Week 6 of my Study Abroad Trip in Haifa, Israel

Hello everyone, I hope you all had a great week! This week I want to discuss my tips for funding your study abroad trip whether you are considering study abroad for yourself or know of someone who is interested. When I first heard about study abroad, I thought that there would be no way that I could afford it. The tuition for the University of Haifa is nearly double the amount of money that I pay to attend the University of Nevada, Reno. To my surprise, when I began searching for scholarships there were many options available to me. Especially if you are low-income, a first-generation college student or a minority. The application process can seem overwhelming at first as many of them require letters of recommendation, essays, and even interviews. If you are applying for a large sum of money, you’re application will most likely require all of these components. If you are applying for a smaller sum of money, your application will most likely consist of one or two essays and one recommendation letter. When asking someone for a recommendation letter be sure that you give them plenty of time (3-4 weeks) to complete it, as they are most likely very busy. Additionally, you should give them a hand-written thank you card expressing your gratitude for their help. They will appreciate this a lot. It is also a good idea to send your recommender a copy of your essay so they can have a better idea of what you are applying for and why you are applying for it. Next, I suggest contacting your local study abroad scholarship advisor. My USAC (Universities Study Abroad Consortium) Scholarship Advisor Sonia Meza was a great help to me in searching for scholarships and reviewing my essays. I also reached out to my campus’ Fellowship Advisor Dr. Edgington and she helped me brainstorm ideas for my essays and reviewed them. Both Sonia and Dr. Edgington were amazing in helping me with my application process and I am sure that your campus has similar resources to help you with yours. The last step in the scholarship process is the interview. It could be in person, over the phone, or a skype call. This can be very intimidating, and it’s important that you are adequately prepared for it. I recommend knowing general information about the customs and culture of the country you want to study in. Additionally, it would be a plus if you know about the history and current political situation of the country you want to study in. Lastly, make sure you can explain why you are a good candidate for the scholarship and how it will benefit your academic, career and personal goals. After you submit your application you will be proud of yourself for all of your hard work and just have to wait for that “Congratulations you’ve been selected for the … scholarship” email. I was fortunate enough to be selected for the Boren Scholarship, The Gilman Scholarship, the Fund for Education Abroad Scholarship and some USAC scholarships. I am more than happy to help anyone interested in studying abroad with their application process. Please feel free to reach out to me via email (henrybrendan44@gmail.com) if you have any questions or want me to review your essays. I would like to thank everyone for reading this week! 🙂