How a U.S. Biochemistry Graduate and UN Researcher Earned a Fully Funded Schwarzman Scholarship to Study Global Affairs at Tsinghua University

Hi everyone, my name is Michael Gallo, and I am from the United States. Prior to becoming a Schwarzman Scholar, I worked as a Research Assistant for the United Nations in China, investigating how digital technology could improve labor migration and conditions for migrant workers in multinational supply chains throughout the world. As an undergraduate, I led a group of students from my school to be selected for the inaugural cohort of the Millennium Fellowship, a semester-long program sponsored by United Nations Academic Impact that was designed to empower young leaders to drive progress towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals on their campuses and in their communities.

Schwarzman Scholars was the perfect fit for me because its three main pillars aligned seamlessly with my interests and aspirations: better understanding China’s evolving role in the world, gaining meaningful leadership development experience, and studying global affairs to be well-equipped to tackle complex international challenges.

Schwarzman Scholarship Details

I was awarded the Schwarzman Scholarship as a member of the 7^th Cohort (Class of 2022-23). This renowned, highly selective graduate fellowship supports a one-year Master’s of Management Science in Global Affairs degree at Tsinghua University in Beijing, China. The program offers a comprehensive scholarship that covers all associated costs – including tuition, accommodation in a world-class residential facility, round trip airfare to and from Beijing at the beginning and end of the program, an additional living stipend for personal expenses, and a week-long immersive travel experience in China known as a ‘Deep Dive’.

Educational Background

I completed my undergraduate studies at Moravian University, where I received a Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry and graduated summa cum laude with Honors and a minor in Public Health. My major GPA was 3.99/4.00, and I had a cumulative GPA of 3.97/4.00. Moravian University is a liberal arts institution, and as such, it afforded me a very multidisciplinary education. Beyond my just my major/minor coursework in the natural and health sciences, I took a range of classes in history, language, and geography. I was also fortunate enough to receive scholarships to study abroad in Colombia and China through partner programs with my university, where I had exceptional experiential learning opportunities that helped to build my skills in intercultural communication and understanding global perspectives.

Schwarzman Scholars has high standards for academic excellence, but a strong GPA alone won’t be enough to make you stand out. Having a very well-rounded education demonstrates to the admissions committee that you are curious about the world and about fields that are outside of your domain expertise, which will be critical for successful participation in a cohort community that brings individuals together from highly diverse academic, professional, and national backgrounds. There are no specific requirements regarding university major – Schwarzman Scholars only has three basic prerequisites: (1) you have completed a bachelor’s degree by the time you would matriculate, (2) you are under 28 years old, and (3) you have English proficiency. These very minimal criteria mean that essentially anyone, anywhere, is eligible to apply.

Schwarzman Scholars does not require standardized test scores like a GRE or GMAT in order to apply. As a native English speaker, I was exempt from the English proficiency requirements. If English is not your native language, and you didn’t study at an undergraduate or graduate level for at least two years with English as the language of instruction, you must meet the following minimum thresholds in order to be considered for the scholarship: TOEFL: 100; IELTS: 7; Cambridge C1 Advanced: 185; Cambridge C2 Proficiency: 185; DET: 130.

How Did You Prepare to Apply for the Schwarzman Scholarship?

I prepared to apply to Schwarzman Scholars mostly by reading every bit of the official website and researching whatever I could find online to uncover as much information about the program as possible. It’s almost embarrassing to admit now in hindsight, but it never crossed my mind to reach out to an alumnus of the program and ask for a quick chat to gather their insights. Admittedly, at the time I was applying, I saw myself as a long-shot candidate at best, considering that I didn’t come from a top-tier undergraduate school in the US like many others.

I didn’t have much experience networking and assumed that the type of person who was awarded the scholarship in the past would be too busy or simply uninterested in talking with me. After my class was officially announced, I made a post about it on LinkedIn and was immediately struck by how many strangers or second-degree connections added me and DM’ed me with questions or a request to call. Yes, we all have very busy lives, but I try my best now to always make time for those who are interested and reach out, since I had some additional perspective when I was applying myself many years ago.

What Do You Think Made Your Application Stand Out?

I think there are several things that really made my application stand out. One major factor was how I was able to demonstrate that a sequence of high-conviction, unconventional decisions that I made early in my career were demonstrative of my personal orientation towards the mission of the program. I was a pre-med student during undergrad and was accepted to medical school after my graduation. However, the opportunity to study aboard in China had so greatly influenced my understanding of the importance that the country would have on the world within my lifetime, I decided to abandon my plans of becoming a doctor and instead I boarded a one-way flight to China with no real plan, but a great degree of confidence in myself to figure things out.

I was able to land an internship with the United Nations in China in late 2019, but just as I was getting started, COVID-19 broke out, and I found myself alone and locked in my apartment in a place that was still extremely unfamiliar to me. While many other foreigners in China took the first flight out that they could get on as the country shut down, I actually negotiated a contract extension and made the choice to voluntarily stay in zero-COVID China. Given my background in public health, I recognized how consequential this moment in history would be, both as a global pandemic, but also as an inflection point in China's relations with the rest of the world and its development trajectory. Articulating these decisions became the foundational story I wanted to tell through my application, and I believe it was a major part of why I was ultimately accepted.

Additionally, I think my letters of recommendation were extremely valuable in showcasing my capabilities and accomplishments within my relative context. All three recommenders I had knew me extremely well, and their mentorship had been critical to my personal and professional development. One mistake applicants often make is asking someone who has a fancy or prestigious job title, but with whom they have had minimal interaction, to write them a letter in the hopes that this person’s name or credibility will help validate their candidacy. It can actually undermine you when your recommenders don’t know you well, since the letters they write will likely be overly generic and not personalized in a way that communicates your strengths and competencies.

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

One thing I would have done differently if I were going through the process again would be to work with a skilled admissions coach on my application from the very beginning. Many candidates applying to Schwarzman Scholars or similarly competitive programs will often have their classmates, family, or mentors review their applications for them and then attempt to synthesize disparate elements of feedback across these multiple sources. However, I think when it comes to constructive criticism and seeking inputs for self-improvement, you need to balance three things: care, credibility, and familiarity.

Someone who knows you extremely well (e.g., a friend or parent) might want what’s best for you, but lacks the relevant expertise to give actionable recommendations on how to improve your chances of securing your goal. Someone who is a stranger (e.g., connection on LinkedIn), but did the program you’re interested in, might have insights to share, but is probably unlikely to take the time to get to know you. Similarly, just because someone (e.g, an alumnus) was accepted to a program, doesn’t mean they really understand why they were chosen (sample size of n=1), so the advice they give might not be relevant or applicable to you specifically.

An application coach can fulfill all these dimensions (care, credibility, familiarity) in a single point of contact because their interests are fundamentally aligned with yours. Coaches want to see those they work with succeed; they are able to help draw out your story by serving as a consistent sounding board and have the specific knowledge about what it takes to make a great application. Finding a suitable coach may take some time and effort, but it is a massive unlock when you land the right fit.

If you can afford it, scholarship coaching is also a highly asymmetric upside case for getting a return on your investment. Let’s say you spend $1,000 on getting extensive 1-on-1 coaching for your target scholarship that covers full-tuition for a graduate degree (which has, let’s say, a $50,000 value). Professional investors with high-risk appetites may go their entire careers and never once identify something that is able to make a 50x return. Given how much graduate fellowships can transform people’s lives and accelerate career pathways or unlock new opportunities, I think it’s arguably the best investment that someone early in their educational journey can make.

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

It’s an extremely overused piece of advice, but you simply must start early - preparation beats procrastination every time. The application is quite extensive, requiring two main essays (750 words & 500 words), some shorter-form answers, three letters of recommendation, a 1-minute self-introduction video, resume/CV, and 10 of your most important leadership experiences/accomplishments that relate to your overall profile.

Of course, you need to allow yourself ample time to work through the application components piece by piece, but the aspect that you cannot rush is the deep level of introspection that is required to create a compelling, cohesive presentation of yourself and a leadership vision that aligns your experiences with the mission of the program and that is both authentic and audacious in nature.

This means you have to reflect on questions like: What does leadership really mean to you? How have your leadership values and style shown up in the times you have stepped up to answer the call to leadership? How exactly do you plan to effect positive change in the world? Why is the problem or issue you are focused on important to care about, and why are you the best person in the world to work on it?

Going through the application process is a phenomenal exercise that forces you to take a step back and try to connect the dots across everything you’ve done. If taken seriously, even if you ultimately aren’t selected for the scholarship, you should walk away with a greater understanding of yourself as a leader and what you want to do with your career.