How I Secured a Partially Funded Bachelor’s at San Jose State University, United States Through the Louie Barozzi International Scholarship

I am Pranav Abhyankar, and I grew up in Bangalore, India. My father is a computer engineer, and my mother is an architect, and both always encouraged me to be educated and sincere. I attended New Horizon Public School in Indiranagar, Bangalore, through the 10th grade under the ICSE curriculum, and then completed my 11th and 12th grade at Christ Junior College, Bangalore, under the Karnataka State Board. I later moved to the United States to pursue a B.S. in Computer Engineering Technology, with a concentration in Computer Networks and Systems Management, at San Jose State University, where I graduated Magna Cum Laude in May 2026. I am currently based in San Jose, California.

Louie Barozzi International Scholarship Details

The Louie Barozzi International Scholarship at San Jose State University ($1,000). I was the sole undergraduate international recipient that year, selected out of 1,063 international undergraduates.

Were You Offered Any Other Scholarships?

Yes, over four years I also won:

• Intel Andy Grove Scholarship ($2,800)
• Global Spartan Scholarship ($5,000)
• Silicon Valley Engineering Scholarship ($7,500, renewable)
• Davidson Student Scholar Award, Charles W. Davidson College of Engineering ($1,500, research grant)

Educational Background

I studied Computer Engineering Technology with a concentration in Computer Networks and Systems Management, plus a business minor, and graduated Magna Cum Laude. My coursework covered networking, cloud computing, cybersecurity, systems programming, and IoT and wireless communications, which prepared me directly for technical sales and infrastructure roles.

How Did You Find Information About Louie Barozzi International Scholarship and San Jose State University?

I found most leads through the SJSU International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS) website and the Charles W. Davidson College of Engineering, which regularly posted engineering-specific opportunities, plus my own research online for less-advertised industry scholarships. I also built real relationships with my professors, Associate Dean, and the Financial Aid and Scholarships Office, so they knew me personally rather than as a name on an application. That paid off with references and leads I would never have found alone. The single most valuable thing I did, though, was speak directly with past scholarship winners, which gave me critical information unavailable online.

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

I took the SAT and scored 1480. I also took the TOEFL and scored 119 out of 120.

How Did You Prepare to Apply for the Louie Barozzi International Scholarship?

I tailored each application rather than reusing one essay everywhere and drew heavily on my on-campus jobs for material, including my roles as a Workshop Facilitator with the SJSU Research Foundation, a Student Administrative Office Assistant with Student Union Inc., and a Student Ambassador with the Student Outreach and Recruitment Department. Those roles gave me real experience to write about, rather than only classroom coursework.

How is Your Experience at San Jose State University?

Excellent overall. Being in Silicon Valley gave me access to internships and professional networks I could not have gotten elsewhere, including regular meet-and-greets, panels, career fairs, and company tours, sometimes two to three events a week. I completed four professional internships, in software engineering, wireless systems engineering, IT infrastructure, and project management.

How Do You Rate San Jose State University Academically?

Very highly. The Charles W. Davidson College of Engineering has strong faculty and hands-on research opportunities, and several classes tied directly into professional certifications, sometimes awarding the certification itself at semester's end, or discounted exam fees. SJSU's alumni network is also strong, functioning as a direct pipeline into major Bay Area companies like Apple and Cisco.

How Does San Jose State University Support International Students?

SJSU's ISSS office was a genuinely strong resource, guiding me on visa status, OPT and work authorization, and international-student scholarships. Being proactive and building relationships with staff there, not just reaching out when I needed something, made a real difference.

What Did You Pursue After the Louie Barozzi International Scholarship?

I moved into my post-completion Optional Practical Training period. I am currently focused on a technical sales and AI/Tech infrastructure job search, while preparing graduate school applications, including a funded master’s program in Ireland and funded master’s programs in the United States.

What Do You Think Made Your Application Stand Out?

Consistency rather than one lucky break. I won competitive awards across all four years instead of a single large one, despite California's public universities being legally restricted from directing state or institutional merit aid toward international students. Beyond international-specific awards, I also competed directly for general scholarships against local students with far more US experience and still came out ahead.

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

I would have started building relationships with professors, administrators, and past winners even earlier. Once I realized how much depended on information never written down anywhere, I wished I had started those conversations in year one.

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

Build genuine relationships, do not just transact; the people who know about the best opportunities already know your name. Take on-campus jobs seriously, they give you real experience to write about and demonstrate growth grades cannot. In essays, explain how an experience impacted you, then show how you used that to grow and help others. Prioritize your own university's scholarships first, since the applicant pool is confined to your own students, before chasing external ones that draw from everywhere and demand far more effort for far lower odds.

To other international students: you are ineligible for over ninety percent of regular aid, and fees often run two and a half to three times local rates, so do not be discouraged when the numbers feel stacked against you, because they genuinely are. California's cost of living is also crippling, so weigh other states seriously, even though the Bay Area's culture and location offer a real advantage worth the tradeoff for some. Do not lose hope. Treat the process as an adventure, and if you stay sincere and keep at it, things will work out.