<aside> 👌🏽 Things have changed a lot since this happened, I applied for the Masters program in December 2017 and for additional scholarships in Spring 2018. I attended the Fall’18 semester at Parsons. In 2023, I secured the O1-A visa and was able to leverage my membership in the IEI Association as part of my application.

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My Scholarship Journey (2018)

When I decided to pursue higher education in the United States, I knew scholarships would play a critical role in making my dream a reality. Driven by my desire and NEED to secure funding, I embarked on extensive research, exploring various opportunities.

Here are some of the scholarships I found valuable during my search:

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  1. TOEFL Scholarship Program in India: This scholarship assists Indian students who demonstrate high academic achievement and leadership skills to study abroad. More details can be found here.
  2. Tata Center for Technology and Design at MIT: This program offers scholarships for students from India to engage in technology and design projects that address societal challenges. Visit the Tata Center here.
  3. KC Mahindra Scholarship for Post-Graduate Studies Abroad: A prestigious scholarship for Indian students pursuing postgraduate studies overseas. More information is available here.
  4. J.N. Tata Endowment for the Higher Education of Indians: Provides loan scholarships to Indian students for higher education abroad. Learn more about the process here.
  5. Mahindra Overseas Scholarship: A financial aid program for Indian students pursuing studies abroad. Application details can be found here.
  6. USIEF Fulbright-Nehru Fellowships: Offers scholarships to Indian students, scholars, and professionals to study, research, or teach in the United States. Explore these fellowships here and here.
  7. Rotary Scholarships: Provides scholarships for graduate-level study abroad in fields related to peace and conflict prevention, disease prevention, and other global issues. More details can be found here.

🏆 Here’s the one I got through: Impact Entrepreneurship Initiative Fellowship at The New School

After extensive research, I found an opportunity that was more than just a scholarship—it was a fellowship that aligned perfectly with my aspirations: the Impact Entrepreneurship Fellowship at The New School in New York.

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Impact Entrepreneurship Fellowship: This fellowship is designed to support entrepreneurs who are committed to addressing social issues through innovative solutions. The program provides financial aid, mentorship, and a robust network of professionals. The selection process is rigorous, emphasizing a strong commitment to social impact, leadership potential, and innovative thinking. More information about the fellowship can be found on their website.

Initially, I doubted whether I was good enough to apply. However, I reminded myself of all the great work I had accomplished and decided to go for it. Despite submitting my application past the due date, my commitment and unique perspective stood out, and I was accepted into the program.

Irna believes in the power of empathy to transform ideas into meaningful and relatable products, systems, and services that can change and save lives. She is passionate about using her design-thinking skills to improve healthcare and education in developing economies and globally. Irna completed an undergraduate major in information design. She spent two years at Noora Health, a Stanford Extreme start-up that educates patients’ caregivers in hospitals on post-discharge care to improve health outcomes. She travelled to hospitals in different states of India to develop impactful training programs that were medically accurate yet relatable across literary, cultural, language, and geographic barriers — reaching over 150,000 people. Irna has also worked on health education projects affiliated with the UN and consults with other organizations working in this space. New School Change Makers

Here’s a glimpse into my application!