholarship program lifted my spirits tremendously. The Gilman offered me the chance to do everything I had dreamed about, and without having to concern myself with monetary matters. The Gilman Scholarship does so much more than give an individual money, it gives students experiences that are irreplaceable.

Megan Breen, University of Nevada, Reno, studied in Lüneburg, Germany in Fall 2014

While I was in Germany I wanted to see as much of the country as I could, try the authentic dishes at restaurants downtown, and visit some of the historical sites near Lüneburg. Yes, earning a USAC scholarship helped me afford the program, but it also enriched my experience abroad in so many other ways too.

Deashea Andrews, University of Nevada, Reno, studied in Heredia, Costa Rica in Spring 2017

Receiving the Gilman Scholarship was truly a blessing. I had unrealistic financial goals and was not completely sure how I was going to take care of all of the study abroad necessities. Being a recipient of the award made studying abroad a realistic goal and lifted weights off of my shoulder, allowing me to focus on preparing for the program rather than stressing about where the finances were coming from.