During the summer of 2022, I heard about the George J.

Mitchell Scholarship and was

immediately interested. With the opportunity to pursue a graduate degree in Ireland for free, I

knew that I could not pass up the opportunity to apply for this experience. However, I knew it

would be a competitive process. Every year, over 400 students apply for the scholarship with

many of them being from Ivy League Schools. While I felt a bit unqualified to compete against

these individuals, I knew I could put forth a strong application that would be comparable to

theirs. I contacted the Minnesota State University, Mankato Office of University Fellowships to

have them assist me with the application process and I’ve been working with them for the last

several months.

The application was a lot of work and had multiple parts. When first looking at the

application requirements, I was very overwhelmed. Between the letters of recommendation,

endorsement from the university, personal statement, and accomplishments, it seemed like a

daunting process. After reviewing all the different requirements, I began my application. To

start, I had to decide which school I would want to attend and which graduate program I would

want to study. I began by researching all the different universities in Ireland, where they were

located, and the programs that they offered. Over the course of my research, I examined the

different programs that the universities offered as well as opportunities for hands-on, real-world

thinking. I also looked at the US News and World Report ranking of the different universities.

After months of consideration, I finally decided that my application would be geared towards the

University College of Cork’s International Public Policy & Diplomacy Graduate Program. I

chose this program because it would provide me with the opportunity to pursue a degree in

public policy, which would prepare me to work in my ideal career in the anti-hunger policy

world.
 After settling on a university and program of study, I conducted research to learn what

the selection committee looks for when choosing candidates for the scholarship. I did this by

closely considering the requirements provided on the website. The website also provided

biographies for all the previous Mitchell Scholars, giving me the opportunity to obtain a general

idea of what sets those who receive the scholarship apart from others. I geared all my

application materials towards arguing that I fit the three pillars of the Mitchell Scholarship

Program: scholarship, leadership, and commitment to community and public service. This

argument included a multifaceted approach to ensuring that I put forward the best possible

application. The most crucial aspect of the application is the personal statement. I made sure to

clearly address the prompts of “Why Mitchell?” and “Why Ireland” while also consistently

making sure that it focused on how I fit the pillars of the Mitchell Scholarship Program. One of

my biggest cases for regarding “Why Ireland” is because of their strong anti-hunger policies.

Currently, Ireland is rated as the second most food secure nation in the world while the United

States is not even in the top ten. As a result, it is evident that they have programs in place that are

more effective than what we have. This was one of the biggest things that I was able to find over

the course of my research and I believe really helped set my application apart.

Following the personal statement, I had to collect four letters of recommendation that

helped bolster my case. When selecting recommenders, I made sure to strategically choose and

focus the messaging of their letters. Each of the letters focused on either my commitment to

scholarship, leadership, or community service, which allowed me to further my argument that I

fit the pillars of the program. Finally, I had to receive an endorsement from the university. To do

so, I worked closely with Dr. Eric Youngs, the Director of Fellowships at Minnesota State

University, Mankato. Through this process, I was able to gather a large amount of information
and ultimately build an argument that helped prove that I am one of the best candidates for the

program.

After submitting my application, I received an email about a month later notifying me

that I had been selected as one of thirty-eight semifinalists. Following this revelation, I met once

again with Dr. Eric Youngs and Dr. Leah White to help prepare for the interview. We researched

possible questions and practiced these questions as we prepared for my interview. While I did

not receive the Mitchell Scholarship, this process has taught me so much and that I am capable of

conducting research.

Reflecting on the experience, I have concluded I am truly interested in anti-hunger work

as a career and my future goals. I also learned a lot about research. There are so many different

resources to use when conducting research, including the internet and different books. After

compiling such a large amount of information, I had to evaluate what was the best way to use it

in my application.

I learned a lot about myself and about graduate schools as I researched this program. One

of the most valuable developments that I learned was to tap into my network. Over the course of

my college career, I have built a vast network of individuals who can speak to my abilities as a

leader, student, and community servant. Already having these connections in place ensured that

my application process was seamless. Another strategy I learned was to ask for help when I need

it. Oftentimes, I am very self-sufficient and dislike asking for help. However, when applying for

this scholarship, I was faced with things that I did not know or that I could not do by myself. As

a result, I was forced to lean on others and ask them to help and support me. I also learned a lot

about ethics regarding the process of gathering supporting documents. I had to ensure that the

information I was putting forth was not only high quality, but was also correct. When submitting
this information, it was crucial not to lie or misrepresent any information on the application as

this would be unethical.

The skills that I learned when applying for the Mitchell Scholarship will be ones that I

use for years to come. I am planning on collaborating with one of my professors in the next year

to conduct research on food insecurity on our campus and in our community. I will utilize the

strategies that I learned, especially the ones relating to leaning on others for help, to ensure that I

am conducting the highest quality of research possible. I will also ensure that I am presenting all

my information ethically. As I look towards grad school, these will be skills I will use time and

again when conducting research and writing papers, ultimately impacting me for the rest of my

life. Overall, the opportunities that have been provided to me when applying to the Mitchell

Scholarship have proven to be invaluable. I ultimately hope I can conduct research in the future

and will use the skills and strategies I developed when applying for the Mitchell Scholarship for

years to come.