How to Apply for a Rotary Ambassadorial Scholarship

Here's a trivia question for you: Do you know what the largest study abroad scholarship in the world is?

The answer (as you may have inferred from the name of this article) is the Rotary Foundation's Ambassadorial Scholarship Program, which offers more than 1,000 one-year scholarships each year to young people from countries that have Rotary Clubs. There are more than 132 countries with clubs, so it's quite an international affair!

The scholarship covers up to $26,000 in expenses for one year of academic study in any other country with a Rotary Club where the student has not lived for more than 6 months before. It includes tuition, room and board, travel, and a $1,800 contingency fund for things like pre-departure expenses, books, and entertainment. In some countries where education and cost of living are very expensive, like the United States and Great Britain, the award does not cover everything. In most countries, though, the limit is more than enough.

To apply for a scholarship, you have to be a college graduate and a good standing member of your community. You can see all of the specifics at Rotary's website, www.Rotary.org

You are able to choose five different universities that you would like to study at, and they can all be in different countries. For most universities, you have to already have a strong command of the local language, though there are a few exceptions. All you have to do is check the Ambassadorial Scholarship document on Rotary's website for the exceptions. In any case, having a command of the local language will be a favorable consideration when it comes to selection time, because it will allow you to have a more positive experience once you arrive.

The application process timeline depends on the club through which you will be applying, so make sure to contact your local club and ask about their procedure. Club contact information is also available on the Rotary website. In general, applications are submitted between February and April. They go to your local club, which then chooses a student to sponsor on the District level.

That's where things get interesting! Several students "compete" at the District level for a limited number of spots. There is an all-day interview, during which you will meet with several Rotarians, and have a chance to explain your past experiences and future goals in-depth.

This is a grueling and competitive process, and in the end only a few students are chosen. Many who are not selected, however, choose to apply again in future years, and they have the great advantage of already knowing what it's like to go through the process.

Once the selection process is over, a long period of preparation begins. You begin your scholarship more than a year after you are selected, so I suggest that you have something to do in the meantime! Some applicants are Juniors in college, which takes care of their year-long wait. Others are working in full-time jobs, so they have no trouble filling their time. The long wait can actually be a blessing if you have a number of things to prepare, and especially if you need to study up to pass a language exam!

There are always things that can go wrong, but in my experience Rotary has been very helpful during difficult times. I was originally supposed to go to Israel, but when war broke out one month before my departure, I was forced to switch countries. In just one week Rotary helped me switch my destination to the Dominican Republic, and a few short weeks later I was in the Caribbean studying at the Pontificia Universidad Catolica Madre y Maestra.

There are very few requirements of Ambassadorial Scholars during their scholarship year. Obviously you have to be a student, but Rotary doesn't want you to spend all of your time studying. Going out and living up the local culture and seeing the sites are equally a part of the Rotary experience. You are also expected to make a series of presentations for local clubs, and will be asked to give similar presentations when you return home. It isn't much to ask for all of the amazing benefits participants receive.

The Ambassadorial Scholarship Program is a fantastic opportunity, so don't let the application process keep you away. If you put your mind to it, you might just end up with the experience of a lifetime!