How a Chinese Media Scholar Earned a Fully Funded Schwarzman Scholarship to Study Global Affairs at Tsinghua University

My name is Selena Guo. Originally from Beijing, I studied in the US briefly during my elementary school years and moved to Nairobi, Kenya, during my teenage years. My undergraduate degree in Media, Information and Technoculture at the University of Western Ontario in Canada made me reflect a lot on how China’s rapid technological development is reshaping global dynamics – global affairs (particularly US-China relations) looked very different in 2018 compared to when I first studied abroad in 2009.

As a Chinese international student, I was frequently tasked with the role of explaining China to people around me (a very difficult task). It was 2020 when I applied for the Schwarzman Scholars Program, a year that I witnessed firsthand how geopolitical tension can directly impact xenophobia, which led to detrimental life-threatening results for international corporations during a pandemic. Hence, helping people understand China, a country where almost a quarter of the world's population lives, became an urgent issue for me. COVID-19 as a deep emotional factor, combined with my being away from China for so many years, made me keen to re-engage with China and pursue more systematic learning about Chinese domestic policies and their role in the world.

Schwarzman Scholarship Details

The Schwarzman Scholars program is a one-year, fully funded leadership program and master’s in global affairs at Tsinghua University in Beijing, China. It is the first scholarship created in response to the geopolitical landscape of the 21st century. The academic curriculum comprises the three pillars of leadership, global affairs, and China. Each year, up to 150 scholars worldwide are selected for the program, which has an acceptance rate of less than five percent. The scholarship covers tuition and all aspects of living, ranging from flight tickets and semi-annual living stipend to housing and food support.

Educational Background

Even though my educational background was not directly related to international relations, looking back, I was fortunate to study a major that truly ignited my passion for learning. I ended up receiving very good grades, and I also loved applying our learned knowledge to various current events in China and discussing them with my professors. Being good at my major gave me more confidence to apply for a program like Schwarzman.

How Did You Prepare to Apply to Tsinghua University? 

No standardised test was required, as the Schwarzman Scholars Program uses separate criteria. Since I completed my high school and university education in English, I also did not take additional English tests.

How Did You Prepare to Apply to the Schwarzman Scholarship?

I read through the Schwarzman Scholars application website very carefully and attended some of their information sessions. Conducting background research on the program also gave me more clarity on the qualities they are looking for in a candidate. The first round required two key components: a statement of purpose and a leadership essay. I did a lot of reflecting before I began writing the two pieces. It is crucial to understand yourself and what makes you unique.

After I got into the interview round, one of my friends kindly offered to help me conduct a mock interview, which was a very helpful practice especially when you know the interview can be stressful.

What Do You Think Made Your Application Stand Out?

While I'm not entirely sure what the precise factors were, I believe my experience studying in Kenya was viewed as distinctive. I documented much of my teenage perspective in a book that was later published and was recommended by China’s Ministry of Education. This probably worked well, as I positioned my application as someone who was keen on cross-cultural communications and making the world understand China better. I was aware that as a fresh college graduate, my professional experience was blank compared to applicants with many years of working experience, but I think I was very genuine and identified clearly where my passions and strengths lie.

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

I probably would have reached out to more Schwarzman Alumni and asked about their experience. Although some of my professors were very supportive, my university did not have a dedicated scholarship support office, and they were not familiar with the program. I also barely knew anyone who was in the program, and I was not good at networking at the time, which made my application process lonelier than I would have preferred. In retrospect, I would want to be bolder and reach out to more people.

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

My advice is, if you are thinking about a scholarship but you are somewhat intimidated by how fancy it looks or how impressive other applicants' resumes appear, please just apply anyway. This is especially true for women scholars; we need more women to keep on applying for these things. Additionally, authenticity is actually quite rare in scholarship applications, where many candidates try to present a perfect, polished version of themselves. So, having a genuine voice could make you memorable to the selection committee, but this usually requires a deep understanding of your passion and unique strengths.