How I Secured a Fully Funded Master's at Ohio University, USA Through the Fulbright Scholarship

Anesa Colakovic is from Kosovo, which is the youngest country in the European continent, located in Southeast Europe. On the prestigious World Learning scholarship, she completed bachelor studies, double-majoring in economics and statistics, and she has a minor degree in public policy at Rochester Institute of Technology, which is an American University branch in Kosovo.

Anesa Colakovic is from Kosovo, which is the youngest country in the European continent, located in Southeast Europe. On the prestigious World Learning scholarship, she completed bachelor studies, double-majoring in economics and statistics, and she has a minor degree in public policy at Rochester Institute of Technology, which is an American University branch in Kosovo.

Fulbright Scholarship Details

On the Fulbright renowned scholarship scheme, Anesa completed her master's degree in international development, focusing on the intersection of the fields of gender, sports, economy, and environment in post-conflict countries. Apart from her master's degree, she also earned a certificate in war studies at Ohio University, USA. During her master's studies at Ohio University, she pursued the Development Practice program in Himachal Pradesh, India, through the funding of Rotary International. During her time in India, she took part in different Model United Nations conferences across India and got to travel in different regions of India.

There are many factors that determine whether one should receive a scholarship or not, and I believe that the greatest factors are one's experiences. In fact, it is more about experiences rather than the GPA or other test scores. For instance, if you continuously participate in volunteering opportunities, trainings, and events, you are exposed to many professionals and academia as well as organizations, which provide you with a certificate of attendance, and this way you build your profile and become more knowledgeable across different fields, which helps you ace the interview or the essay questions as you speak from your lived experiences.

How Did You Prepare to Apply to Ohio University?

How Did You Find Information About the Fulbright Scholarship and Ohio University?

About the World Learning scholarship scheme, I found it in the newspaper. It was my first time buying a newspaper, and I checked the last page and saw the advertisement. I decided to call the number, and I arranged an appointment. Based on all the documents like TOEFL tests, GPA, my awards, and activities, I received a merit-based full scholarship program to study at the Rochester Institute of Technology, which is an American University based in Kosovo.

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

Those looking for similar scholarships should not give up when they receive a “Regret to Inform” letter. There are so many opportunities one should follow and search, and the goal should not always be to aim for the top-tier ones, as that is where most people become disappointed. In my opinion, it is good to apply to several options, from the best-ranked universities to the lower-ranked universities. Finally, my advice is always to invest your time and energy in taking part in different activities, roundtables, and opportunities that allow you to grow professionally and academically, as they prepare you for the renowned scholarships and Ivy League universities.