By Melissa Beals
Three years ago, I was preparing for my study abroad in Gwangju, South Korea. I was a non-traditional student (28 years old at the time) and feeling a bit out of my comfort zone to be back in college to finish my undergraduate degree. I had a partial exercise science degree under my belt, a decade of teaching gymnastics, and several years working as a personal trainer … and here I was, returning to school to get a degree in Anthropology because of a newfound love of culture, language, and history.
My introduction to Korean culture was through a K-pop music video that my cousin told me to watch – BTS’s Blood, Sweat, and Tears. It launched my journey into the interesting culture, unique language, and rich but sometimes sad history of a country smaller than my home state.
By the time I decided to return to college, I had been teaching myself Korean for several years and I knew I wanted to study abroad to further my language skills. At first, I had my heart set on going to Seoul, but then I learned about USAC’s Gwangju, Korea program and discovered it was a more affordable option. Here was my thought process:
“It’s cheaper to study for an entire year in Gwangju than one semester in Seoul???”
When I asked that question to my advisor, she responded simply with, “Going for a whole year makes you stand out on scholarship applications, too.” Her words stuck with me, and within a couple weeks I knew I would be going to Korea for a whole year. My next thought was:
“Okay, so Gwangju is a lot cheaper than Seoul, but it’s still not cheap. How will I get the money to do this?”
This is where scholarships came into play, and specifically, the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship.
The Gilman scholarship is a prestigious award from the U.S. Department of State for undergraduate students to study abroad or complete an internship abroad. It provides up to $5,000 to fund your study abroad, with additional awards available if you’re a STEM major or will be studying a critical language. Scholarship applicants must be a Pell Grant recipient with financial need, with attention given to underrepresented students (72% of Gilman Scholars are from rural communities and small towns, and 49% are first-generation college students).
I knew I had a good shot at getting the scholarship. I was from a rural area, had chosen a country with a critical language, and was going for an academic year. All I had to do was write a few essays, and I had a chance at $5,000 toward my study abroad!
The “Statement of Purpose” essay requires you to share your motivations for studying abroad, and how your experience will contribute to your goals. I divided my goals into three sections for my essay:
- Living in Korea would give me the chance to achieve my academic goal of becoming conversational in the language (since my university didn’t offer Korean courses).
- Career goals (because I hoped to live and work in Korea one day).
- Personal goals (because of my ever-growing interest in the culture and society).
I received both the Gilman scholarship and the Critical Need Language Award, for a total of $8,000 to fund my experience in Korea. These awards are an honor and a privilege, not only for the way they allowed me to experience Korea fully, but also for the recognition that I will have for the rest of my life as a Gilman Scholar.
Prestigious scholarships like the Gilman can make you stand out in job applications, too — putting it on your resume shows employers that you have a global perspective and cultural competency, important traits that make you a valuable job candidate.
Studying abroad is one of the only times in your life that you can receive funding to live abroad, and the Gilman Scholarship can be a great way to do just that. The worst thing that happens is that your application won’t be selected — although you can apply each cycle. But the best thing that happens? You have a life-changing experience abroad, learn a new language, make new friends, and leave a piece of your heart in your other home across the world.
Application Tips
- Know your Goals. What are your academic, career, and personal goals? Make it obvious how your chosen destination aligns with you reaching those goals.
- Give yourself plenty of time. While I know a recipient who wrote their essays on the plane (true story), time is your best friend when applying. I worked on my essays for an entire month, going through several drafts, and getting feedback from advisors and family until I knew they were the best they could be.
- Be You. Your application is your interview on paper. This is the only time the readers will “meet you”, so be honest and share your story.
Deadlines
The Gilman Scholarship Applications run in two cycles per year, in the spring and fall semester. The spring deadline is fast approaching: applications must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. (PT) on March 5. The fall deadline is Thursday, October 1, with applications opening in August.
For more application tips, check out these blogs:
How to Get Your Gilman Scholarship Application Noticed
Tips for Applying for the Gilman Scholarship
8 Tips for Making Your Gilman Scholarship Essays Stronger
Make Studying Abroad a Reality: The Gilman Scholarship and Some Personal Advice
