Funding

While studying abroad in the summer is easier to fit into an engineering major’s tight schedule, it does prove to be more expensive on the whole. However, this should not deter one from studying abroad. There are many ways to fund this experience including; scholarships, grants, fundraising and loans. Personally, I was able to receive enough money to fund my travels via a combination of scholarships, grants and fundraising:

While the UCEAP grant is subject to fluctuation based on need, the amount listed for the Pell grant is the max amount that can be received during the summer. More information on types of grants and loan options available can be found in UCLA EAP Guidebook. In terms of scholarships I frequented UCLA Scholarship Resource Page. This page listed various UCLA, Travel Study, UCEAP, and Third-Party Scholarships. While I applied for UCLA scholarships, and did not receive any, I also applied for a Third-Party national scholarship: The Gilman International Scholarship. The U.S. Department of State’s Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship is a grant program that enables students of limited financial means to study or intern abroad. Award amounts can total up to $5,000 for U.S. citizen undergraduates. The straightforward application process involved writing a personal statement as well as a follow up project that is to be completed upon return. Through this organization I was able to receive $4,000 to aid in paying for my studies abroad. Being a recipient of this award truly made all the difference in my travels and helped alleviate the financial burden. The Gilman is most definitely a worthwhile application and a exciting organization to be apart of.

However, I was still around $2,000 short to over my total cost, so that’s when I began my personal fundraiser. I began by reaching out to my hometown community members through a GoFundMe, which was very successful and received well. Additionally, I reached out to local Rotary and Women’s Auxiliary coalitions in order to seek funding. Again these avenues of fundraising proved successful, and the organizations were happy to help.These means of fundraising did require a little more work including:

• Drafting professional emails stating purpose and funds required
• Completing a follow up presentations to these groups

All in all, procuring funds for this trip was not easy and did require time and effort. However, I can say that my trip to Ghana was well worth the hours spent on applications and drafting emails. It was with a generous support system and gracious donors that I was able to make my dream of traveling a reality. I urge you to not let the hefty price tag of studying abroad hold you back from trying. If you have any questions regarding how I funded my trip, how you can fund your trip, or any general questions please feel free to reach out to me.