American University
GLOBAL SCHOLARS
TESTIMONIALS
Fatima Tariq, Class of 2019
From applying to colleges to choosing which to attend, it’s a bumpy ride. But the real adventure begins when you finally move in and start college, which is a life-changing and somewhat overwhelming process, especially when you’re an international student from Pakistan and are dealing with a huge culture shock, homesickness, and have a lot more to adjust to. This transition was made exciting rather than intimidating due to the love, support, and individual attention that the Global Scholars program gave me.
As someone who is firm about her interest in the International Studies field and wants to become a political economist, I knew that the academic rigor, the wide array of opportunities provided to Global Scholars, and the community of self-motivated and talented intellectuals made this program not just an obvious, but rather a dream choice for me. Upon receiving my acceptance letter, I was overjoyed and above all, ready. I felt prepared to finally follow my dreams and to embark on an academic journey hat would facilitate my quest for positively contributing to the world. Studying abroad in the London School of Economics and Political Science during summer 2017 further enriched my academic experience.
Moreover, the mentor-mentee program allowed me to connect with older and younger Global Scholars, providing me with individuals to learn from and give guidance to. Being a Global Scholar in one of the most cosmopolitan and vibrant cities of the world, a city that is home to man’s wonders and has nature’s blessings bestowed upon it, is an honor that I am lucky to have, to say the least. Thank you to the Global Scholars program for igniting the fire in my belly and to my fellow Global Scholars for giving me a home away from home!
Farzana Line, Class of 2019
The Global Scholars Program allows students to have a unique college experience by bringing together students from all walks of life who are passionate about making the world a better place. The program has some of the most amazing professors that School of International Service has to offer. They pay close attention to the students and make sure that we are strengthening our research as well as other skills we need to succeed in the field of International Relations. I especially enjoyed taking cohort classes that are only offered to Global Scholars. The cohort classes are designed to challenge first-year students with higher level courses and help them think outside of the box. These classes and the living-learning community made it possible for the people in the cohort to become more than classmates. Over time, they became my one big GloScho Family!
I will forever cherish the laughter, debates and the constant support I have received from my GloScho family. The program connected me to the Global Scholar upperclassmen and alumni network who are there to help me with internships, jobs and other opportunities. This summer, I was able to participate in an exclusive study abroad program in Belgium and Spain because the Global Scholars program gives you the option to apply your financial aid to summer semesters. The Global Scholars program is more than a three-year program, it is a support system for students who are extremely passionate about the world and who want to create change.
Michaela Downey, Class of 2019
The Global Scholars program may just be the best part of my experience at AU so far - for so many reasons that it’s hard to list them all. Because of this program, I’ve acquired a lifetime’s worth of great friends and amazing experiences and really discovered who I am and what I’m about.
The things I’ve gotten to experience as part of the program have made me a totally different person than I was when I started college and leave me wondering what could be yet to come. The program directors have given me incredibly valuable advice and really helped me to come into my own, academically and intellectually. My embarrassing, “geeky” interests that I used to hide have become serious research focuses that I can now discuss for hours. Spending a summer session abroad as a cohort is perhaps the most memorable thing I’ve experienced because of the program, and it taught me things about myself that are hard to describe. The events and experiences that the program directors abroad prepared for us were incredible, although getting to know a city for a few weeks tended to turn the mundane into the monumental anyway.
These experiences on their own are amazing, but what really makes them special are the amazing people I’ve met as part of this program. Nearly all of my close friends on campus are Global Scholars, and inversely, most of my cohort considers each other good friends. Starting college was definitely difficult, but as the weeks went on I discovered that this program was full of people who would appreciate me as I am and encourage me to be myself. These people have made college so memorable and given me much-needed boosts of self-confidence, and I don’t know that I would have met so many great people if not for this program. As a part of this community, I’ve learned who I am, what I care about, and what I want for the future. The Global Scholars program definitely taught me a lot about international relations, but it probably taught me just as much - if not more - about myself.
Noah Ringler, Class of 2018
American University’s Global Scholars program is an incredible way to make the university experience an approachable team effort - from the benefits to living in a learning community to taking on challenges as a team. The community Global Scholars provides facilitates mentorship and support throughout the challenges of college, whether they are personal, professional, or hobby related. D.C. has something for everyone, as does SIS and AU - Global Scholars helps you find people who are a year ahead in school and focused in your particular corner of academia as well as graduates working in the field. Friends made in your first year and over your summer abroad will be life-long connections and the closest friends within a professional network of exceptionally dedicated and high-achieving students that will form the basis of you academic career. Throughout the program, the intensity of the high academic pace is matched by the passion of the students tackling it head on.
The Global Scholars office and director support - whether with financial questions, scholarship, class choice, research, internships, or career choices - opens doors that will change the course of your time in university. Global Scholars assisted me in finding my first (paid) internship, enabled me to study abroad and find academic programs in Turkey and Azerbaijan, and allowed me to customize my Advanced Research Methods research and expand it towards the areas I am most interested in. Like any program, you get out what you put into it - but the incredible people, opportunities, and professors make the program a life-changing addendum to the AU experience.