Fulbright Program Details
I am currently studying for my MBA at National Taiwan Normal University (NTNU) in Taipei, Taiwan, for their program in International Human Resource Development (IHRD) via the U.S. Fulbright Program. Through that program, I am fortunate enough to have a full tuition scholarship, room and board, a living stipend, and my flights to and from Taiwan paid in full, for both years of my program. According to the website, the Fulbright Program is the flagship international educational exchange program sponsored by the U.S. government. Established in 1946, it operates in over 160 countries, awarding approximately 9,000 grants annually to students, scholars, teachers, and professionals to study, teach, or conduct research.
While there are many roads a Fulbright Scholar can be chosen to take (English Teaching Assistantship –ETA–, researcher, fellow, etc.), I was selected for the MA (master’s award) study program. The specific award I was afforded (MBA in IHRD at NTNU) only selects one person per application cycle, and I was fortunate enough to be that person for the 2025 application cycle.
Were You Offered Any Other Scholarships?
I was offered one other scholarship prior to my Fulbright acceptance. I was offered the Paul D. Coverdell Fellowship given out to Returned Peace Corps Volunteers (RPCVs) who wish to continue their education within a myriad of fields. I was offered the Coverdell Fellowship to study at Arizona StateUniversity’s (ASU) Thunderbird School of Global Management for their Master of Global Management program. Although I ultimately decided to go with Fulbright Taiwan, I am forever grateful and humbled that I was offered the Coverdell Fellowship at ASU.
Similar to the Fulbright grant, the Coverdell Fellowship also covered full tuition, as well as a generous living stipend for scholars.
Educational Background
I graduated from West Chester University of Pennsylvania (WCUPA) with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology, and three minors in Criminal Justice, American Sign Language, and Women & Gender Studies. WCUPA is a university affiliated with the Pennsylvania state school system. My overall GPA ended up being 3.48 on a 4.0 scale.
Having always had a fondness and great admiration for service, throughout undergrad I worked for the Charles A. Melton Arts and Education Center as an America Reads & Counts academic coach and mentor for elementary school students living at or below the National Poverty Line in West Chester, PA. Additionally, I worked as an Accreditation and Alliance Referral System Intern for the National Trafficking Sheltered Alliance (NTSA), where I worked with both NTSA admin and trafficking survivors on the organization’s referral system for various safe houses, as well as trauma-informed care programming catered towards trafficking survivors.
Academically, I was fortunate enough to have had multiple publications in accordance with my affiliation with the university. I wrote a media analysis on media’s portrayal of women of color throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as co-wrote a piece analyzing gerontological motivation and will to live among Lebanese migrants currently residing in Germany.
All those experiences have prepared me emotionally, psychologically, and academically for pursuing career and education opportunities centered around service,
How Did You Prepare to Apply to National Taiwan Normal University (NTNU)?
How Did You Find Information About the Fulbright Program and National Taiwan Normal University (NTNU)?
Due to my participation in the Peace Corps, I was directly informed of the Paul D. Coverdell Fellowship that is only offered to RPCVs. Through that, I was able to apply to the competitive fellowship and was ultimately offered the fellowship. For Fulbright, I had a friend refer me to their program, as they had wanted to apply themselves.
Did You Take Any Standardized Tests? If So, How Did You Prepare for Them?
Because the institutions I was applying to did not require standardized tests, I did not take any.
How Did You Prepare to Apply for the Fulbright Program?
To apply for the Paul D. Coverdell Fellowship at ASU, I simply kept consistent contact with the ASU graduate coordinator, and they helped me, step by step, on applying for the fellowship. For Fulbright, I simply looked up YouTube videos and testimony on the application process. Fulbright applicants also have a Slack channel where we were able to help each other navigate the complexities of the Fulbright application process together. Through that Slack channel, as well as LinkedIn, I was able to connect with previous Fulbright alumni to assist in my application materials and to gain insight into what being a Fulbrighter entailed.
How is Your Experience at National Taiwan Normal University (NTNU)?
Overall, I am quite happy with my experience at NTNU. It is a very foreigner-friendly institution, and the IHRD staff is nothing short of wonderful and very pleasant to work with.
How Do You Rate National Taiwan Normal University (NTNU) Academically?
NTNU’s IHRD department is very welcoming and supportive of international students. While I found the academic rigor to be somewhat less demanding than I expected, the professors, fellow students, and department staff created a positive and enriching learning environment that greatly enhances the overall experience.
How Does National Taiwan Normal University (NTNU) Support International Students?
NTNU’s IHRD department greatly supports international students, as the department staff and faculty have been nothing but accommodating, welcoming, and wonderful throughout the onboarding processes.
Are Your Classes Conducted in English or Mandarin?
The entire program is in English.
What Did You Pursue After the Fulbright Program?
I am only halfway through the program, with my graduation date set for next June 2027. Currently, I am networking, applying to various programs, both professional and academic, as well as job searching, light applying, and gearing up to begin aggressively applying to programs and jobs alike in the next few months.
Would Potential Students Have Any Problems Not Knowing Mandarin?
Overall, Taiwan, Taipei in particular, is a very foreigner-friendly place. Nowadays, with AI, Google Translate, etc., getting around with little to no Mandarin language proficiency is quite easy and seamless. Although I personally highly recommend enrolling in a Mandarin course, or NTNU’s renowned Mandarin Training Center (MTC) during any free time to learn the language, I feel that Taipei is quite an easy city to get around with English-only proficiency, as the public transportation is in both Mandarin and English.
What Do You Think Made Your Application Stand Out?
Unlike many Fulbright scholars, I did not graduate from a prestigious institution. I graduated from a state school with a very generic bachelor’s degree and an underwhelming GPA. However, I feel like the opportunities afforded to me throughout my undergrad career and beyond were what ultimately catapulted me to the top of Fulbright’s list. From my internships to my leadership opportunities to my publications, I feel like I was very privileged in the time I was able to allocate towards those activities. Those opportunities humbled me more than I can truly express and have catapulted me towards a career in giving back to others.
From undergrad, I was fortunate enough to apply and get accepted into the Peace Corps, where I lived and worked in The Gambia, West Africa, with no electricity or running water, for over two years. There, I learned Gambian culture, languages, and ways of life, while fulfilling grants and development projects alongside members of my Gambian community. From there, I was afforded the opportunity to work in various cities along the West Bank, building upon my Hebrew and Arabic skills, while assisting in development projects across the West Bank region. Those skills gained, earned, and developed made up for my lack of a prestigious alma mater and ultimately made me a top candidate for the Fulbright Taiwan Study program.
What Would You Have Done Differently if You Were Going Through the Process Again?
Overall, I am extremely humbled and grateful to be where I am today. With that being said, I do not feel like I would change much, as I took every due diligence when applying to build up a strong profile with one clear narrative surrounding it. I had previous university advisors look at my application, as well as my family, friends, and previous Fulbright grantees. With their guidance, I was able to build a solid profile that ultimately earned me the Fulbright grant.
What Advice Would You Give Those Looking to Apply for a Similar Scholarship?
I would highly advise reaching out to previous scholarship alumni, whether that be via LinkedIn, social media, etc., as my best advice was given by those who had walked in those shoes. I would also advise having your university or any type of academic advisor help you gather materials to start creating your narrative and research goals as early on as possible, while building up as much experience as possible.
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