A Thai Student, Recipient of Many Scholarships, Chooses the Chancellor's Scholarship to Pursue Her Degree in Climate Studies and Public Policy at Vanderbilt University

My name is Aminta Permpoonwiwat, but my friends call me Aimee. I am from Bangkok, Thailand, and I am currently an undergraduate student at Vanderbilt University majoring in Climate Studies and Public Policy. Growing up in Thailand, I have seen the effects of climate change firsthand. What’s more, I have come to understand that the people who are affected the most by the problem are often the ones who contribute the least to it. Hence, I am passionate about climate justice and educational equality. I have worked closely as a youth advisor to the UN Human Rights Council and the UN Country Team in Thailand, which has given me valuable experience engaging with important stakeholders on the national and international levels.  Additionally, I founded a youth volunteering initiative that has reached over 1,000 students across Thailand. As a member of the Thailand National Debate Team, I also participated in numerous debate and speech tournaments.

Scholarship Details

I received offers for 5 full-ride/full-tuition scholarships to study in the US and Canada.

(1) The Chancellor’s Scholarship at Vanderbilt University, which is given to less than 1% of applicants who demonstrate outstanding leadership, strength of character, academic achievement, and a deep-seated commitment to diversity and social justice. The scholarship covers full tuition for 8 semesters, plus a one-time summer stipend for an immersive experience.

(2) The Lester B. Pearson International Scholarship at the University of Toronto, given to 37 international students around the world who have first been nominated from their school. The scholarship is awarded to students who demonstrate exceptional academic achievement, creativity, and leadership, and a special emphasis is placed on their future potential to contribute positively to the global community. The scholarship covers tuition, books, incidental fees, and full residence support for four years.

(3) The Freeman Asian Scholarship at Wesleyan University is awarded to exceptionally promising Asian scholarships from 11 different countries (China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam). The scholarships cover the full cost of attendance for a bachelor’s degree, including tuition, fees, room and board, supplies, and travel to and from home country.

(4) The King Morgridge Scholarship at the University of Wisconsin-Madison is awarded to up to 6 students each year. Scholars are selected for their drive, academic success, and commitment to addressing issues of poverty in their own countries. The scholarship covers 8 semesters of tuition and fees, on-campus room and board, health insurance, airfare, and a stipend for miscellaneous expenses.

(5) The Emerging Global Leader Scholarship at American University is awarded to only one international student per year. The scholarship is awarded to international students dedicated to positive civic and social change, and those who will return home to improve communities in their home country. The scholarship covers tuition, fees, housing, and board.

Educational Background

I completed high school at Patumwan Demonstration School in Bangkok, Thailand. I was in the English Program for Talented Students and had a 3.94 GPA. It was a Thai public school, so I did not study A-levels or the IB Diploma, However, I self-studied for some AP exams and took the exams at an international school in Bangkok. I took AP Biology, Psychology, Environmental Science, Microeconomics, English Language & Composition, and I achieved scores ranging from 4-5. The year that I applied, the SAT was optional. As for IELTS, I received an 8.5 overall. The only preparation I did for the exam was look over a few practice exams online, but I did not study more than that.

How Did You Prepare to Apply for the Chancellor’s Scholarship at Vanderbilt University and Other Scholarships?

In terms of applying for the scholarships, I did a lot of research online. I found information from Google and looking at the universities' websites. There are a lot of scholarships online that I think people don’t know about, so Google was my best friend throughout the whole process.

I tried my best to find essay examples of people who received scholarships in the past. However, this was very hard to find as many people did not share their essays online. In the end, I concentrated on telling my story authentically and communicating to admission officers why I deserved each scholarship.

Additionally, I received help and advice from my teachers, friends, and family. They helped give me a second opinion on my essays, as well as offered emotional support throughout the whole process.

What Do You Think Made Your Application Stand Out?

I think what made my applications stand out were my genuine passions and interests. From my essays, extracurriculars, and even my letters of recommendation, it was communicated clearly that I wanted to make a positive difference in the world—especially in the fields of climate action and social justice—and that each scholarship would help me achieve my goals. By having a clear “theme”, my applications were more memorable and meaningful.

Even before high school, I was involved in activities that not only helped me develop relevant skills and experience for my future career path, but were things that I actually enjoyed doing. This is important because it pushed me to work harder to succeed and it can also reflect on your application when admissions officers are reading them.

Furthermore, I focused my applications on telling the story of who I am, my motivations, and my goals, rather than listing my achievements. This allowed admissions officers to get to know me as a person and see specific characteristics that they were looking for. I thought deeply about what qualities I wanted to be showcased in my application, but I stayed true to who I was. In fact, I talked openly about my insecurities and shortcomings. As I stated before, I believe we’re constantly learning and growing, so my applications highlighted that even though I’ve come a long way, there’s still an exciting journey ahead and I couldn’t wait to see how it all develops.

What Would You Have Done Differently if You Were Going Through the Process Again?

If I were going through the process again, I would do two things differently. Firstly, I would start earlier. I started the application process pretty late and I think that led me to be very stressed. Not only was that bad for my mental health, but it hindered my ability to submit the best application that I could. Hence, the second thing I would change would be to change my mindset and tell myself to trust the process. When I was crafting my application, I would overthink every word. At the end of the day, a first draft is only that, a draft. Hence, I would give myself more room for error. After all, there’s always room for improvement and no application can be perfect.

What Advice Would You Give Those Looking to Apply for a Similar Scholarship?

The most important advice I have for scholarship applicants is to find the right “fit” for you. Each scholarship and each institution is looking for something different, so you should find the scholarship that fits you the most. Oftentimes, universities are looking for a specific type of applicant. For example, many of the scholarships I applied to were geared towards social justice and community impact, which aligned with my previous work and experience. I spent hours scouring the internet to find these five scholarships and understanding the kind of applicants they were looking for. I did not expect to receive offers from each of these competitive scholarships, much less from all five of them. Thus, I think this only goes to show that if you put in the time to find scholarships that match you, the likelier you are to be rewarded in the end.