College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

The search for scholarships is often motivated by three drives: the drive or financial need, the drive based on resume development, and the competitive drive for prestigious merit awards with sizable financial supports attached.  In attempting to meet these three drives, students at all levels are advised that there are also three divisions of scholarships (generally all have a merit component, and some include a "need" criteria):

I. Small Open Scholarships:

These scholarships offer limited amounts of support from a diverse range of sources.  Although generally based on leadership activities, community service, and GPA, these scholarships vary greatly in both criteria and substance.

Sponsoring Sources:

Academic departments. Colleges. Research units. Bookstores. Local and national corporations. Mom's Association. Dad's Association. Health Organizations. Web, etc. etc.

Steps for Success:

Become competitive: make an effort to stretch both academically and beyond the classroom. Be involved in consistent effort for an organization or interests other than pure self-enhancement. Prepare a college resume: demonstrate consistency in a few interests rather than "scattered dabbling." Get to know faculty in order to ask for reference letters. Ensure you write a good personal/academic/research statement/proposal that is applicable to the group.

II. Interest Affiliated Scholarships:

These scholarships offer limited amounts to a particular student due to specific relationships.

Sponsoring Sources:

Honor Societies. Home town, county, high school affiliation. Parent employment connections. Trade Union connections. General Assembly Scholarships. Veteran's Connections. Study Abroad. Specific research based awards. Honors programs. Web, etc. etc.

Steps for Success (the same but more of it):

Become competitive: make an effort to stretch both academically and beyond the classroom. Be involved in consistent effort for an organization or interest other than pure self-enhancement. Prepare a college resume: demonstrate consistency in a few interests rather than "scattered dabbling." Get to know more faculty in order to receive more reference letters. Ensure you write a good personal/academic/research statement/proposal that is applicable to the group.

III. Prestigious National and International Academic Scholarships:

These scholarships are national and international.  They are fought over as they provide much more sizable sums applicable to junior/senior year students for undergraduate and/or graduate school funding.

National Sponsoring Sources:

Apply beginning of Junior Year UIUC campus committee makes nominations

  1. The Truman Foundation: community service. Graduate degree/work in the public sector later.
  2. The Barry S Goldwater: science/engineering/strong in research. Ph.D. later.
  3. The Beinecke Memorial Scholarships: Financial Need/Humanities. Ph.D. later.
  4. Andrew Mellon Scholarships: Humanities. Ph.D. later  - apply directly to  Foundation.
  5. Honor Societies, Etc. Search the web.

International Sponsoring Sources:

Apply during spring semester Junior Year or fall semester Senior Year UIUC campus committee makes nominations

  1. The Marshall Scholarship: 2 years graduate study - U.K. University
  2. The Gates Scholarship: graduate study at Cambridge University, U.K.
  3. The Luce Scholarship: graduate study in non-western universities.
  4. The Rhodes Scholarship: two years graduate study at Oxford University (5-9 references)
  5. The Churchill Scholarship: graduate study - U.K. University.
  6. The Rotary Scholarship: graduate studies abroad.
  7. Honors Societies, Etc. Search the web.

Steps for Success (the same but stellar amounts of it):

You have become competitive: you have made a tremendous effort to stretch academically both in and beyond the classroom. (to be competitive GPA is normally above 3.75). You have been involved in consistent effort in organizations or interests other than pure self-enhancement.  You have the strongest leadership record.  You have prepared the strongest college resume with a great deal of consistency.  You have read the New York Times etc. etc. frequently over the past three years.  You have learned to debate current affairs topics and have honed your interview skills.  You know several faculty/administrators/leaders pretty well and have no trouble gaining strong references.  You possess and are experienced in the skills to write a first class and mature personal statement and academic/research proposal applicable to the scholarship.

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