David Chen '23GS has been selected to join the Schwarzman Scholar Program, one of the world’s most prestigious graduate fellowships. Selected from 36 countries and 121 universities around the world, Chen is one of 151 scholars who will receive the opportunity to study in a one-year, fully-funded Master’s degree program in Global Affairs at Schwarzman College on the campus of Tsinghua University in Beijing, China. Chen is the sixth Columbia GS student to receive a Schwarzman Scholarship.
Originally from Beijing, Chen completed his secondary education in the U.K. and worked full-time on public diplomacy projects before coming to GS, where he’s majoring in political science. Chen is also a Saltzman Student Scholar; has served as a GS peer mentor, orientation leader, and admissions ambassador; and currently sings with the Barnard-Columbia Chamber Singers. “The liberal arts approach to education at Columbia means that I have the flexibility to pursue all my passions simultaneously,” Chen said. “GS as a school has also been a life-changing experience, and I truly admire GS's mission to empower non-traditional students with an Ivy League education.”
As a Schwarzman Scholar, Chen will focus on international affairs, with the long-term goal of using public diplomacy to contribute to peace and stability in the most vulnerable regions of the world. “I genuinely believe that if channeled correctly, human to human engagement can wield the magic to achieve this goal,” he said.
Chen cited the support and encouragement of Senior Assistant Dean for Academic Affairs Glenn Novarr as instrumental to his successful application. “Dean Novarr helped me a great deal during this process, too, by directing me to the right questions to think about. Most importantly, don't fear failure and make sure you submit your application regardless. If you don't submit, your chance is always zero.”
Offering advice for his fellow GS’ers looking to pursue similar opportunities, Chen said, “If an opportunity excites you, make sure you start preparing for it early and apply. In doing so, you are already ahead of the game. More importantly, the process of drafting your personal statement itself is meaningful. I gain new insights from my own experiences every time I write a new draft. I think the key here is to make sure you start the process early enough so that you have the time to reflect."
About Schwarzman Scholars
Schwarzman Scholars was inspired by the Rhodes Scholarship and is designed to prepare future global leaders to meet the geopolitical challenges of the 21st century. The vision of Schwarzman Scholars is to bring together the world’s best young minds to explore and understand the economic, political and cultural factors that have contributed to China’s increasing importance as a global power, so that throughout their careers they can deepen understanding between China and the rest of the world across many different professional fields. Scholars chosen for this highly selective program have demonstrated exemplary leadership qualities and the potential to bridge and understand cultural and political differences.
To learn more about fellowship opportunities, GS students are encouraged to visit the Fellowships section of the website, and to reach out to the GS Fellowships Office and Undergraduate Research & Fellowships.
