Scholarships to
Study and Intern Abroad
This is a program of the U.S. Department of State,
Bureau of Educational & Cultural Affairs, supported in its
implementation by IIE.
Scholarships to
Study and Intern Abroad
Gilman Scholarship
Overview
The Gilman Scholarship enables American
students to gain proficiency in diverse
languages and cultures, skills that are critically
important to their academic and career
development.
Critical Need Language Awards of $3,000
• Arabic
• Azerbaijani
• Bangla
• Chinese
• Hindi
• Indonesian
• Japanese
• Korean
• Persian
• Punjabi
• Russian
• Swahili
• Turkish
• Urdu
Option to complete a second essay in the
application to be considered for this award.
Eligibility
U.S. citizen
Undergraduate student
Federal Pell Grant
Academic Credit
No Travel Warning (Mexican states with no travel advisory are
eligible)
Minimum three weeks (21 days)
OR two weeks (14 days) if at
community college
How to Apply
Online Application {program + essays +
transcript(s) + advisors}
Advisor Certifications
{Study Abroad & Financial Aid}
Apply at www.gilmanscholarship.org
Essay #1
Statement of Purpose
“Personal Interview”
You + Program + Goals {academic, professional, personal}
Challenges
Tips for Statement of Purpose
• Answer prompts & use transitions:
– Coursework towards major or minor,
– Reasons for particular country & program,
– Country knowledge & language acquisition,
– Career goals & professional development,
– Inspiration for study abroad,
– Personal growth (i.e. independence, adaptability),
– Challenges (i.e. family obligations, disabilities).
• Have essays proofread & don’t wait until last minute!
– Advisor, writing center, professor
– Spell check won’t catch: “I want to study aboard.”
Tips for Statement of Purpose
• Answer prompts & use transitions:
– Coursework towards major or minor,
– Reasons for particular country & program,
– Country knowledge & language acquisition,
– Career goals & professional development,
– Inspiration for study abroad,
– Personal growth (i.e. independence, adaptability),
– Challenges (i.e. family obligations, disabilities).
Telling your story
Situational Choices Relationships Interests
Telling Your Story: List out different aspects of your personal
history by categories: “Situational,” “Choices,” “Relationships,”
“Interests.”
You can use a blank sheet of paper or an Excel spreadsheet to
brainstorm
Telling your story
Situational Choices Relationships Interests
Year as alumni ambassador
Chose to study abroad in Germany
German professor Foreign languages
Graduated in 2008 during recession
Chose to move to Houston
People I knew at IIE Helping others
Travel
Telling Your Story: List out different aspects of your personal history
by categories: “Situational,” “Choices,” “Relationships,” “Interests.”
You can use a blank sheet of paper or an Excel spreadsheet to
brainstorm
In each column, list out as many items as you can.
Telling your story
Situational Choices Relationships Interests
Year as alumni ambassador
Chose to study abroad in Germany
German professor Foreign languages
Graduated in 2008 during recession
Chose to move to Houston
People I knew at IIE Helping others
Travel
Telling Your Story: List out different aspects of your personal history by
categories: “Situational,” “Choices,” “Relationships,” “Interests.”
You can use a blank sheet of paper or an Excel spreadsheet to brainstorm
In each column, list out as many items as you can.
Take one element from each column and combine to tell a story.
Telling your story
Year as alumni ambassador
Chose to move to Houston
People I knew at IIE Helping others
Telling Your Story: List out different aspects of your personal history by
categories: “Situational,” “Choices,” “Relationships,” “Interests.”
You can use a blank sheet of paper or an Excel spreadsheet to brainstorm
In each column, list out as many items as you can.
Take one element from each column and combine to tell a story.
Does it tell a compelling story? Is it missing anything? Try it with different
combinations.
You want to see that your story can be told many ways. Just include
relevant parts of the story.
Telling your story
Helping others Year as alumni ambassador
People I knew at IIE Chose to move to Houston
Telling Your Story: List out different aspects of your personal history by
categories: “Situational,” “Choices,” “Relationships,” “Interests.”
You can use a blank sheet of paper or an Excel spreadsheet to brainstorm
In each column, list out as many items as you can.
Take one element from each column and combine to tell a story.
Does it tell a compelling story? Is it missing anything? Try it with different
combinations.
You want to see that your story can be told many ways. Just include
relevant parts of the story.
Telling your story
Your turn! Take 10-15 minutes to work on charting our your story following the
steps on the worksheet.
Essay #2
Follow-on Service Project
How will you give back by inspiring others to study abroad?
On campus or in community?
Design Plan of Action: {audience, tools, timeline}
Examples of Follow-on
Service Projects• Khalid, Harper College, wrote an article for his community college’s
“Going Global” newsletter about the Gilman Scholarship and his study
abroad experience and also presented to foreign language classes.
• Amanda, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, gave presentations to
transfer students about how to incorporate a semester abroad and the
Gilman Scholarship into their academic plan.
• Zoe, University of North Carolina, Greensboro, partnered with
the study abroad office to work with sending athletes abroad.
• Hal, Hampton University, presented at Hampton Cultural Fair and to
incoming freshmen on study abroad and the Gilman Scholarship, as well
as mentored students in the process of planning for study abroad.
• Lisa, Durham Technical Community College, created a scrapbook
and posters about her experiences in Jamaica to promote her
presentation on study abroad and the Gilman Scholarship.
Check out
resources on the
Gilman website
gilmanscholarship.org
Optional Essay #3
Critical Need Language Award
Is it a critical need language?
Is it predominately spoken in the country you’re going to?
How your study of the language relates to your academic and career goals
Timelines & Deadlines
*11:59pm
Central Time
Check Gilman
website for future
dates and
deadlines.
Application Opens
Applicant Deadline
Advisor Deadline
Spring or Summer (Early Application)
Mid-August 1st Tues. October
2nd Tues. October
Application Opens
Applicant Deadline
Advisor Deadline
Mid-January 1st Tues. March
2nd Tues. March
Summer or Fall or Academic year
What makes a strong application?
Plan ahead – start today!
Talk to your advisors
Research your study abroad program and
destination options –select a program that
meets Gilman eligibility criteria
Check your application for accuracy
Know where to get the information you need
to answer the questions you have!
Invest time in your essays. Start early and have
them proofread. Answer all of the essay prompts.
Stay Connected
YouTube
Webinars
Gilman Global Experience Blog
Google+
E-Newsletters
Other Resources for International
Exchange
Other Education Abroad Resources on the Gilman website at GilmanScholarship.org
Other U.S. Government resources:
– Critical Language Scholarship Program
– Fulbright U.S. Student Program
– Boren Scholarships and Fellowships
More information at: studyabroad.state.gov
Contact Information
www.gilmanscholarship.org
Applicants
800-852-2141option 1
Advisors
800-852-2141
option 2
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