2025 Global Travel Scholars Application Form
To be considered for the selection to the 2025 Global Travel Scholars program, you must complete the following TWO-PART APPLICATION PROCESS by Wednesday, January 8, 2025:

PART 1: Complete the Global Travel Scholars Application Form below.
  • The Global Travel Scholars Application Form (below) assesses your eligibility for the Global Travel Scholars program, your commitment to meeting all program expectations, and your interest in The Leadership Institute (optional).
  • The form should take no more than 1 hour to complete.
  • Answers to all questions—with the exception of questions 20-22 (see below)—should be completed by the student applicant; questions 20-22 should be completed in consultation with a parent/ guardian.
  • All questions with an asterisk (*) are required.
  • You can not save your work in this form.
  • Be sure to click SUBMIT at the end of the form.
  • This form must be submitted in addition to your Application for Admission through The Experiment.
2. Complete the Application for Admission through The Experiment portal.
  • Visit www.experiment.org/apply to create an account and complete the Application for Admission.
  • The Application for Admission assesses your motivation and readiness to travel abroad and your program interests.
  • Answer Yes to the question on the first Program Selection page, Were you nominated by your sponsoring organization? Then, choose World Affairs Council of Pittsburgh from the drop-down list provided. This will waive the $50 application fee and share your application with the World Affairs Council of Pittsburgh (the "Council") to be considered for the program.

This form asks for your family's financial information in order to determine your level of financial need. Financial information will be kept confidential and will only be shared with the selection committee members from the Council The Experiment. Financial information for questions 20-22 must be provided by your parent/guardian and be true and accurate to the best of their knowledge.

The Council is committed to providing opportunities to students with diverse lived experiences. The data you provide in the Global Travel Scholars Application (below) and the Application for Admission will not be shared in a personally identifiable way with anyone outside of the Council and The Experiment.

Questions? Contact Director of Youth Programming Kathleen Newell at kathleen@worldpittsburgh.org.
Email *
1. Full Name *
2. Preferred Email *
Applicants will receive important information via email. We suggest using a personal email address that you regularly check as some school email accounts block messages from outside senders.
3. Cell Phone *
4. High School *
5. Grade *
6. Current GPA *
7. Birthdate *
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DD
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8. Gender
Clear selection
9. Pronouns
10. Do you identify as BIPOC?
*
As defined by the YWCA, "BIPOC stands for Black, Indigenous, and People of Color. Pronounced “bye-pock,” this is a term specific to the United States, intended to center the experiences of Black and Indigenous groups and demonstrate solidarity between communities of color." How you identify is based on your story and your roots.
11. Describe your ethnic origin/race.
12. What is your country of citizenship? *
You do not have to be U.S. citizen to be eligible for a Global Travel Scholarship.
13. Are you an ESL student? *
14. Do you currently hold an active U.S. passport valid through February 2026?
*
15. Have you ever traveled outside of the United States and Canada (this includes travel to Mexico)? *
16. Are you fully vaccinated for Covid-19, or if not, do you agree to get vaccinated if selected as a Global Travel Scholar?
*
17. Parent(s)/Guardian(s) Email(s) *
18. Parent(s)/Guardian(s) Cell Phone(s) *
19. Parent(s)/Guardian(s) Occupation(s) *
20. To the best of your ability, enter your family’s total wages, salaries, and/or other earned income for 2024 before taxes. *
This information must be provided by a parent/guardian and be true and accurate to the best their knowledge.
21. Enter the number of dependent children and other persons residing with the applicant who are wholly or partially dependent upon your family's income.

Please count the student applicant, other dependent children, and other persons residing with your family who are dependent on your family's income. Do not include the applicant's parent(s)/guardian(s).
*
This information must be provided by a parent/guardian and be true and accurate to the best their knowledge.
22. The Global Travel Scholars Program is a need-based award for students who would not be able to travel abroad without a full scholarship. Please describe the financial challenges that you face in pursuing travel abroad. *
In other words, please share additional context regarding any major debts, expenses, or other circumstances or financial hardships (e.g., medical debts, caregiving expenses, etc.) that prevent your family from being able to financially support you in pursuing travel abroad. Answer in 250 words or less.
23. Becoming a Global Travel Scholar involves a year-long commitment that includes mandatory programming with the Council before and after traveling abroad. This includes three in-person pre-departure orientation meetings focusing on culture, power and privilege, communication, leadership, and travel logistics; a storytelling event after travel; essays/presentations; a group project; and other opportunities to act as an ambassador of the program.

What excites you about this program and makes you a motivated candidate who is able to follow through with these commitments? What would prevent you from completing these commitments, and what support might you need to be successful in completing program requirements?  
*
Answer in 250 words or less.
24. Interviews will take place virtually on Saturday, February 1. Please select ALL times you would be available to participate in a group interview. You will be notified by Monday, January 27, if you have been selected for an interview. *
Required
25. Please share any accommodations you require to be able to fully participate in the Global Travel Scholars program.
26. Please provide the name of a recommender — a parent, caregiver, or other adult who has agreed to support you if you are selected for the Global Travel Scholars program.
*
  • Please identify a recommender who will support you in completing forms, applying for a passport, attending in-person meetings, etc.
  • Please be sure your recommender has agreed to complete a recommendation form on your behalf within 10 days of receiving the form.
  • Your recommender must be different from the teacher or advisor at your school you list as a reference in your Application for Admission through The Experiment.
27. Recommender Email *
28. What is your relationship to the Recommender? *
29. Please list your TOP 3 travel abroad programs in order of preference. *
  • You can view all program options at www.experiment.org/abroad-destinations.
  • Please be include the full program name when listing your choices (e.g., France: French Language & Culture).
  • If you are selected for the Global Travel Scholars program, you are NOT guaranteed an offer to travel to one of your top choice programs.
If you are interested in being nominated by the Council for The Leadership Institute, you will be directed to complete Section 2 of this form. If The Leadership Institute is not one of your top 3 program choices, please make sure your answers above are complete, click "Next" below, and then submit the form.
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