"Professor Arntson's team building exercises and classes about group dynamics were invaluable. They gave our team the same vocabulary and tools to mediate conflicts and make decisions while abroad and helped us understand each other's motivations."
- Catherine Wu
"I will always treasure my home-stay experience. I became very close with my siblings and loved having a large family. I learned that wherever you are, a family is a family and life is lived day to day."
- Ellen Abrams
"My home-stay was one of the best aspects of my summer. I could not wait to get home after work. My sisters taught me so much about Ugandan culture as well as life in general. We have grown up on different sides of the world but we may as well as lived next door."
- Chelsea Christman
"I learned how compassionate people can be who have just met you and the wonderful hospitality and family culture that exists in India."
- Asha Toulmin
"Our NGO let us work independently, but took co-ownership of our project, which was comforting as we were creating a proposal for them and we required input and feedback to know that our work had a purpose."
- Elizabeth Montgomery
"Being at our NGO was the single best part of the trip. I loved the community, and I loved the people there. It is an amazing NGO that does amazing things. The challenges we faced taught us to overcome obstacles."
- Alex Grubman
"The FSD site team was incredible. I've never worked with such capable, caring, fun people. They made me feel so at home and safe and also really supported us with our NGO."
- Asha Toulmin
"The FSD site team was fantastic. They helped us with everything we needed from managing tough NGO relationships to making sure our project plans were really attempting to achieve sustainable development."
- Claire Olszewski
"I could not have imagined a better set of teammates. They were all extremely committed and brought all they knew to the table."
- Chelsea Christman
"I am very impressed by the commitment and intelligence of the fellow students in GESI. I definitely learned much from them."
- XinKai Cheng
"The diversity of our group made us effective -- while others preferred to work on logistical, behind-the-scenes stuff; some were outspoken, others were more contemplative; some were better planners, some were better at actuating ideas on paper."
- Abby Hannifan
"To succeed in this program you have to be willing to set aside your expectations. This applies both to the outcomes of your project, as well as the expectations of what daily life will consist of."
- Elizabeth Montgomery
"This program gave new meaning to hands on learning. The background at the institute on development was great, and a week later you were on site attempting to implement what you had learned, and in the process learning far more than you could imagine."
- Rachel Suffrin
"It is unique that GESI students do not have a predetermined project before arriving in country. Although this can lead to certain challenges, I was grateful for this approach."
- Ellen Abrams
"The most unique thing was the amount of exposure we got to the community. I felt like I was a part of it and not just observing it."
- Bryan Stenson
"This experience was absolutely applicable to my personal, professional, academic goals, especially when it comes to approaching development with a realistic perception of how it works on the ground."
- Elizabeth Montgomery
"The experience has given me a new perspective on everything from washing the dishes to how to address world hunger... I will be returning to the lessons I learned on this trip decades from now."
- Alexis Suskin-Sperry
"GESI has helped me mature as a team member and a prospective development worker."
- C.A.

Application Process

Apply

So you’ve decided to apply? Great! We’re thrilled to have you! Our application involves just a few quick steps.

Step One: Pre-Application Questionnaire

Even if you’re ready to apply now, we still need you to briefly fill out the GESI Interest Form. This short (seriously, less than 3 minutes) survey gives us the information we need to continue our host selection and placement processing.

Step Two: Northwestern Application

Click to download the GESI 2010 Application. This application is valid and required for both Northwestern and non-Northwestern applicants. When prompted, select the Global Engagement Summer Institute program.

Any time there is a question that relates specifically to Northwestern that you cannot fill out, please leave the field blank.

You must snail mail or drop off the completed application with all additional materials: home university transcript (non-Northwestern students only), deposit check, and photocopy of passport at the Center for Global Engagement, 620 Library Place, Evanston, IL 60208.

The applications will be accepted on a rolling basis. The application period will close when the deadline ends.

Step Three: GESI Supplemental Application

Click GESI Supplemental Application to fill out our mandatory electronic supplemental application. When you have completed the form, press submit.

Your application will be considered complete when each of the three steps above have been completed. Please email gesi@northwestern.edu with any questions.

Step Four: Interviews

Upon receiving all of your documents, a GESI staff person will contact you to set up a time for a brief phone interview.

Step Five: Scholarship Application

Very limited scholarship money will be available, and awarded on the basis of need. If you wish to be eligible for this award, you must do two things:

You must include a printed copy of your most recent FAFSA form in your application package. Particularly important is your Expected Family Contribution. This can be an exact copy of what you submitted to your college to receive financial aid, and does not require you to re-fill out the form.

You must answer the Financial Aid question on the supplemental application

Important Notes about the Northwestern Summer Application

Students will be notified of their acceptance on a rolling basis. Upon notification, students have 10 days to accept or decline their spot in the program.

The $1,000 check is due with the application and will be shredded if you are not accepted, or if you decline admission before the 10-day decision period is over. Checks of students accepting admission are non-refundable.

Information regarding financial aid on this application only applies to Northwestern students. Non-Northwestern students, please see your school’s financial aid office.

Non-Northwestern students still need to have their academic and study abroad advisers read and sign respective statements in the Northwestern application. Your academic adviser can be a school or department adviser. You do not need to get an additional signature from your major adviser. If you are off campus right now studying abroad, your advisers can either mail, scan and email (gesi.info@gmail.com), or fax (847-491-3739) this paperwork to us.