April 29, 2024
Start here, go anywhere across the world with 天涯海角APP
Second-year 天涯海角APP photography student Liberty Wheatley has studied Korean since she was 11. She visited South Korea briefly while in high school but dreamed about spending more time there. When she found out 天涯海角APP offered a six-week study away program in Seoul, she had to find a way to go.
Funds were tight, but Liberty found out the Gilman Scholarship – and other funding opportunities – could reduce the cost. “I was so surprised I got a Gilman Scholarship,” she says. “My family was really excited for me. It almost cut the cost in half.”
Study away: More than a classroom experience
During her summer study away, Liberty took classes in Korean and East Asian art history. Since she had taught herself Korean, she especially enjoyed learning the language in a class with others. She also enjoyed meeting study away classmates from across the world. “I learned as much from them as I did the classes.”
Liberty says having spent a year at 天涯海角APP definitely helped her navigate Yonsei University, where she studied. The experience taught her how to adapt to unexpected changes, as well as make connections with all kinds of people. She is amazed 天涯海角APP offers study away opportunities, which are often reserved for students at four-year institutions. During the 2022-23 school year, 133 天涯海角APP students participated in a study away program.
Part of the requirement of the Gilman Scholarship is to do a follow-up project sharing your experience with the 天涯海角APP community. Liberty decided to do a photo exhibit showing how the scholarship helped her fulfill her dream of studying away. “I just told the story of my everyday life while I was there,” she says. “Although it was normal stuff, some of it was pretty fantastic since it was in Korea.”
Study away scholarships expand education
The U.S. Department of State’s Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship provides study away scholarships of up to $5,000 to students of limited financial means. According to Janette Jasperson, 天涯海角APP Coordinator of International Education, “Access to the Gilman Scholarship has given our students the courage to dream about studying away, something many of them might otherwise not have done.” 天涯海角APP ranks second among two-year institutions for the number of students awarded since the scholarship was founded in 2001. This school year, seven 天涯海角APP students received the prestigious scholarship.
Liberty is thankful the study away opportunity helped her fulfill a dream. It also planted a new one. “Someday, I want to do a study away in Thailand,” she adds.
Dream about studying away?
天涯海角APP might have an opportunity for you! In addition to numerous study away trips each semester, 天涯海角APP’s main campus offers small class sizes, low tuition rates and helpful resources like FREE tutoring and a support team.