How I funded my Study Abroad
I have to preface this by saying that the way that I did this is not going to be available to everybody. However, the restrictions are able to be worked around if you’re willing to look for alternatives specific to your life.
Scholarships
This is where 100% of my study abroad money came from. It absolutely would not have been possible if I didn’t get every scholarship that I applied to for the semester. These scholarships will go in order from how available they are to you to ones that are less accessible.
Gilman-McCain
Up to $5,000 - $8,000
The Gilman-McCain is one of the best study abroad scholarships you can receive. The application is a bit lengthy - it requires three essays, transcripts (unofficial are fine don’t worry), and both of your advisors (financial and study abroad) to sign off on your application and fill in their own applications. There is an optional 4th essay that you can write that will give you an extra $3,000 if you’re learning a critical need language while abroad. I suggest writing it. I only received the $5,000 scholarship.
The big requirement with Gilman is that you are must complete a service project within 6 months of returning home. You’ll propose yours in one of the essays. Mine includes the gallery and blog posts you’re reading now about them, as well as several videos on YouTube. You do have to work for this scholarship but it is very rewarding. It is important to keep in mind that this scholarship is more need-based than merit-based.
Freeman-ASIA
$3,000 - $7,000 depending on program length (Summer - 3k, Semester - 5k, Year - 7k)
The Freeman-ASIA scholarship is similar to the Gilman except it is limited to countries in east/southeast Asia. It has a similar application process and is also need-based, requires an essay, and you have to complete a service project after returning. They do ask that you provide proof of need, and this will be done via a financial aid advisor and looking at the program cost. I received the $5,000 semester scholarship.
Pell Grant
FAFSA based
This is determined by your FAFSA and automatically distributed by the government. There are new rules to be aware of though - mainly the one that restricts funding to major related classes. If your study abroad classes are not required by your major or do not transfer you will receive significantly less funding.
Army Emergency Relief - Maj. Gen. James Ursano Scholarship Program for Military Children
$1500/semester
The AER scholarship is military related. If one of your parents or your spouse is/was in the military than you qualify for this scholarship. The only requirements are that you are listed as a dependent still, under 24, and do not yet have a degree. They will provide funds for you all 4 years of your degree and release them on a semester basis. The funds change every semester according to how much donors give and how many people have applied, but mine were in the range of $1500 - $3000 every semester. A huge help in supplementing working and giving me the extra funds to afford university.
Zell Miller
100% Tuition
The Zell Miller is a Georgia scholarship given to long-term residents who achieve a 3.7 GPA in high school, get a 1200 SAT / 26 ACT score and maintain a 3.3 GPA in university.
The scholarship pays the full tuition cost of the student if the university is in the state of Georgia. This was useful to me because of an agreement my home university has with my host university that allows me to pay my home university’s tuition in place of the host university - making the tuition in-state.
CSU Grant
$1500
I was given a study abroad grant by my university as part of a fund they gather every semester and given out on a first come first serve basis. They offer a scholarship as well, but I missed the deadline. If you don’t go to the university then I can only advise that you look into your own university to see if there are any scholarships, grants, or local donations that they have for study abroad programs.
Thanks to these scholarships, I was able to study abroad for a semester and use the money from my job to live on my own. I cannot stress this enough, the Gilman-McCain and Freeman-ASIA scholarships are the 2 biggest factors in me studying abroad for a semester. Even with all the other scholarships and personal savings I had, I still would not have been to participate if I had not been awarded both of these scholarships. They are highly accessible applications and the teams were nothing but amazing to me. I cannot recommend this enough. Even if you don’t think you have a shot at winning, you should still try. I didn’t think I had a shot at either and I won both. Take the chance!