Fellowships & Grants: For Students

Are you thinking about applying? Get started today by completing the Prospective Scholarship Applicant form. This form will give the Office of Fellowships & Grants information about you and your interests and will be used to help identify opportunities that match your goals and experiences.

As you start the process, keep these general principles in mind:

• The people reading the scholarship applications have read thousands and can sense when someone is genuine.  Don't try to pass off a version of yourself that is not accurate.
• To these people, you are a piece of paper. You have to figure out your hook: what will make them pause and look at your application carefully? In preparation, spend lots of time thinking and writing about who you are.
• They want to see a trajectory to your life, the manner in which all aspects of your recent past point to a future that they are willing to help you attain by giving you a scholarship.  Keep that in mind as you consider summer internships, etc.
• They also want to see evidence of commitment to the path you have identified as your trajectory and to your desire to make a difference in the world.
• Evidence of leadership is not simply serving as an officer of an organization.  You must demonstrate initiatives you have taken and the results.  Follow the STAR method: Summary, Target, Action, Results.
• Each scholarship has specific elements that are essential for the successful candidate.  Study the requirements carefully and make sure that you adhere to the specifics.