How a Mozambican Scholar Earned a Fulbright Scholarship to Study International Development and Economic Policy at Texas A&M University

My name is Shannaya Laurenciana Raúl and I am from Mozambique. I have a Master of International Affairs, specialized in International Development and Economic Policy, from Texas A&M University, earned through a Fulbright Scholarship. After graduating my BA, volunteering with civil society organizations and some NGOs, coupled with my own personal experience growing up in a developing country, I widened my understanding of the different struggles people face around the world and the impact such organizations make to their lives. Hence, I decided to get a Masters in the field of Development so I could not only focus on a specific area of International Relations but also understand how I could use my skills to help people around the world and contribute to the battles against poverty.

Fulbright Scholarship Details

I was awarded a Fulbright Scholarship, sponsored by the U.S. Department of State to get a Masters Degree. I was placed at Texas A&M University, at the Bush School of Government and Public Policy, for a fully funded degree. Besides funding school tuition, The Fulbright Program supports its scholars with monthly stipends to cover daily expenses, and they are based on the cost of living of the state in which the scholar in placed. Being placed in Texas, I had a stipend of $1420 monthly.

Educational Background

Before getting my Masters, I got a Bachelor of Arts in International Relations and Diplomacy, from Joaquim Chissano University in Maputo. My BA prepared me in that it equipped me with knowledge closely related to what I wanted to do as a Masters. For example, courses such as International Trade for Development or Development Economics, as well as the intensive English writing and speaking workshops they provided, were very helpful. These altogether helped me express my interest in the field while writing my essays to the Fulbright application, writing my project proposal to apply to the Universities, as well as express them during interviews, which were a very important portion of my application.

How Did You Prepare to Apply to Texas A&M University?

Thankfully, Fulbright is responsible for applications to institutions. All the candidates must do is to make sure they send them strong application documents that they will share with the universities (e.g. Project Proposals, Personal Statements, CVs etc.). While preparing these documents, I reached out to former or current Fulbright Scholars to ask for their tips and advice, I watched YouTube videos of former scholars explaining how the process went for them and the tips they had, I got engaged in groups of scholarship seekers in Mozambique, which was a huge support network, and more importantly I had people review my application documents.

This was the hardest part for me because I had NEVER taken any of these standardized exams, hence I did not know what to expect or how to prepare. Besides this, I studied my whole life in Portuguese, taking basic English exams only, so this was the first time I ever took such serious tests in English which was very challenging to me. I took the TOEFL and GRE, and I was invited to take them 2 weeks before the exam date. I used the online practice exams they had, as well as practice exams and study brochures that a friend shared with me. I failed both exams for the first time I took them (did not get enough scores to qualify for graduate applications), so I had to take a second round, in which I did slightly better and was able to qualify. For my case, the U.S. embassy sponsored both rounds of my exams which I think is similarly to any Fulbright application, anywhere.

How Did You Prepare to Apply for the Fulbright Scholarship?

I made sure all my documents (transcripts, IDs, etc.) were all translated to English, and I remained in touch with former professors and job supervisors in case I needed recommendation letters. Learning languages also helped me be open to multiple opportunities. I constantly practiced my English speaking and writing skills, while learning other languages like French and Chinese because I knew I had to be prepared for worldwide opportunities.

What Do You Think Made Your Application Stand Out?

A lot of things might have contributed to my selection that I do not have control of, but I believe bringing community-led objectives in my essays might have been a plus. My willingness to learn and bring impact to my community, country and the world might have stood out.

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

If I could go through the same process with the information I have today, I would have studied differently for my TOEFL and GRE and used different techniques to write them in order to increase my scores.

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

The Fulbright Scholarship is a great opportunity for everybody! If you have a drive to connect with people from different countries, learn from academic, social and professional experiences, then this is the opportunity for you. It will not be an easy application, as it is a very competitive scholarship, but I highly recommend trying in as many attempts as you can. While applying, make sure you bring in and showcase your passion for your field and how your degree can benefit those around you, selflessness is a major key to this and other similar scholarships. If you can, and if you are indeed applying for Fulbright, practice standardized exams way in advance, even if you are not sure you will be selected, because it is very stressful to do it close to the exam dates. Finally, be open to learning languages, they can open doors to scholarships like Fulbright and many others.