You scored that competitive scholarship, a big congratulations! But now the real work begins. The Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program alone has received over 130,000 applications since 2001, supporting undergraduates who might not otherwise participate due to financial constraints. The opportunity ahead of you carries weight that extends far beyond your personal experience.
Scholarship recipients face unique pressures that self-funded students don’t encounter. Your funding comes with strings attached, and breaking those strings can cost you thousands of dollars and future opportunities. Here are the ten most damaging mistakes you absolutely must avoid.
1. Skip Reading Scholarship Fine Print at Your Own Risk
“I thought maintaining a 2.5 GPA would be fine since that’s what my home university required. It turns out my scholarship required maintaining a 3.0 minimum,” recalls Sarah Chen, a former Fulbright recipient who nearly lost her funding in Germany. The consequences hit her bank account hard, $8,000 out of pocket for the spring semester.
Most scholarship agreements contain specific requirements beyond basic academic standing. Some demand progress reports every semester. Others require community service hours or cultural engagement activities.
Gilman Scholarship recipients must provide proof of U.S. citizenship and agree to specific Terms and Conditions that many students overlook during the excitement of winning.
Read every page twice. Mark deadlines in multiple calendars. Your scholarship provider isn’t your friend, they’re your business partner.
2. Financial Disasters Can Start in Month One
The exchange rate looked favorable when you landed, and that first weekend in Prague felt magical. European markets overflowed with handmade goods, and dinner out cost less than campus food. Then reality struck when your bank account showed $200 remaining with three months left in the program.
Maria Gonzalez, a housing advisor at the Universidad Complutense Madrid, commented “Students consistently underestimate living costs abroad. They see the scholarship amount as spending money instead of survival money.”
| Monthly Expense Category | Budget Allocation |
| Housing & Utilities | 40-45% |
| Food & Groceries | 20-25% |
| Transportation | 10-15% |
| Personal/Entertainment | 15-20% |
| Emergency Fund | 10% minimum |
Create a realistic monthly budget before you leave home. Factor in currency fluctuations, seasonal price changes, and emergency situations.
3. Academic Performance Cannot Take Second Place
Your Instagram feed shows museums and weekend trips, but your transcript tells a different story. “The temptation to treat study abroad as an extended vacation destroys more scholarships than any other factor,” warns Dr. James Robertson, international programs director at University of Michigan.
Poor grades abroad follow you home and can disqualify you from future funding opportunities. Graduate schools notice that semester in Rome where you earned a 2.3 GPA. Your professors back home receive transcripts that show you checked out mentally while overseas.
Maintain the same academic standards you held at home. Schedule study time like you schedule sightseeing.
4. The American Bubble Wastes Everyone’s Investment
You found the American expatriate group within your first week. English conversations felt comfortable after struggling with basic grocery shopping in the local language. But three months later, your language skills remained elementary, and your cultural understanding stayed surface-level.
Dr. Ingrid Larsen, former student advisor at the University of Copenhagen says, “Hanging exclusively with other Americans defeats the entire purpose of international education. Scholarship sponsors invest in global citizens, not tourists who happen to live abroad temporarily.“
Force yourself into uncomfortable social situations. Join local clubs. Take classes taught in the local language. Your comfort zone expansion directly correlates with your educational ROI.
5. Social Media Missteps Have Lasting Consequences
That photo of you drinking wine at 2 PM on a Tuesday might seem fun, but scholarship committees increasingly monitor recipients’ online presence. Your posts reflect not just on you but on your home institution and funding organization.
“We’ve had to have serious conversations with students whose social media suggested they weren’t taking their academic responsibilities seriously,” admits Rachel Torres, study abroad coordinator at Duke University.
Maintain professionalism while staying authentic. Your posts should demonstrate cultural engagement and personal growth, not party adventures.
6. Mental Health Neglect Destroys Everything
Homesickness hit harder than expected. Academic pressure mounted as you struggled with language barriers and different teaching styles. Instead of seeking help, you pushed through alone, and your performance suffered across all areas.
Culture shock affects 75% of study abroad students, according to multiple university counseling centers. International students often hesitate to use mental health services due to stigma or unfamiliarity with available resources.
- Campus counseling services specifically train staff to help international students
- Many universities offer culturally sensitive therapy options
- Video counseling with home-country therapists remains available
- Crisis hotlines operate in multiple languages in most host countries
Your mental health directly impacts your academic success and scholarship retention.
7. Life-Altering Decisions Require Distance
That local relationship felt incredibly meaningful, and dropping out to stay seemed logical. Changing your major to art history after visiting the Louvre every weekend appeared obvious. These decisions made while abroad often lack the perspective needed for sound judgment.
Andreas Mueller, explains student counselor who works with international students in Vienna. “Study abroad creates an emotional high that clouds long-term thinking. Students make dramatic life changes based on temporary feelings.”
Major life decisions can wait until you return home and process your experience fully.
8. Safety Lapses Risk Everything
You skipped embassy registration because the website seemed complicated. Travel insurance felt unnecessary for short trips to neighboring countries. These oversights can cost you everything when emergencies arise.
Scholarship recipients must study in countries with Travel Advisory Levels 1 or 2, with specific location restrictions for safety that change regularly. Your scholarship provider likely requires proof of insurance and emergency contact protocols.
Basic safety measures protect both you and your funding:
- Register with your embassy within one week of arrival
- Maintain required insurance coverage throughout your stay
- Keep emergency contacts updated with program administrators
- Follow host country safety protocols and local laws
Your safety negligence reflects on future scholarship recipients from your institution.
9. Professional Relationships Shape Your Future
The program coordinator seemed demanding, and you responded with visible frustration during orientation. Your host family rules felt restrictive, so you complained publicly. These burned bridges follow you longer than you expect.
Dr. Patricia Williams, former Fulbright program officer explains, “International education operates as a small community. Word travels between institutions and countries faster than students realize.”
That frustrated email you sent could reach your graduate school admissions committee. The advisor you dismissed might review your fellowship application five years later. Maintain professionalism even when situations frustrate you.
10. Document Everything for Future Success
Your scholarship sponsor invested thousands of dollars in your education and expects evidence of that investment’s return. You lived through incredible personal growth but struggle to articulate specific examples when asked.
“Students often can’t demonstrate the impact of their abroad experience because they didn’t document their development,” notes career counselor Jennifer Park, who works with returned study abroad students.
| Documentation Type | Frequency | Future Use |
| Academic reflection journal | Weekly | Graduate applications |
| Cultural observation notes | Daily | Scholarship renewals |
| Language progress tracking | Monthly | Resume building |
| Photo documentation with context | Ongoing | Job interviews |
| Networking contact information | Real-time | Professional opportunities |
Keep detailed records of your growth for future scholarship applications, job interviews, and graduate school essays.
Your scholarship represents more than financial assistance, it’s an investment in your potential as a global citizen and future leader. Avoid those ten mistakes above to maximize that investment and honor the opportunity you’ve received. The experience will challenge you in ways you can’t anticipate, but preparation and awareness help you succeed where others stumble.
References
Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program. “Program Overview.” Source:
New York University. “Gilman Scholarships.” Source:
Institute of International Education. “Open Doors 2024: Report on International Educational Exchange.” Source:
Institute of International Education. “Open Doors Data Portal.” Source:
NAFSA: Association of International Educators. “Trends in U.S. Study Abroad.” Source
Disclaimer: All quotes from “students” and “advisors” are fictional examples for illustrative purposes.