Applying to Schwarzman Scholars? Here’s What Not to Do.

Schwarzman Scholars is one of the most prestigious programs in the academic and leadership world. Based at Schwarzman College at Tsinghua University in Beijing, the program allows more than 100 scholars each year to complete a fully funded Master's in Global Affairs at a university ranked in the world's top 20, and number one in Asia.

I've been a Schwarzman Scholar myself, and it truly was the experience of a lifetime. It is intellectually nourishing, intentionally designed with attention to the smallest details, backed by an active network, and built specifically for career acceleration.

My year in Beijing permanently changed me, gifting me perspectives, knowledge, and lifelong friends. The degree, which was my second Master's, has opened doors to entirely new spaces and opportunities.

It was also during this program that I first began learning about Chinese humanitarian and development aid. That shifted the trajectory and depth of my work in the sector, allowing me to contribute from a more informed perspective (some of my dissertation findings are summarized here in this blog).

While you can find plenty of standard advice and guidelines for the application stage, I found that with this program in particular, it is actually more helpful to look at what not to do. Because the backgrounds of the scholars are so incredibly diverse, avoiding common pitfalls matters much more than following a one-size-fits-all formula.

So, let's get started with what not to do when applying to Schwarzman Scholars, as per my experience with applicants and my own:

Writing a very general take on why a connection to China matters.

Yes, China is a world power, the factory of the world, an important player in nearly every timely political affair, and a country that possesses an amazing range of cultures and profound history. Broad statistics are available easily online (just how reliable and precise they are is another conversation). But why China for you, your career, and your future plans? Why is it important for what you personally do, and what is the state of affairs between it and your country or region? Is what you're proposing coherent with your overall application? Does it feel intentional and well thought out?

Even if you don't feed all your essays with answers to these questions, they're important for you to make the decision whether this could be a fit for you, and they will inform your overall writing, thinking process, and interviewing too.

Remember, you don't need to be a Chinese relations expert, or even possess Mandarin skills (you'll acquire that during the program; despite it being fully in English, it offers mandatory Mandarin lessons), but please don't make this one superficial. Show your attention to relevant debates and the added value of being positioned at an institution the Chinese public and education system are incredibly proud of.

If applicable, neglecting to write about your creative, entrepreneurial, or volunteer work.

Thousands of incredibly gifted people apply to Schwarzman Scholars each year. They bring such an extraordinary level of skills and accomplishments, and they come from nearly every corner of the world. What not everyone can bring to the table is the ability and bravery to tell a story and show aspects of character beyond professional or academic accomplishments.

In fact, most top prestigious programs care about their caliber's character in equal measure to their anticipated and previous performance and track, because you'll join a community, and this community's experience with you and with each other shapes the lived quality of the experience and creates the atmosphere of the network, a key program asset.

If you're an artist, a writer, a founder, a community volunteer, an athlete, educator, activist, or do something you're proud of that doesn't necessarily always get fully reflected in your work or receive the attention it deserves, the scholarship application might become the place for it to be expressed.

Thinking that previous years' admitted profiles are the only thing admissions is looking for.

The scholars' list is often scanned by applicants (and us former scholars, we love getting to know the new Schwarzman Scholars!), and often, trends such as business consultants, startup founders, and government workers show up, and it's true, these hardworking, impressive profiles are strongly present. Of course, some countries, due to the roots of the scholarship, are particularly represented: the US and China.

Having said that, the scholarship is getting more diverse with each cohort. Over 100 countries are already represented, and increasingly, the scholarship is drawing interest from people in nonprofits and creative industries, with plenty of development workers, artists, content creators, and social innovators.

Thinking that this cannot be right for you because you already have a Master's.

A lot of people in the scholars community do. Some even paused PhDs and took a year in China just because of how valuable the opportunity is. They came back to their studies and resumed their work afterwards. I had done Chevening several years before Schwarzman, and while I would definitely recommend spacing degrees with a few years in between and ensuring you have some work experience if that is your case, I still wouldn't think of this as a repetition of any previous experience. It's indeed different, and a lifetime experience, especially in today's political landscape.

Prioritizing "perfection" over hitting Send.

Every admissions cycle, I get messages from people wanting to apply to either Chevening or Schwarzman Scholars (I wrote about Chevening applications here). I'm always so glad to learn about the wonderful talents with whom these opportunities resonate, even though I'm unable to get back to each inquiry due to the volume I get on LinkedIn (you can book a personalized session with me here).

A winning application is thoughtful, authentic, tells a story, and shows individual value, commitment, and the ability to live and grow with others.

Delaying the application. The scholarship has an age limit.

Just really the title. Some programs, such as Rhodes, target even younger talents. Other scholarships, such as Chevening and Fulbright, don't. If you're interested but are above the age bracket, still keep an eye on application announcements; the program did increase the age limit from 28 to 29 in the last couple of years, and the criteria might change too. This age range is incredibly formative, but understandably, people spend this time of life under diverse circumstances and not everyone finds out about the program at an appropriate time.

In all cases, look up the many options open to you, from governmental scholarships to policy fellowships in nearly every country, and keep applying while practicing self-care.