Schwarzman Scholar from Sri Lanka, Now a PhD Student at The Ohio State University, Sachi Pilapitiya, Shares His Journey of Pursuing a Master’s in Global Affairs at Tsinghua University, China

I am currently a PhD student at The Ohio State University, conducting research in the areas of international political economy and international development. I hold a BA in Economics from NYU Abu Dhabi and a Master's in Global Affairs from Tsinghua University, where I was a Schwarzman Scholar. I am from Sri Lanka. I love quiet walks in nature and playing all kinds of sports!

Schwarzman Scholarship Details

The Schwarzman Scholarship enables scholars to obtain a master's in Global Affairs from Tsinghua University. It is designed for scholars to understand China and build friendships amongst future leaders from diverse backgrounds. It is established upon 3 main pillars: Leadership, China, and Global Affairs.

Educational Background

I applied to the Schwarzman Scholarship in my senior year in college. I had taken advanced classes in Economics by then and had maintained a perfect GPA. A strong understanding of economic concepts and the ability to relate them to my ambitions were crucial for me to show my ability to contribute to the Schwarzman program. Confidence in my area was also pivotal in facing the interview successfully.

How Did You Prepare to Apply to Tsinghua University?

There is no separate application to Tsinghua.

How Did You Prepare to Apply to the Schwarzman Scholarship?

Since I was applying straight after college (with no full-time work experience) good grades were quite important. This was also the case because I was making the claim of continuing in academia even after my year in China.

Second, I had to clearly articulate two things:

1. What I have done thus far (my research on Chinese lending to Sri Lanka, for example) provides me with the knowledge and experience to contribute to the richness of the cohort, if selected.
2. My future ambitions (to continue research on international development practices and be a diplomat who can facilitate international cooperation) necessitate understanding Chinese perspectives, hence the need for the scholarship for my personal enhancement and thereby for contributing to the mission of the scholarship.

Most importantly, I got a lot of guidance and help from my university career guidance office, so making sure someone goes through your essays is crucial.

What Do You Think Made Your Application Stand Out?

Balanced experience and interest in Leadership, Global Affairs, and China helped me write a good motivation for the application. Furthermore, these experiences were quite natural (for example, advocating for civic economic awareness during Sri Lanka’s economic crisis).

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

Nothing much to be honest – this is because the application for the scholarship for me was years in the making.

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

Focus on one event/story that you can use to exemplify the characteristics required by the program.