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National Scholarships Presented by the Office of Honors Programs & Academic Scholarships, Texas A&M University Pathways to the Public Goo
National Scholarships
Presented by the Office of Honors Programs & Academic Scholarships, Texas A&M University
Pathways to the Public Good
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
Commonalities of National Scholarships
Highly competitive
Application process is a serious time commitment (100+ hours)
All are a life-changing event
Why Compete?
Learn about yourself
Become a better leader
Formulate your personal vision
Sometimes we win…
TAMU Successes
Since 1991: 32 Goldwater Scholars Since 1998: 4 Marshall Scholars Since 1997: 14 Truman Finalists Since 1998: 5 Udall Scholars
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
Application Processes
Direct application
Institutional Endorsement
Direct Application
Most national scholarships Student may apply directly Notify NSC University support to expect:
– help with written applications – interview preparation (if applicable)
Institutional Endorsement
Few national scholarships Internal preliminary application process Limited nominations Complete oversight through process University recognition
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
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
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
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
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?”
The Ideal Scholarship
Represents your values Reinforces your existing plans Helps you achieve your goals Encourages future achievement Rewards your natural behavior
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
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…
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
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
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
Community & Public Service
Think on a national or international level
Be creative
Bible study groups, praise bands, churchchoirs, or catechism is not communityservice. Efforts to serve the needy that areled by the church are community service
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
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
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
Intangibles
Cultural Sophistication An Interdisciplinary Mindset An Entrepreneur’s Approach to Life Intellectual Curiosity High Esteem for Scholarship
UndergraduateApplied Science and
Engineering Scholarships
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
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
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
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
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
GraduateApplied Science and
Engineering Scholarships
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”
National Defense Science and Engineering Graduate Fellowships
Support of ~8000 graduate students Fields relevant to national defense
needs Portable fellowships
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
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
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
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.
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
Zonta International Amelia Earhart Fellowship
Provides financial support for women pursuing Ph.D/doctoral degrees in aerospace-related sciences and aerospace-related engineering
$6000
Open-field Scholarships
Josephine de Káráman Fellowships
One-year award for seniors ($8,000) or PhD candidates ($16,000).
Manifested exceptional ability and seriousness of purpose
Jack Kent Cooke Foundation
Graduate awards up to $50,000 Focused on outstanding students with
unmet financial need
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
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
Mitchell Scholarship
Graduate study in Ireland or Northern Ireland
Pays all tuition, fees, and travel Requires institutional nomination
Marshall Scholarship
For graduate study in the UK Pays all tuition, fees, travel Open to any field Requires institutional nomination
Rhodes Scholarship
Post-graduate study at Oxford University
Pays all tuition, fees, and travel Requires institutional nomination
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
Churchill Scholarships
Graduate study at Cambridge University Pays all tuition and fees For study in Mathematics, Engineering,
and Sciences Invitational Scholarship; requires
institutional nomination
The Next Step…
Research, Respond, Reflect• Follow your interests• Be passionate• Get involved • Be an agent of change • Question• Take advantage of opportunities• Develop a vision of yourself
