I first applied for the scholarship on my own in writing. At that time, I had not yet had any contact with the scholarship advisory service at the TU Dortmund. When I then received the invitation to the selection seminar, I contacted Ms. Magarin. First, we had a one-on-one meeting in which Ms. Magarin already answered many of my questions and gave me helpful impulses for the upcoming selection seminar. She then also organized a meeting with other applicants who were also invited to the selection seminar and an active scholarship holder of the foundation. The meeting was enormously helpful for me. It took away some of my fears and nervousness. Together we discussed various aspects of the application and even had the opportunity to play through individual parts of the upcoming selection seminar. That was great preparation for the selection seminar.

I was particularly interested in the FundaMINT program because of the target group and the promising offers of non-material support. The program is aimed exclusively at student teachers with at least one STEM subject. As a result, the idealistic support is also strongly geared towards the teaching profession and the competencies required therein, which are in part only touched upon at the university. Seminars are organized on a regular basis, which are an enormous enrichment. In the course of the scholarship, one is integrated into a large network of committed (prospective) teachers. This exchange is very enriching, both personally and professionally. In addition, you get an exciting insight into other projects of the Telekom Foundation, which deal with many interesting topics and from which you can take away some implications for your own professional development.

I think the first question I want to ask you is this: What do you have to lose by applying? Of course, an application usually requires a lot of time. But in retrospect, I can say that it's worth it!

I myself doubted that I, of all people, would be accepted by the foundation, and in retrospect I am incredibly happy and glad that I applied anyway.

If you are invited to a selection interview: Don't be intimidated by the strengths of other applicants! You are determined and ambitious personalities yourselves and are not applying for a scholarship without a reason. You have made a positive impression on the foundation, otherwise you would not have been invited. Make it clear to the foundation what you bring to the table and what makes you special.