Chevening Scholar Omar from Peru Shares His Journey of Securing a Fully Funded Master's at the London School of Economics and Political Science, United Kingdom

Hello! I'm Omar from Peru. I'm many things: a cat lover, a dancer (I'm part of a Peruvian dance crew, and I'm also taking pop dance lessons), a melomaniac, a foodie... But I like to define myself as a dreamer. I studied organisational management as an undergraduate, willing to contribute to my country through social organisations. Thus, I have worked for a cultural association, promoting education through arts and events for our local community, for an education NGO, managing a scholarship programme on social innovation for young Peruvian students, and for the PUCP, planning and evaluating the formative, research, social extension, and management activities of the university. Different places, but the same purpose: education and knowledge generation are the path to sustainable development. Recently, I've been promoting a strategy to foster the connection between research and society in order to generate societal impact. My professional career illustrates why I decided to pursue an MSc in development management at the LSE: to contribute to making my country a better place to live.

Chevening Scholarship Details

Chevening Scholarship, London School of Economics, covered the tuition fee plus a monthly allowance of 1630 pounds

Educational Background

>My undergrad was in organisational management. It was the best choice for me because I like to plan, organise, and lead changes in complex situations. Also, I have specialisation diplomas in project management and information management. All these experiences nurtured me with useful management skills, but also with important soft skills such as persuasion, communication, active listening, etc. This gave me the background to argue that I was a good candidate for the programme and the scholarship, because as a manager, I understand the main processes involved in the management of the development of a country. In addition, the educational programmes I took were demanding enough to prepare me for even more demanding experiences, such as an MSc. My good grades helped me demonstrate that I have the necessary skills to face an amazing, but sometimes stressful experience, such as studying abroad.

How Did You Prepare to Apply to the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE)?

First, I did research to identify which ones were the most suitable for me. I looked at the university rankings as a starting Point but, more importantly, I carefully studied their academic syllabus, professors' background, extracurricular programmes, etc. With this done, applying was easier because I had already gained clarity about what the matching points were between the universities and me. I used these to apply, highlighting how my educational and professional background gave me the tools and knowledge the universities were looking for for their students to take full advantage of the academic experience. Finally, when I had my application ready, I asked a couple of alumni of this university to take a look at my application to give me some recommendations. With these, I finally applied and made it.

How Did You Find Information About Chevening Scholarship and the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE)?

I attended an event organised by the University of Leeds in my country. That was my first encounter with the world of scholarships. After this, I started looking for other opportunities and universities directly on the internet.

Did You Take Any Standardized Tests? If So, How Did You Prepare for Them?

I took the IELTS. Since my weakest skills were writing and speaking, I prepared for both of them with teachers. For the other skills, I prepared on my own, with free web materials.

How Did You Prepare to Apply for the Chevening Scholarship?

I remember looking for a support group to accompany them, but I couldn't find any, so I created it. I recruited scholars and alumni to give the members of my support group talks and advise on our applications. In the end, a difficult experience like this application turned into an amazing one, and the group became a community that still helps many Latin American applicants to this day. Whether you can join a similar group or not, my suggestion is, first, get very familiar with the requirements of the scholarships. Read everything so you don't leave anything out. Then, most of the scholarships include the writing of essays/statements and Interviews. First, focus on answering the questions directly and use the STAR method to provide examples. For the second, prepare on your own, but ask some Friends and professionals related to your field to conduct mock Interviews with you. This is key to success. Finally, make sure you have everything ready in advance, at least a week before the deadline.

How Does the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) Support International Students?

They have a students' union with a lot of activities for students, including international ones. Plus, muy university (as many others in the world) have societies focused on particular countries or territories, so international students can feel at home. Finally, they have Psychological support in case the cultural shock is too hard to deal with.

What Do You Think Made Your Application Stand Out?

For the essays, the use of the STAR approach. This method allows you to say the key facts in a summarised and logical way. For the Interview, I strongly believe my introduction made me stand out. I prepared a lot to introduce myself in a clear way, highlighting the most impactful checkpoints of my history and those that were interesting for Chevening purposes. I strongly suggest preparing a good introduction: it's the first time you can talk to the evaluating panel, so a good first impression is crucial

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

Do the things with more anticipation, so I don't need to rush in the last days

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

Even though it's difficult, try to enjoy the process. To apply for a scholarship doesn't mean only to get an award, but also to know yourself profoundly. To ask yourself, "What do you want to achieve?" "What are your plans?", Who do you want to become in the future?" It's earning on its own, beyond getting the scholarship or not. As a result, you will get clarity about your Next steps, and that's invaluable. That's why I suggest enjoying and getting fully committed to this process: dedicate time and don't be afraid of exploring yourself deeply, because the reward is great. On the other hand, as I said before, get everything done at least one week prior to the deadline. This will give you peace of mind.