Generation Google Scholarship (APAC) — Exclusive Tips from Past Scholars

Image by Ayesha Nudrat (FEMCodes Team)

Author: Amina Saeed (FEMCodes Team) & Editor: Kanwal Mehreen (FEMCodes Founder)

If you are considering applying for the Generation Google Scholarship (APAC) 2024, then this article is a must-read. It features tips and advice from previous scholarship recipients who share their experiences and strategies for a successful application.

Here’s what we’ll cover:

· About Generation Google Scholarship
∘ Who Can Apply?
∘ Application
∘ Application timeline
· Tips from Past Scholars
∘ Maryam Jamil
∘ Rukhsar
∘ Sunaina Rustagi
∘ Nafisa Tabassum
∘ Hetvi Bhansali
· Conclusion

About Generation Google Scholarship

The Generation Google Scholarship for Women in Computer Science recognizes candidates who demonstrate a strong commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, in addition to their exceptional academic achievements.

As a Scholar, you’ll receive a $2500 stipend to support your education. You’ll also join an online network connecting you with researchers worldwide, fostering collaboration and idea-sharing.

Who Can Apply?

To be eligible to apply you must:

1. Be currently enrolled as a full-time second or third year undergraduate student at an accredited university in Asia Pacific for the 2023–2024 academic year.
2. Intend to continue pursuing a full-time Bachelors program at an accredited university in Asia Pacific for the 2024–2025 academic year.
3. Be studying computer science, computer engineering, or a closely related technical field.
4. Demonstrate a strong academic record.
5. Exemplify leadership and demonstrate passion for improving representation of underrepresented groups in computer science and technology.

Application

It would be great to prepare the necessary paperwork to proceed with the application. The mentioned documents are required for this scholarship:

• Your CV or resume in PDF format.
• A PDF with the essay question and answer text.
• Academic records/ Transcript from the institution you have attended.

Application timeline

The application for the Generation Google Scholarship will commence on March 26, 2024. It is important to be aware of the application deadline. Last year, there were only 3000 spots available for applicants, and once filled, the applications were closed. Similarly, this year, Google has reduced the number of spots to only 1250. Therefore, it is recommended to prepare your documents in advance before the application period begins.

Tips from Past Scholars

The most crucial aspects of the application are the resume and the essay. We have gathered insights from past scholars from 2022 and 2023 who generously shared their tips, tricks, and experiences to assist you in crafting your application.

Maryam Jamil

Maryam is an undergraduate student from Fatima Jinnah University, Pakistan. She was a Generation Google Scholar in 2023. Here are key tips from Maryam:

• Read Questions Carefully: Avoid including unnecessary details and keep your answers focused.
• Be Genuine and Original: Provide genuine and original responses instead of relying on generic AI-generated content.
• Engage with Storytelling: Present your answers in a storytelling format to make them engaging.
• Enhance Credibility: Incorporate facts, figures, and references to add credibility to your responses.
• Highlight Challenges: Highlight the unique challenges or any discrimination faced by women in the technology field in your country.
• Be Relatable: Share personal experiences to make your answers relatable and authentic.
• Draft, Revise, Refine: Write a rough draft first, then revise and refine it multiple times for clarity and effectiveness.
• Ensure Correctness: Make sure that your answers are grammatically correct and free of errors by using tools like Grammarly.
• Seek feedback from past scholars or friends who have received the scholarship for valuable insights.
• Organise your Resume clearly by dividing it into sections such as experience, education, skills, and achievements.
• Highlight Volunteer Work to showcase your dedication and commitment to your community.

Rukhsar

Rukhsar is an undergraduate student from Abdul Wali Khan University, Pakistan. She was a Generation Google Scholar in 2023. Here are key tips from Rukhsar:

• Highlight Volunteer Experience: Show Contribution to Humanitarian Causes.
• Demonstrate Women Empowerment: Showcase Efforts Towards Gender Equality.
• Be Authentic: Avoid AI-generated Content, Share Genuine Insights.
• Start Early and Refine: Begin Writing Promptly and Continuously Improve Your Responses.
• Save Application Shortcut: Keep a Convenient Link(ShortCut) for Easy Access to the Application.

Sunaina Rustagi

Sunaina is an undergraduate student from Indian Institute of Technology, India. She was a Generation Google Scholar in 2022. Here is what Sunaina shared with us:

• Thoroughly Understand Your Projects: Be Prepared to Discuss Challenges you faced in tech.
• Demonstrate Leadership: Highlight Instances Where You Showed Leadership Skills.
• The Importance of Pursuing Computer Science: Share Your Motivation and Decision-Making Process.
• Women in Tech Challenges and Solutions: Write Challenges faced by Women in the Industry and Suggest Potential Solutions.
• Know Your Resume and Essays: You must have a Deep Understanding of the Content You Provided.
• Be Truthful and Genuine: Avoid Exaggeration while writing your answers.
• Be Yourself: Emphasize Your Uniqueness and Authenticity while writing.
• Highlight Outreach Initiatives: Discuss Your Efforts in Engaging with and Making a Positive Impact on Others.
• Utilise Numbers: Incorporate Quantifiable Figures to Provide a Professional Touch to Your Conversations.

Nafisa Tabassum

Nafisa is an undergraduate student from Chittagong University of Engineering and Technology (CUET), Bangladesh. She was a Generation Google Scholar in 2022. Here are some valuable tips from Nafisa:

Essays:

• Do not exceed the specified word limit.
• Try to write strong points and solid reasons, not bluff. Be honest, or you will be filtered out.
• Before submitting, double-check for grammar and spelling errors.

Resume :

• Include a section that briefly describes your projects.
• Include links to your Github and LinkedIn accounts.
• Mention your achievements.
• Mention your positions of responsibility.
• Mention Your Skills.
• Finally, avoid providing unnecessary information.

Hetvi Bhansali

Hetvi is an undergraduate student from Nimra University, India. She was a Generation Google Scholar in 2022. Here are some valuable tips from Hetvi:

Essays:

• Support your answers with good examples: It is advisable to not limit the ‘ experiences to only the tech field, but instead, connect them with something related to you. So make sure you construct one such example that supports what you’re talking about and it must look realistic.
• Keep reviewing your essays daily till you feel you’ve added and edited everything. Double check grammar, insert good phrases.

Resume:

• Provide a brief overview of the project mentioned in your resume and include a link to it on GitHub.
• Although various online tools offer resume creation, FAANGPath Simple Template is highly recommended due to its simplicity and standard format.

Conclusion

For those interested in a more visual guide, our Founder, Kanwal Mehreen, who is not only a Google Generation Scholar of 2022 but also the driving force behind FEMCodes, has created a comprehensive video. In this video, Kanwal shares invaluable insights and tips to help you navigate the application process with confidence. You can watch the video here.

Finally, the last and most common piece of advice from our scholars is quite simple: stop doubting yourself, and start applying! This scholarship program enables ambitious scholars to widen their perspectives, develop cross-cultural understanding, and pursue academic and professional aspirations by providing financial support, mentorship, and international experience.