How a Honduran Biomedical Engineer Earned a Fulbright Scholarship to Study Biomedical Engineering at Worcester Polytechnic Institute

My name is Daniel Alvarenga, and I’m from Honduras, Central America. I graduated with my bachelor’s in biomedical engineering with honors in 2016 from UNITEC Honduras. I always knew I wanted to continue my journey to a master’s degree, but the options available in my country were not in my areas of interest. Due to that, I began my applications to master’s degree programs as early as 2015, even before graduating. I was accepted to my program of choice, but the scholarship offered was only partial, and I could not pay the rest, even after searching for options, forcing me to decline the offer.

Fulbright Scholarship Details

I received the Fulbright Scholarship to pursue my Master’s in Biomedical Engineering at Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) in 2023. WPI covered my tuition, and Fulbright funded all other expenses, including a living stipend.

Educational Background

My background includes volunteering with Operation Smile International and certification as a Biomedical Engineer, which has allowed me to work with interdisciplinary teams treating cleft lip and palate patients. I then managed medical devices at Teletón Honduras across six facilities, earning wheelchair-provider certifications and gaining technical and managerial experience. These roles, alongside my undergraduate studies, prepared me well for advanced work in biomedical engineering.

How Did You Prepare to Apply to Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI)?

When I prepared to apply to institutions, I persisted through multiple rejections and partial offers (Ottawa U, Carleton University). The Highest acceptance offer I had to decline, even though they did offer a partial scholarship, was from the University of Cambridge for a Phd in Sensor Technologies. My family encouraged me to try Fulbright despite my doubts, reminding me that not trying would be the real failure.

How Did You Prepare to Apply for the Fulbright Scholarship?

To prepare for the Fulbright application, I drafted and refined my statement of purpose over several months, asked friends and family for feedback, and secured strong recommendation letters from Operation Smile, my employer, and UNITEC Honduras. After a few months, I was invited to an interview, where I discussed my goals, work, and future plans.

How is (was) Your Experience at Worcester Polytechnic Institute?

My experience at WPI has been transformative, giving me academic opportunities, an invaluable cultural exchange, and a professional network that embodies Fulbright’s mission of building bridges through education.

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

I don’t have specific changes in mind; the steps I took ultimately led to success after many years of effort.

What Do You Think Made Your Application Stand Out?

Perseverance after years of partial offers and rejections, combined with strong recommendation letters and a carefully crafted statement of purpose, showed my commitment and resilience.

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

One recommendation that I would give is that you should always keep trying, even if you get some denials. In my case, it took a total of eight years of denials until I finally obtained my full scholarship. So you should never give up, and keep trying even if they deny you. Eventually, something will appear.