Alumni Voices

Applying for the Udall Scholarship proved to be an incredibly rewarding experience. It not only challenged me to craft my own personal narrative, but it also aided me in truly defining my passions and goals. Creating my application allowed me to narrow in on what was driving me to pursue environmentalism, and thus it made me even more excited about my future in the field. When I began the application, I had no idea what I wanted to do in the future. After writing about my experiences and projects, I realized that I could combine my two interests of journalism and environmentalism in order to pave a path in both fields.

Be honest with yourself. Schedule an initial meeting with Anna and come prepared with programs you want to apply to, your strengths and weaknesses, and what you can do to address your weaknesses. Once you graduate, set your own timelines. Understand how much time you need to address gaps in your application and reverse-engineer your application from there.

Don't feel intimidated by the number of decisions you have to make while applying for graduate programs. I know that choosing the right course, college, and researching scholarships might seem daunting, but, in my experience, it's best to focus on a few applications you feel most passionate about, and get to know those institutions well. Not only will it help you during the interview stage, but it also will give you a good idea of all the funding options available. Attempt to apply to all of them, even when they seem too competitive, or you don't think you meet all the criteria. As each of your applications will be read by someone within the university, it will help your profile stand out.

I'm still developing the answer to the classic question, "Why do you want to become a doctor?"  I was really interested in marine biology and the environmental conservation movement prior to committing to the pre-med track. Perhaps in the future I will still study marine organisms like corals and lionfish, but in the context of something like the use of corals as a bone graft substitute [...]. I want to have a direct impact on humanity through research. 

[On working in investment in Mongolia:] "I went full steam ahead for this post. I figured I had challenged myself coming to NYU Shanghai for my undergraduate study, but that it was time to kick it up a notch. The work and training I am receiving will be beneficial moving forward, and this experience will leave a lasting impact on me."

Along the way, the invaluable experience of talking with people from different fields helped me keep an open mind. More than the final results, the process allowed me to meet amazing people [who] inspired me to ask myself what it is I want to create and how I can cross fields to make it happen.

Winning a Fulbright scholarship is an incredible honor. Having the opportunity to spend the next 10 months integrated into a community and participating in Malaysian traditions will be indispensable to my future work in global education.

The Schwarzman Scholarship asks applicants to articulate their rationale for why they believe the program is a good fit for them – and why they are a good fit for the program. This presses candidates to construct a narrative of their experiences and goals, the “story” that distinguishes them. This process demands reflection, and an effective applicant will complete the application with a fuller understanding of themselves and of their professional vision.

Being involved in community building at NYU Shanghai throughout my four years enabled me to compose a winning application for the DF fellowship at Yale-NUS. In particular, working as an RA and in Student Government are two experiences which I think Yale-NUS valued in my application, and ones which I am already drawing upon frequently despite only being in Singapore for a month. For students who are considering applying, I would strongly recommend getting involved in community development at NYU Shanghai and demonstrating your passion for improving the lives of fellow students during their time at the University.

I will be working at Proximity Designs, an award-winning social enterprise with a mission to raise incomes and improve the well-being of low-income families in rural Myanmar. The fact that the thought of moving to a new country in Asia still made me nervous even after I spent three years living in Shanghai was a key factor in making my decision. I wanted to challenge myself to outgrow and learn from fear and discomfort.