TOP 10 THINGS TO DO TO IMPROVE YOUR CHANCES TO RECEIVE A SCHOLARSHIP OR AWARD
10. Identify the scholarships or awards that you are interested in applying for as early as possible in your academic career. This will better enable you to meet the specific requirements for each award (e.g., a requirement for extensive involvement in community and public service, foreign language proficiency, etc.).
9. Get help. The University has many faculty and staff members who are willing and eager to provide information regarding the various scholarships and awards that are available and who can help you improve your application(s).
8. Get to know the faculty. It is crucial that you have several faculty members who know you well and who will be willing to write letters of nomination or support for you.
7. Improve your writing skills. Every prestigious scholarship or award requires that you write a personal essay and the quality of the essay is critical in the selection process.
6. Improve your speaking and interviewing skills. Many scholarships and awards require one or more personal interviews. The Office of External Scholarships and Fellowships will work with you to improve your interviewing skills, but any experience you can gain in debate or oral communications will be helpful.
5. Get involved. Extracurricular activities, especially leadership positions, will strengthen your application tremendously. This could include involvement in campus activities, community activities, internships and other professional activities, undergraduate research, etc.
4. Get your work recognized. Publications, performances, exhibitions and/or conference presentations that demonstrates your scholarship or talent will help solidify your application and show your readiness for graduate study.
3. Apply often and widely for other honors and awards. Success begets success.
2. Keep good records to document your successes. Keep a copy of transcripts, letters of thanks and recognition, articles with your name in print, programs from events you have participated in and outstanding academic work (e.g., term papers with As). These will come in handy when you write essays about your accomplishments.
1. Earn great grades. An outstanding academic record is not the sole pathway to being competitive, but it is a critical component of eligibility.
Download this checklist here.