IFSA-Butler Scholar Program for First Generation College Students

• Scholarship value: Up to $2,500 (see expenses and reimbursement breakdown below)
• Minimum GPA: 2.7 (4.0 scale)
• No financial need requirements
• Applicants submit a 500 word essay (see topic choices below)
• Application deadlines:
  October 15 for spring/semester 1/calendar year
  April 1 for fall/semester 2/academic year
• Contact: Chelsea Levine

First generation college students have some of the lowest study abroad participation rates among U.S. college students, and IFSA-Butler wants to change that. Our new, achievement-based scholarship program offers first generation college students significant financial, academic and preprofessional support for study abroad on a semester or year IFSA-Butler program.

Reimbursements and expenses covered include:

• $500 room and board scholarship
• Flight transportation (approximately $1,500 value)
• Student visa fee reimbursement, where applicable ($100-$500 value, depending on country)
• Passport fee reimbursement (approximately $150 value)
• Specialized predeparture information
• First Generation Parent Publication
• Student Blog
• Resume Building/Reentry Workshop

Why are so many up-front costs covered by this scholarship?
The proposition of study abroad—with its associated procedures, cost, documentation, visas, academic planning and inevitable geographic separation—is often daunting and discouraging. For this reason, the First Generation Scholar Program combines scholarships in the form of discounts, as well as up-front capital for passport, visa fees and airline tickets.

Why a resume building workshop?
First generation college students tend to have more vocation-driven goals and see university as a means to a profession, rather than the "transformative experience" that so permeates the traditionally academic elite. Recipients of the First Generation Scholar Program, as well as all other IFSA-Butler "first gens," can participate in a post-study abroad resume building session to better encapsulate and articulate skills they've built abroad. Butler University Career Services will help design and lead this online resume building session.

Share your story!
In order to facilitate articulating their experiences and help future students understand the value of study abroad, the First Generation Scholars will be required to chronicle their story before, during and after their time abroad in blog form. At least a portion of their blog entries will be guided by a series of questions specifically addressing their experience as a "first gen" abroad. These blogs can also be a powerful resume builder.

Essay topics (choose one)

1. As a first-generation college student, you have undoubtedly gained special skills to help you succeed in uncharted territory of the U.S. academic system. You'll now need to draw upon many of these proficiencies to help you adjust in a brand new culture and education system. Tell us what skills you'll have at your disposal to help you adjust, learn and succeed while you're abroad. What is it that drives and challenges you to continue expanding your comfort zone? How might study abroad, and this program in particular, assist you in achieving your goals?
   
   
2. Recreate a dialogue in which you discuss your motivation to study abroad with your family and/or other personal stakeholder. Why do you want to study abroad? What will it help you achieve? What are their hesitations or concerns? How did/will you address those? How will your decision to study abroad affect your family and community in the long run?

Spotlight Programs
Christchurch, New Zealand: The University of Canterbury has provided exclusive scholarships to IFSA-Butler first generation college students in 2012-2013 as part of the Canterbury/IFSA-Butler scholarship program. The university will provide interested IFSA-Butler students with campus mentors to help them more quickly integrate and understand NZ campus life, as well as facilitate in any IFSA-Butler New Zealand "first gen" programming (e.g. pre-professional workshops, tutoring).

IFSA-Butler New Zealand Resident Director Amy Rutherford will also include special sessions addressing issues important to first-generation college students during onsite orientation.

Mérida, México: IFSA-Butler Mexico Resident Director Diana Arízaga has designed and implemented several initiatives aimed at nurturing the abroad experience for first generation college students. While it is not an identified student group at UADY, IFSA-Butler students (and interested UADY first gens) will participate in the following:

• Workshops to better highlight their experience on a resume
• Lecturers who conduct practice interview sessions for potential jobs (in English and Spanish)
• A private orientation session discussing challenges and opportunities relevant to "first gens"
• Specialized predeparture and reentry materials for parents of "first gens"
• Specialized reentry programming for students to help shape and process the experience