This document discusses reasons to study abroad and provides information about the Benjamin A. Gilman Scholarship. It outlines several benefits of studying abroad including gaining a new educational experience outside the classroom, adding new perspectives, building professional and personal relationships, reducing stereotypes, connecting with heritage, and becoming fluent in a new language. It also addresses common myths about studying abroad, such as concerns about affordability, safety, and language skills. Finally, it provides details on the requirements and selection criteria for the Gilman Scholarship, which provides grants of up to $5,000 for students with financial need to study abroad.

1. Study Abroad and the Benjamin
A. Gilman Scholarship
Micah Wilcher
micahdw@ksu.edu

2. Reasons to study abroad
• Get a full educational experience
– When in another country you’ll constantly be learning in and out of the classroom in order to grasp
the new culture. Many everyday tasks become learning experiences that you’ll never forget.
• Add new perspectives to your life
– You will learn how to better adapt to new situations and problem solve. You’ll also learn new ways
of looking at your self, your own country, and the world. The experience may even inspire you to
change your major, or career path.
• Build new professional relationships
– The opportunity for building professional relationships is very high. Job and internship offers or
recommendations can happen. Connect with professors, leaders of volunteer organizations and the
directors of your program to secure future opportunities.

3. Reasons to study abroad cont.
• Build personal relationships
– Some of the most amazing people you’ll ever meet are abroad. Again, they can add new
perspectives to the way you see the world. They can also become lifelong friends.
• Get rid of stereotypes that you and those in the country you are visiting might
have.
– "Men who travel should leave their prejudices at home.” – Frederick Douglass. Being
immersed in another culture will help you get rid of many stereotypes you hold. It also
gives you the chance to inform others of how their stereotypes are wrong.
• Connect to your heritage
– If you study abroad in a country you have roots in, you can learn much more than you
might ever imagine about where you come from
• Become fluent in a new language
– Immersing yourself into a culture where the language is foreign to you will enable you to
become fluent faster than just learning in class.

4. Common myths about study abroad:
• I can’t afford it
– Financial aid can cover all or most tuition costs. This depends
where you go, and the type of program chosen.
– You can also fundraise
• It’s too dangerous
– This too depends on which country you go to. Travel advisory
information for every country is available at
• http://travel.state.gov/content/passports/english/country.html
• http://www.globaled.us/safeti/

5. Common myths continued:
• I can’t speak any foreign languages
– Many programs in non- English speaking countries have
an option to take classes where the language of
instruction is English.

6. About the Gilman Scholarship:
• Requirements:
– Be a current and/ or future recipient of a Federal Pell Grant
– Be accepted into or applying to a study abroad program that is eligible
for credit at your institution
– Be studying abroad in one country for at least one month
– Be studying or interning abroad in any country except Cuba or a country
on the U.S. Department of State's current Travel Warning list.
• Grants up to $5,000

7. About the Gilman Scholarship cont.
• Selection Criteria:
– high financial need
– Students studying in non-traditional countries, especially those
outside of Western Europe, Australia and New Zealand
– Students with diverse ethnic backgrounds
– Students from a diverse range of institutions including four-year,
public, private, community colleges, Historically Black Colleges and
Universities, Tribal Colleges, Hispanic Serving Institutions and
other Minority Serving Institutions.
– Students with disabilities