Scholarships for Women in Technology: Google WTM Scholarship and GHCI Scholarship

As much as talent and hard work are important to succeed in this world, so is awareness. Awareness about the things happening around us, awareness towards technology, awareness towards social causes, awareness towards opportunities can take anyone a long way. For a person enthusiast about technology, there are numerous opportunities available to outreach their individual efforts. Two such scholarships for women that I came to know about this year and thankfully in time to apply were Google APAC WTM Scholars Program and Grace Hopper Celebration for Women in Computing India (GHCI). I am so happy to share that I got selected in both.

Procedures:

Google APAC Women Techmakers Scholarship 2018

Previously known as Google Anita Borg Scholarship, this scholarship is one of the most prestigious scholarships for women in technology. I applied for this in my final year of Engineering.

1. Application round- We had to fill out an application form by 12th of August, 2018. It asked for my basic details, my transcript, CV, and a detailed answer (500 words) to the following questions:
   a) How do you think computer science, computer engineering and/or a closely related technical field is changing the world? How do you plan to contribute?
   b) Please discuss the structural issues impacting underrepresented groups that you have observed or experienced in computer science, computer engineering, and/or a closely related technical field. What connection and/or effect do you think these have to the industry and/or the wider world?
   c) Please write about an activity that you are currently or recently involved in to address structural issues for underrepresented groups in your field.
2. Telephonic Interview-On August 31, I got a mail regarding my application being shortlisted and I was asked to fill out a 45-minute slot for a telephonic interview any day between 4th September 2018 to 7th September 2018. I selected 2:00– 2: 45 PM slot on 5th of September 2018. The interview lasted for 40 minutes.
   My interviewer was a Ma’am and she asked me several questions about the volunteer work I had done. I had volunteered for several causes throughout my school and college life like volunteering, fundraising, teaching etc. for Cancer Aid Society, teaching the underprivileged children in a society named Sankalp in our college and teaching my juniors in Coding Club of NIT Patna. Next, the talk shifted to technology, how it affects the world and how the world affects technology. I was asked about what I think to be the biggest challenges that technology is facing today. I was also asked about what companies, corporates, organizations can do more to help women? What would I do if I got the scholarship in addition to what I was already doing? We had a good discussion for 40- 45 minutes on several topics but mostly on technology and women, and what have I done to help.
3. Next I got a sanctions form to fill around 13th of September. The final result came on 18th of September. At 8:00 PM, I got a call from Anjali Thakur from Google India, she informed me that I had been selected and a mail followed. We had quick chat regarding the next steps and I got to know the retreat location and duration which is going to be held at Google Office, Singapore between October 11th-13th.

Grace Hopper Celebration for Women in Computing, India (GHCI), 2018

GHCI had a detailed application in which we had to talk about the work we have been doing in the field of technology and towards society, why do you want to be a part of GHCI but the answers had to be brief as usually 100- 150 words were allowed per question. We had to provide academic transcripts and letter of recommendations from two professors. Most importantly a video testimonial of 2–3 minutes talking about yourself, and why do you want to attend GHCI had to be shared on any video sharing site. I think the video testimonial was a very, very crucial factor for selection. Link to my testimonial:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wMYRxR0n5Q4

The last date to apply was 30th June 2018. The result for GHCI was declared on 4th September 2018 through mail. The conference is going to be held between 14th November, 2018 to 16th November 2018 in Bengaluru, India.