<aside> ✨ If you’d like to connect with Rosa, you can find her on Iscicle @ rosa.
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Rosa is an international student from Iran who will be transferring to UC Berkeley this Fall from De Anza College in California. She was awarded a $17,000 external scholarship, and accepted into an internship at Stanford this summer, alongside her various UC transfer admissions. We had the chance to chat with Rosa about her journey as an international student so far, and here’s what she told us:
First, go in with a plan and create a list of every scholarship you can find and the requirements it has. It’s important to note whether you’ll need to write essays or receive recommendation letters, and how many are required. Second, apply to all of the scholarships you can find that you are eligible for. As an international student, I went by this rule: if the scholarship guidelines didn’t mention residency, then I assumed I was qualified, and I applied. Lastly, please be hopeful! I applied 40 scholarships and I won one of them. Don’t give up!
I am really looking forward to working with some of the best scientists at Stanford. I’ll also get to live on campus because the internship covers housing and food expenses, and also includes monthly payments. It’s going to be my first time living on Stanford’s campus, and I am excited to get to experience this opportunity. I also plan on attending some coding boot camps, which I’m looking forward to.
Find suitable internships for yourself. For example, if you're in your third year of undergraduate studies (Junior), look for opportunities geared towards undergraduates. It wouldn't make sense to apply for internships meant for master's or PhD students if your time is limited. If they explicitly mention that they don't accept international students, it's best not to waste your time. If there's no mention of this restriction, it likely means they're open to international applicants. Utilize the resources available at your university or college. Many companies and universities collaborate, especially in the same area. Search through websites, LinkedIn, and other sources you're familiar with. I wrote a post about my tips on Iscicle as well (you can find it here).
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