Indonesian Scholar Earns Full-Ride to Johns Hopkins SAIS with LPDP and SAIS Global Scholarships

My name is Mochamad Triawan, from Jakarta, Indonesia. I have been in the management and technology consulting field for about 10 years before departing for the US to join SAIS' Master of Arts in International Relations (MAIR) at Johns Hopkins University. Despite its focus on international relations, the degree offers intensive economics courses as it serves as an important knowledge foundation of international economics and trade, and a variety of regional and functional focuses that we can tailor based on our personal goals and interests. I am interested in geopolitics and think that the knowledge and skills from the program would be helpful in my future role in business decision-making.

Scholarship Details

During the COVID lockdown in 2020, I had my first offer from SAIS that included a 20% tuition scholarship under the SAIS Global Scholarship. I also planned to apply for an Indonesian government scholarship (LPDP scholarship program) which offers a full-ride scholarship. Unfortunately, the scholarship program did not open given the global situation and I postponed my studies. In 2021, I reapplied to the same program and had another offer with an improved tuition scholarship - 80%. I felt closer to flying to the US and attending the school, but I still need to secure the LPDP scholarship to make my studies affordable. A few weeks before the program started, I won the scholarship from the Indonesian government, which covers the rest of the tuition in my first year, a monthly stipend, and a few more benefits to support my study. In my second year, SAIS dropped the Global Scholarship and I finished the program with the full-ride scholarship from the government.

Educational Background

I attended the University of Indonesia's Faculty of Economics with a major in Accounting and graduated in 2011 with a CGPA of 3.68. Johns Hopkins SAIS' MAIR program requires a background in economics studies and my undergraduate program did exactly what is needed to fulfill the requirements. I could join the program without needing to complete pre-term economics classes and went straight to full quantitative and qualitative international economics courses.

How Did You Prepare to Apply to Institutions?

I scrutinized the website and registration requirements, especially the part that international students and candidates who seek institutional scholarships must fulfill. I took the GMAT/GRE waiver but ensured that I provided other optional requirements such as an extra recommendation letter and an extra essay to support the merit-based scholarship competition. Besides those checklists, I was pretty confident that I have a good resume and TOEFL score that exceeds the minimum requirement.

Did you need any standardized tests? How did you prepare for TOEFL?

The SAIS website is comprehensive. I am used to digging into details to ensure I know all requirements. Since I took the GMAT/GRE waiver, I did not prepare for it. For TOEFL, to me it was just another TOEFL attempt that I had to take - no special preparation but a good refresher and personal tryouts. I had taken it several times before. But for those unfamiliar with the test, be sure that the SAIS passing grade is pretty high. Those conditionally admitted to the program - with the condition of not satisfying English requirements - must take English pre-term.

How Did You Prepare to Apply for the SAIS and LPDP scholarship program?

The short-term preparation is to write strong essays. But the long-term preparation is what I have done throughout my career. I was not an early-career student, but a mid-career one. Pursuing the master's degree and the scholarship was a long game. I always keep in mind that I have to try to make my career trajectory a good story that has a good chance of winning a scholarship competition.

How Was Your Experience at Johns Hopkins?

My experience was beyond expectation. I learned many things that I had never expected to ever learn in my life.

What Do You Think Made Your Application Stand Out?

My career and work experience filled most of the resume pages. And the situational awareness (e.g., political, economic, academic, and practical knowledge) that I demonstrated in my essay. Also, note that the offer that I accepted was the second one with improved scholarship value. In between the first and second offers, I made a thoughtful career move that I believed helped me in my re-application, which resulted in a better offer.

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

None. Those delays and progress happened for a good reason.

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

Seeking for a scholarship is a long game. Well, it may not but it will need more luck and superiority beyond peers. If you prepare for a scholarship in the long run, early in your career, you will have a better chance of eventually winning the one you really want. Yes, I assume you will apply for multiple scholarships in multiple schools, as alternatives, throughout your journey. Finally, remember, you must be good at many things: the skills to kill the GMAT/GRE, the English to score a good TOEFL every time, a good career to fill your resume, and a reliable network that can provide you with strong recommendations letters every time you ask - all while you are in the midst of whatever career you are pursuing and work you are doing every day.