Written by Itziri Gonzalez Barcenas
I have been getting a lot of questions recently about my application experience. I thought it would be useful to do a three-part series on this. In this first post, I discuss:
· What led me to apply;
· The overall process;
· Some application tips.
As an advocate for equitable access, I believe it is important for me to highlight this exceptional opportunity on My Access Abroad for anyone who might not be in spaces where these types of programs are shared.
Deadline: September 12, 2024 at 3:00 PM (EDT) – This is around the same time every year.
A few months ago, I found out that I was one of 150 – out of more than 4200 applicants – accepted into the 9th cohort of Schwarzman Scholars. To say I was in utter shock and disbelief is an understatement. I was undocumented in the U.S. so post-secondary education seemed to be out of the cards for me. However, thanks to receiving Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) in 2013 and the Golden Door Scholarship, a dream as far-fetched as going to college came true. This is where it all began. Since then, I have been seeking ways to continue learning about ways to give back and help make things better for the next generation.
Itziri Gonzalez Barcenas, Co-Founder of My Access Abroad and Schwarzman Scholar
The Schwarzman Scholarship was founded by Stephen A. Schwarzman, an American financier, philanthropist, and Chairman, CEO and Co-Founder of Blackstone. It is a one-year fully-funded master’s degree program at Tsinghua University in Beijing, China. The aim of the program is to “identify the most promising young leaders from around the world… [to] study in China to create a more peaceful and prosperous future for all.”
Decision to apply
I have not always been interested in China. The seed was planted in the fall of 2017 by a professor I had during my domestic exchange semester at Howard University. As an Africa-China relations expert, Dr. Phiwokuhle Mnyandu constantly weaved stories about his time in China into his lectures. I marveled at his detailed anecdotes. His insights provided a refreshing new perspective that I had never heard before. Dr. Mnyandu left a big impression on me, so I kept in touch. We even interviewed him in 2021 (check it out here).
I was the first in my family to graduate from high school and was a low-income, first-generation college student, so I was not aware of these types of opportunities growing up. To make up for this lack of exposure, I used LinkedIn and newsletters to stay as informed as possible about interesting opportunities. When someone from Davidson College, my undergraduate institution, received the Schwarzman Scholarship, they posted about it everywhere. I researched it further and thought it looked like a great opportunity, but not for someone like me. I was too scared at the possibility of leaving the U.S. at that point.
So, my eventual decision to apply was not immediate. After graduation, I served as a College and Career Advisor at a Title 1 public high school in rural North Carolina through AmeriCorps. Then, after some intense soul searching, decided it was time to leave the U.S. and applied to do a two-year Master’s degree at Sciences Po Paris School of International Affairs (PSIA) and was accepted. I saw another student from my undergraduate institution receive the Schwarzman Scholarship. It reminded me of the program, but, once again, the timing was off. I was getting ready to leave the U.S. to go to Mexico and do my French visa process.
Following a ten-month delay, everything eventually worked out with my visa. During this unexpected “gap year,” I reconnected with my roots, my family, and healed from the pain of leaving everything and everyone behind. I entered France and began my two-year Master’s degree program in Paris. I settled into my studies, met incredible people from all over the world, and did internships to gain professional experience.
During my final year, I decided to get an early start on finding a post-graduate opportunity. Initially, I cast a narrow net only looking at full-time roles at international organizations. Then, as the months passed, I noticed a pattern of three main outcomes: 1.) rejection email; 2.) getting ghosted; 3.) position being canceled. This happened over and over… and over again. Eventually, I felt obliged to widen my search. I started looking at fellowships and other academic programs.
Then, I saw it… the Schwarzman Scholars application was opening in April 2023. I looked it up again to refresh my memory of the program and see if I was still eligible to apply. I fulfilled all the eligibility requirements and it was actually the last year I could apply! This time, the timing felt right. I took a leap of faith and signed up for an informational webinar.
Structuring my application
After the webinar, I felt informed and determined. I started my application as soon as the portal allowed me to enter. I watched Schwarzman Scholars’ YouTube videos religiously and read former Scholars’ advice to learn how to best approach the application. This video from a Schwarzman alum was particularly helpful in structuring my application in chunks.
Below are some additional tips for structuring your time:
- Be organized and intentional. Break it down according to your own school/work/social calendar.
- Be realistic. You know yourself best. For example, if you are not able to work for longer than 45-minute chunks, do not pressure yourself to do so.
- Be accountable. Time flies by… if you schedule time to work on your application, stick to it.
The application process
The next step was thinking about who I would reach out to for constructive feedback on my essays and who would be my three recommenders. For my “readers,” I ended up asking a high school teacher I am very close with to this day, one of my closest friends from my undergraduate studies, and my partner, Brice. I felt it was important to choose people from different periods of my life who truly know me and whom I trust.
As for my recommenders, the first was a professor from my undergraduate studies who has known me for years. She knows my character and that is super important for this type of application. We are still in touch and I consider her a mentor. She is someone who can speak to my passion and character. For my second recommender, I chose Dr. Mnyandu because of his expertise and how he would be able to speak to my curiosity about China dating back years. He has also been extremely supportive of me throughout the years. The third recommender I chose is someone from my latest graduate studies. He is someone I worked with closely due to my involvement with the PSIA Student Association. I believed he would be able to speak to my capabilities as a leader and bridging students with the institution. He also heard many (too many) of my ideas on issues ranging from the course selection process, diversity of professors, mentorship for first-generation students, and more. I felt he could also speak to the “behind the scenes” work I do.
Here are some tips to consider when selecting your three recommenders:
- Think beyond a title… their position is not the most important.
- Who knows you – your passions, biggest dreams, and your character well?
- Who is/has been your biggest cheerleader(s) academically/professionally?
- Who can best highlight your work ethic, personality, etc.?
The whole application process was extremely introspective. I took the time to really think about who I am, what I wanted to do with my life, and why. I also thought about how being in this program in China could help me get there. Why not another country? As I wrote and rewrote my essays, the picture started to become clear. The feedback I received from my three readers really helped shape my narrative.
Leadership and Personal Statement Essays
For my leadership essay, I started with a short account of where my vision of leadership comes from. From there, I moved into my trajectory navigating access to education as an undocumented migrant in the U.S. Finally, I spoke about a leadership experience that I believe really speaks to who I am as a leader – co-organizing a national immigration conference at my college campus in the American South. Focusing on this specific experience allowed me to show multiple facets of my leadership style: intentional, purpose-driven, and collaborative.
In my personal statement, I wanted to dive a little more into my background and story. I started by discussing the tough decision to self-deport from the U.S. in 2020. Then, I discuss the way being in my home country, Mexico, for the first time in almost twenty years radically changed me. Finally, I finish my essay by clearly stating how all of these experiences led to my life aspirations and why I believe going to China would help me.
Below are some tips for your leadership and personal statement essays:
- Think about what you believe leadership means to you.
- What makes you an impactful leader?
- Are there experiences that speak to your character and vision as a leader?
- What drives you? What gets you out of bed in the morning? What keeps you up at night?
- When you think about the way the world is today, how and what would you change?
Other tips to consider
The final part of the application I want to highlight is the one-minute introduction video. I recommend doing it – even if it is optional. It may seem a bit daunting at first. I totally get that feeling. Think about what part of your interests are not seen much in the application. Have fun with it! For example, I used mine to talk about my love for food and the small restaurant Brice and I opened in Mexico during our unexpected “gap year” there.
Once you feel like your application is solid, I recommend reaching out to the fellowship office at your college/university. It is their job to know about these types of opportunities. They are aware of the process and the general DO’s and DON’Ts. They give great feedback to improve your overall application. I highly advise you to go over the FAQs – Interview Process again to make sure you did not miss anything.
Spending all those months preparing my application was crucial for me to put my best foot forward. I did not rush the process. Then, I waited and waited… and waited. I found out I was selected for an interview in October 2023. Relief!! The second part was the preparation for the panel interview. For this, I suggest working with the fellowship office to put together at least one mock panel with feedback. I printed my application and read it meticulously to ensure I knew it like the back of my hand. I made very detailed annotations and wrote solid evidence-based arguments for why I believed certain things. I also thought about additional leadership examples that I did not include in my application. I focused on my body language and tone to avoid sounding unnatural or rehearsed.
At the end of the day, they want to get to know who YOU are. Make sure that is always at the back of your mind and I am sure you will do great. Good luck!
Note: This post reflects the author’s own views. It was not endorsed by the Schwarzman Scholars program. Stay tuned for part two on arriving in Beijing, China.
About Itziri Gonzalez Barcenas
She was born in Aguascalientes, Mexico and raised mostly in the rural American south. She has lived in Mexico, France, and now, China. Her interests include feminist diplomacy, socially responsible/conscious business, and inclusive public policymaking. She is a co-founder of My Access Abroad, an online platform aiming to bridge the gap in accessing abroad.