Meet Ryan Lee, Gilman Scholar Who Studied Abroad in South Korea

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Ryan Lee, Gilman Scholar in South Korea
Wednesday, January 25th

Ryan Lee is a Computer Science major who plans to graduate from Rutgers in 2024. He was eager to study abroad in South Korea and applied for the prestigious Gilman Scholarship to help defray the costs.

Established in 2001, the Gilman International Scholarship is congressionally funded by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs at the U.S. Department of State and provides up to $5,000 to students of limited financial means (they must be receiving a Federal Pell Grant to be eligible) to intern or study abroad. Students can apply for a supplemental award of up to $3,000 if they study a critical need language deemed important to national security.

The application process for the Gilman Scholarship is rigorous. Students must submit three essays that require a substantial amount of vulnerability and openness in order to share their story and why they believe going abroad would be fundamental to their journey.

Ryan went through the process and was thrilled to receive the Gilman Scholarship. In the Spring of 2022, he realized his dream of studying abroad in South Korea at Yonsei University in Seoul. Here he shares about his experiences.

Note: The application deadline for the Gilman Scholarship is March 9, 2023. Contact the Study Abroad office for guidance, and learn more here on the Gilman Scholarship website.

Why did you want to study abroad in South Korea?

I attended middle school in Korea until I was 16. When I came to the United States, it was sometimes hard for me and I realized that I wanted to see my old friends again. I found out about the existence of studying abroad in Korea through a flyer that came to my school email account, and I wanted to learn more.

What advantages did you think you would gain through studying abroad?

When I thought about studying abroad seriously, I realized it could have many advantages for me. I had always planned to return to Korea after graduation and work there, so I thought that studying abroad would give me the opportunity to interact with people with similar goals. In addition, I knew that schools in Korea have various courses in the computer science field, which is my field of study. When I looked into it and did the research, I decided to study abroad at Yonsei University in Seoul. 

What were some obstacles to you studying abroad?

The biggest obstacle to studying abroad for me was definitely the cost. I was able to get help through applying for various study abroad scholarships. Rutgers Global has many options for scholarship programs to help students study abroad and they encouraged me to apply for the Gilman scholarship. I was very lucky to receive a scholarship to cover my costs while studying abroad. For all students considering studying abroad, I highly recommend that you apply for scholarships!

What was your study abroad experience like in South Korea?

Unfortunately, the 2022 Spring semester was still a period impacted by Covid-19 but I was still very excited to attend university in Seoul. Most of the classes were held online, but I was able to go to class in-person twice a week. I met many new friends there; they were all professional and had a passion for what they were learning. I asked them a lot of questions about the job market in Korea, and I was able to get some great insider information. Another advantage was being able to take classes that were difficult to get into at Rutgers. Finally, the campus was beautiful, and I was able to see my old friends that I hadn't seen in a long time. 

Tell us about your classes at Yonsei University. What courses did you take and what was the classroom experience like?

Yonsei University offered a lot of classes in my major, computer science. First, I took a class about big data and image recognition. I have been interested in big data for a long time, so I was glad for the opportunity to take the course at Yonsei. Next, I was able to learn about macroeconomics and cognitive science, a topic of great interest to me. Overall, the classes I took at Yonsei University were well-organized, enjoyable, and valuable.

What was your favorite place to visit in South Korea? Why?

I like to drink tea, however in the U.S. my options were limited since I don't drive. I've always wanted a tea house within walking distance, but I didn’t have one in New Brunswick. In Seoul, there were many tea houses nearby and, with the good public transportation system, I could easily go to the other tea houses further away. 

What advice would you give a fellow Rutgers student who wants to study abroad?

The most important thing I would like to tell students who are thinking of studying abroad is to prepare early. I decided to study abroad late, so I felt like I was running out of time. Studying abroad requires more preparation than you think! There were challenges with the timing of the issuance of visas, and I had to carve out time to write essays for the study abroad scholarship applications, among other things. If you are planning to study abroad, I recommend that you start early; use your vacation time and free time to get started.

Any final thought you want to share?

My experience in Korea was one of the most beautiful memories of my college life. Korea is an ordered and developed country and the hi-tech environment captured my heart. My only regret was that I applied to study abroad for only one semester instead of a full academic year.

In all, I am so glad I studied abroad at Yonsei University and would recommend the experience without hesitation to anyone who is considering studying abroad. I am sure that my various experiences in Seoul will be helpful after I graduate. I believe that every student who takes the chance to study abroad will enjoy it!

To learn more about scholarships for studying abroad, visit: https://global.rutgers.edu/study-abroad/scholarships
To learn more about the Gilman Scholarship, visit: https://www.gilmanscholarship.org/https://www.gilmanscholarship.org/