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National Scholarships

National Scholarships. Pathways to the Public Good. Presented by the Office of Honors Programs & Academic Scholarships, Texas A&M University. What is a National Scholarship?. A national or international competition Very prestigious The $$ is not the major benefit

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National Scholarships

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  1. National Scholarships Pathways to the Public Good Presented by the Office of Honors Programs & Academic Scholarships, Texas A&M University

  2. What is a National Scholarship? • A national or international competition • Very prestigious • The $$ is not the major benefit • Lifetime recognition & connections • Offers an incredible experience

  3. Commonalities of National Scholarships • Highly competitive • Application process is a serious time commitment (100+ hours) • All are a life-changing event

  4. Why Compete? • Learn about yourself • Become a better leader • Formulate your personal vision • Sometimes we win…

  5. TAMU Successes • Since 1991: 32 Goldwater Scholars • Since 1998: 4 Marshall Scholars • Since 1997: 14 Truman Finalists • Since 1998: 5 Udall Scholars

  6. National Scholarships Coordinator • Publicizes scholarship opportunities • Coordinates application process • Advises preparation of applications • Provides instruction in interview strategy • Organizes selection committees • Coaches, challenges, pushes • Mentor, therapist, and scapegoat

  7. Application Processes • Direct application • Institutional Endorsement

  8. Direct Application • Most national scholarships • Student may apply directly • Notify NSC • University support to expect: • help with written applications • interview preparation (if applicable)

  9. Institutional Endorsement • Few national scholarships • Internal preliminary application process • Limited nominations • Complete oversight through process • University recognition

  10. DIRECT NSF Graduate Fellowship Gates-Cambridge James Madison Soros Fellowship for New Americans Phi Kappa Phi Study Abroad Grant INSTITUTIONAL Rhodes Scholarship Marshall Scholarship Fulbright Fellowship Goldwater Scholarship Truman Scholarship Jack Kent Cooke Examples

  11. Institutional Process • Review official guidelines • Prepare preliminary application • may either be the official application or a TAMU- specific application • gather necessary letters of recommendation • secure official university transcript(s) • Submit preliminary application • TAMU deadline usually 3 to 7 months in advance of official deadline

  12. Institutional Process • Attend selection interview (if applicable) • University nominations announced • not official until final applications submitted • subject to oversight & final approval • secondary review may be conducted, if necessary

  13. Institutional Process • Measured progress • submit drafts of written application • attend mock-interviews as scheduled • Responsibility • institutional nominations are limited • applicant is a representative of TAMU

  14. Am I the Ideal Applicant? • No such thing • Scholarships value different traits • Not just about grades Don’t ask: “Am I the Ideal Candidate?” Do ask: “What is MY Ideal Scholarship?”

  15. The Ideal Scholarship • Represents your values • Reinforces your existing plans • Helps you achieve your goals • Encourages future achievement • Rewards your natural behavior

  16. Getting Serious A major scholarship effort is intense. Expect… • …to devote precious time • …to think hard about the future • …constructive criticism • An average successful Rhodes application has been revised 8 to 12 times and taken up to 200 hours

  17. Getting Serious • Grades … • do matter, but not decisive • don’t shoot for low-end eligibility • strong candidates generally sit at the top end of a large grade scale (3.7+) • A strong GPR is just the beginning…

  18. Getting Serious • Strive for a balanced approach to academic, social, athletic, and other co-curricular activities • What makes you a strong National Scholarship candidate will also make you a competitive applicant for graduate or professional school

  19. Undergraduate Research • Consider regardless of major • Register for independent study • usually 485-, 285-, 497- listings • University Undergraduate Research Fellows • Original work opens opportunities to • present at conferences • submit to undergraduate or professional journals • Develop relationships with faculty

  20. Community & Public Service • Don’t overextend yourself • Choose your service projects carefully • where possible, link to future career • Choose long-term over short-term • 1 to 2 service activities over three years is preferable to 10 different, scattered, 1-day community projects. • Commitment is critical • Don’t be afraid to serve beyond the campus community

  21. Community & Public Service • Think on a national or international level • Be creative Bible study groups, praise bands, church choirs, or catechism is not community service. Efforts to serve the needy that are led by the church are community service

  22. Internships & Work Experience • Be strategic • choose positions that are related to your long term career or education goals • Consider a variety of options • Public Policy Internship Program http://www.tamu.edu/ppip/ • Research opportunities early • If money is a factor • choose professional positions • consider a part-time internship and a flexible full-time job

  23. Leadership • Most scholarships reward leaders • Leadership should be visionary • Don’t overextend yourself • Commit yourself to the cause • Don’t be a PLACE HOLDER! • be dissatisfied with the status quo • be creative • find your niche and aim high • be an agent of change

  24. International Awareness • Seize opportunities for study abroad • TAMU Study Abroad Office http://studyabroad.tamu.edu/ • Language study • Applicable scholarships: • Rotary Ambassadorial • NSEP Undergraduate Study Abroad • Phi Kappa Phi Study Abroad Grant • TAMU Study Abroad Scholarships

  25. Intangibles • Cultural Sophistication • An Interdisciplinary Mindset • An Entrepreneur’s Approach to Life • Intellectual Curiosity • High Esteem for Scholarship

  26. UndergraduateApplied Science and Engineering Scholarships

  27. Barry M. Goldwater Scholarships • Up to $7500 for junior and senior years • GPA of at least 3.5 • Major will lead to graduate study in math, natural sciences, or engineering • Helpful to have done research or to have ideas that will lead to research

  28. Morris K. Udall • Up to $5000 • Demonstrated commitment to careers related to the environment • Native Americans committed to tribal public policy or health care • Wide range of fields

  29. US DOE Biological and Environmental Research Global Change Education Program • Undergraduate and graduate training in global change research activities • Continued support for sophomores through post-doc

  30. US DHS Undergraduate Scholarships and Graduate Fellowships • Students pursuing basic science and technology innovations relevant to DHS mission • Physical, mathematical, computer and information, life, and social sciences, psychology, selected humanities, and engineering

  31. Microsoft Scholarships • To encourage students to pursue careers in computer software and related technical disciplines • Four types of scholarships • General Scholarship • Women’s Scholarship • Underrepresented Minority Scholarship • Scholarships for Students with Disabilities

  32. GraduateApplied Science and Engineering Scholarships

  33. Fannie and John Hertz Foundation Fellowships • Cost-of-education allowance and personal stipend ($25K) • Seniors applying to graduate school • Attention given to “areas of interest” • Willing to “morally commit to make their skills available to the United States in time of national emergency”

  34. National Defense Science and Engineering Graduate Fellowships • Support of ~8000 graduate students • Fields relevant to national defense needs • Portable fellowships

  35. Science@NASA Higher Education Programs • NASA Earth System Science Fellowship Program • Graduate fellowship for MS or PhD in Earth System Science • To ensure training of interdisciplinary scientists

  36. Lucent Technologies-Bell Laboratories Graduate Research Fellowships • To increase the numbers of minorities and women in science, math, engineering, and technology • Fellowship and development experience on-site at Lucent Technologies Bell Labs

  37. National Physical Science Consortium Graduate Fellowships • Ph.D.-track fellowship in physical sciences and related engineering fields • Emphasis on recruitment of underrepresented minorities and women • Max duration of 6 years; total stipend could exceed $200,000

  38. National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowships • Offers recognition and support for three years of graduate study • Approximately 1,000 awarded annually • Open to mathematical, physical, biological, engineering, behavioral, and social sciences, and to research-based PhD degrees in science education.  

  39. Graduate Education for Minorities Fellowship Program • Underrepresented minorities • MS or PhD in engineering, physical science, or natural science • Paid summer internships and graduate financial assistance

  40. Zonta International Amelia Earhart Fellowship • Provides financial support for women pursuing Ph.D/doctoral degrees in aerospace-related sciences and aerospace-related engineering • $6000

  41. Open-field Scholarships

  42. Josephine de Káráman Fellowships • One-year award for seniors ($8,000) or PhD candidates ($16,000). • Manifested exceptional ability and seriousness of purpose

  43. Jack Kent Cooke Foundation • Graduate awards up to $50,000 • Focused on outstanding students with unmet financial need

  44. Paul and Daisy Soros Fellowships for New Americans • Maintenance grant of $20,000 • Tuition grant of ½ of tuition cost • Applicants must be resident alien, naturalized citizen, or child of two naturalized citizens

  45. Harry S. Truman Scholarship • For graduate study leading to a career in public service • Includes numerous leadership seminars • Requires institutional nomination • Apply in junior year

  46. Mitchell Scholarship • Graduate study in Ireland or Northern Ireland • Pays all tuition, fees, and travel • Requires institutional nomination

  47. Marshall Scholarship • For graduate study in the UK • Pays all tuition, fees, travel • Open to any field • Requires institutional nomination

  48. Rhodes Scholarship • Post-graduate study at Oxford University • Pays all tuition, fees, and travel • Requires institutional nomination

  49. Gates-Cambridge Scholarship • Graduate study at Cambridge University • Pays all tuition, fees, and travel • Does not require institutional nomination • Applicant must first be admitted to Cambridge

  50. Churchill Scholarships • Graduate study at Cambridge University • Pays all tuition and fees • For study in Mathematics, Engineering, and Sciences • Invitational Scholarship; requires institutional nomination

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