Applying

Applying for Top Scholarships requires you to plan ahead!

Plan Ahead

There’s no such thing as starting too early.Plan ahead!

Your job is to convince the scholarship selection committees that investing in you will be a wise decision, and that you will put their scholarship to good use.You’ll need to show:

  • A focused vision for your future
  • A desire to make a difference in some way
  • Goals that will help you fulfill that vision
  • An excellent academic portfolio
  • Strong leadership skills

Start Early to Establish a Strong Record in the Following Areas:

Academic Excellence

You’ll need to have an excellent GPA and academic record, choose challenging courses, and choose courses that support the vision and goals you’ve set for yourself.

Extracurricular Activities/Awards/ Honors

Show community involvement with experiences that extend beyond the classroom. Get involved sooner rather than later! Sustained involvement in an organization is more impressive than quantity.

Leadership is critical. You’ll need to be able to talk about how you effected change by your actions.

Research

Researching in your field shows your academic potential. It also highlights your enthusiasm, commitment, and focus. These opportunities can help you grow as a scholar in many ways—apply!

References

Build relationships with faculty. Start now. You may need up to eight academic letters of recommendation. Faculty who write letters must know you very well, and that takes time. They need to comment extensively on your talents, skills, character, intelligence, work ethic.

Begin planning for your scholarship application as early as you can. You can build your portfolio with purpose each year of your college career. In your first year of college, you might begin to:

For scholarship purposes, “sophomore” means you have two more years of college after this year. You can build on your freshman activities and begin to focus more closely on your long term goals. You should:

  • Participate in research opportunities;check out UROPand other departmental options
  • Continue to develop relationships with professors; meet new ones
  • Sustain your involvement incampus groups, societiesǰ
  • Putand internship plans in place
  • Takeand begin thinking about an honors thesis
  • Consider certificate programs that support your academic vision (Technology, Arts, and Media; INVST Community Leadership Program; Peace and Conflict Studies, etc.)
  • Keep a high GPA

Scholarships to Consider in the Sophomore Year (2 Years of School Remaining)

  • Norlin Scholars(ֱ scholarship for curious, motivated students in any field)
  • Goldwater(Math, Science, and Engineering students only)
  • Astronaut(Math, Science, and Engineering students only)
  • Udall(Students interested environmental careers, or Native American students interested in Tribal policy or Tribal health care)

You junior year is a time for serious decisions. Your work from the last two years is beginning to pay off, but you need to continue your trajectory. For scholarship purposes “junior” means you have one year of school remaining. You will:

  • Continue to gain research skills in your field
  • Sustain your involvement incampus groups, societies, or
  • Participate inԻif you plan to do so
  • Continue opting forand develop a plan for an honors thesis if you decide to pursue that option
  • Participate in certificate programs that support your academic vision (Technology, Arts, and Media; INVST Community Leadership Program; Peace and Conflict Studies, etc.)
  • Keep working on your high GPA
  • Research and apply to graduate schools or programs

Scholarships to Consider in the Junior Year (1 year of school remaining)

  • Goldwater(Math, Science, and Engineering Students only)
  • Astronaut(Math, Science, and Engineering Students only)
  • Truman(Students interested in public service careers)

Graduate Opportunities

Your senior year is a time for action.You’ll:

  • Continue to gain research skills in your field; publish if you can
  • Sustain your involvement incampus groups, societies, or
  • Participate in internshipsif you plan to do so
  • Continue opting for
  • Write your honors thesis if you’ve planned to do that
  • Participate in certificate programs that support your academic vision (Technology, Arts, and Media; INVST Community Leadership Program; Peace and Conflict Studies, etc.)
  • Take the GRE (or other specialized exams) if needed
  • Make graduate school decisions
  • Finish up with an excellent GPA

Scholarships to Consider in the Senior Year