When looking at scholarships for
study abroad, compared to some of the other applications I completed, the
Gilman Scholarship was the one that looked the most formidable. With so much
information required and documents that had to be scanned, I wondered if I
should really commit to filling it out. I am happy to report that it was well
worth it. It took some time to gather everything, but the application was not
as difficult task as it had seemed. The part that required the most effort was
the essay. In order to be successful in the essay, you have to express you and
your need as well as your dedication to study abroad and international relations.
I would recommend working with a study abroad adviser on the essays because
they know what Gilman judges are looking for and are here to help you. I know I
couldn't have written a paper that awarded me money if Meredith McKee had not
met with me and helped edit my papers.
Where will you be going abroad, what
will you be doing there and how will it impact your academics/degree completion/life goals?
This summer I am going to go study
abroad with the University in Japan for a language study in Matsue, Japan and
Yokohama, Japan (located 30 minutes away from Tokyo). Our group will be taking
Japanese classes as well as doing many activities and excursions with the
students at Shimane University and Kanto Gakuin University. Career-wise, I want
to eventually end up teaching English in Japan, so I was ecstatic when I got
this chance to not only go, but to study Japanese while in Japan! Because we
are required to a follow-up project that promotes study abroad or international
relations, I will be posting on a blog about my experiences while in Japan and
I hope to do a follow-up presentation on campus to encourage other University
of Arkansas student to go on the U of A: Intensive Japanese program or simply
just to study abroad.
If you are someone who looking for
funding for study abroad and receives Pell Grant money, I encourage you to look
at this scholarship and talk to Study Abroad advisers. Both the money and the
advisers are there to help.
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About the Benjamin A. Gilman
International Scholarship Program
The
Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program (http://www.iie.org/Programs/Gilman-Scholarship-Program)
offers grants for U.S. citizen undergraduate students of limited financial
means to pursue academic studies abroad. Such international study is intended
to better prepare U.S. students to assume significant roles in an increasingly
global economy and interdependent world.
