Hi everyone! I’m thrilled to share that I’ve just won my first-ever scholarship—a whopping $62,500 for one year! I’m still trying to process how to feel about it all. As an international student heading to the US, I’ll be far from my family, but I’m incredibly happy and proud of this achievement. It’s been a tough year, but I’ve managed to turn things around, and I’m hopeful I can make the most of this opportunity. Wishing you all the best of luck with your scholarships—remember, anything is possible!
Congratulations! That’s amazing news—a true blessing!
How did you make this possible? Please share your journey.
I applied to a program called Assist last fall. First, I uploaded my transcript with all my grades. If you meet their criteria, you’ll create an account on their portal, where you’ll fill out various forms. This includes answering questions about yourself, your hobbies, family, sports, music, and what you’d do with the scholarship. You’ll also need to take a Duolingo English test. It was quite challenging, even for someone at a C1 level, due to the requirement of having your camera on, being alone in a room, and not looking away from the screen.
If you pass the test and meet their requirements, you’ll be invited to write an essay and do an in-person interview. After that, you wait for their decision. For context, there were over 200 applicants at the beginning, and only 15 received scholarships. Out of those 15, only 7 received full scholarships with sponsorships, and I’m one of them.
Study hard. I earned my associate’s degree from a community college, worked diligently with scientists, and climbed the ranks to become one myself. I’m also currently back in school to complete my bachelor’s degree. My advice is that the specific school you attend isn’t as important as fully committing to your major and passing your classes. The choice of school matters more for master’s programs and PhDs. At the bachelor’s level, it’s the dedication and effort you put in that really count.
Wow, congratulations! I’m still waiting to hear back on mine 
.