How an Indian Journalist and Media Entrepreneur Won a Schwarzman Scholarship to Pursue a Master’s in Global Affairs at Tsinghua University

I am Pallavi Sareen, a journalist and media entrepreneur from India, and while my background was in Mass communication, I chose to pursue International relations and leadership as my way forward to step into the world of geopolitical analysis.

Schwarzman Scholarship Details

I was the 2023-24 Schwarzman Scholarship recipient. The scholarship allowed me the opportunity to pursue a Master’s in Global Affairs at Tsinghua University, one of Asia’s top universities, while living in China, and for me, it was a way to expand my knowledge on Asian affairs while gaining firsthand information living in a country that has remained isolated from public understanding for a while now. During the same period, I also received the Fulbright-Nehru Scholarship and got accepted into four U.S. universities for a Master’s program in journalism, but I did not commit to it because the Schwarzman program, because of its community and unique value proposition, was a more appealing option for me. And as someone with a journalism background, I didn’t believe there would be many opportunities for me to live in China for such an extended period of time otherwise. The U.S has been more open and accepting of international students in the past, and tense India-China relations meant I would be doing something exceptional and challenging.

The unique part of the scholarship is that you live in the same building with your fellow scholars and have the opportunity to get to know nearly 150 people from all over the globe, learn about different cultures, their areas of work, and have conversations about anything and everything while eating together, gain knowledge from their experience and then become part of a strong alumni network that gives you a sense of belonging no matter where you end up.

Educational Background

I majored in Mass Communication and New Media in India and was already running a start-up simultaneously while pursuing a degree. I cultivated a multilingual newsroom and initiated reporting in diverse indigenous languages. I loved travelling and telling stories from the grassroots, converting real-life issues into narratives that resonated with people, and it was during this time that I decided that I wanted to expand my horizons and live in a multicultural space to expand my cultural competencies. And by nature, journalists are risk-takers, and I wanted something challenging. What better way to do it than moving to a country that is linguistically completely different, has different political and governance set-ups, and is geographically so diverse?

How Did You Prepare to Apply to Tsinghua University?

The selection process is pretty straightforward, and all relevant details are already mentioned on the website. I recommend reading through it in detail and starting your application early. It did not require any additional tests other than English proficiency for non-native speakers, but if you had previously completed a Degree at a university where the language of instruction was English, you could get an exception. I already had my TOEFL exam done, which was part of my Fulbright application process, and with the help of some YouTube videos and online mock tests, it is easy to crack.

How Did You Prepare to Apply for the Schwarzman Scholarship?

The process required a lot of introspection and clarity about my own desires. You can write the perfect application using the tips and tricks you read online, but it needs to be a believable story that is close to your heart. I kept thinking about my own passions, anecdotes of incidents in my life that influenced my beliefs and perspective, and wrote that down in my application. I also talked to the alumni and then the scholars for advice on how to shape my application.

What Do You Think Made Your Application Stand Out?

To be honest, I don’t know. Schwarzman Scholars is quite competitive, and the acceptance rate is between 3 and 4%. I had a good academic record, but not much prior experience in international organisations. I didn’t have a degree from any of the Ivy League, and most profiles that I saw on the website were  Oxford, Yale, and Harvard graduates. But I was shooting my shot, and I felt like I had the passion, the leadership ability, and the adaptability to be a good addition to the program and make the best of it. So, that’s what I focused on.

I worked as a journalist in one of the toughest parts of India, running a successful start-up, championing inclusivity, and telling stories of the marginalised communities. And I was doing this while still being in university, with minimal resources at my disposal.  I think my background in multi-lingual spaces helped make my application stand out. The other part was sheer curiosity with which I approached this opportunity. I didn’t claim like I had all the answers or knew more about China than I did. But I was curious and practical about the experiences I wanted to have, such as learning about the functionality of state-owned media organisations and experiencing the media space of a country that is cut off from the world through a firewall. I tried to ensure that the application reflected who I am as a person, just as much as it did my accomplishments, and that it did so in the form of a convincing story. Because you can tell someone your experience a thousand times, and they may forget, but it is hard to put a good story out of your mind.

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

I think I would have spent more time thinking about the video. You are asked to submit a quick introductory video while applying, and I just recorded it in one take without really thinking about trying to make it creative or interesting. But, if I had to do it all over again, I would have loved to show more of my personality in it.