Tips for Applying and Interviewing for Scholarships

• Always use proper capitalization, grammar, and spelling when writing to scholarship providers, even if you are corresponding by e-mail. Your e-mails may be included in your application file.
• Read the entire application packet. If you have any questions after reading the entire packet, contact the scholarship provider.
• Make sure you meet the scholarship's minimum requirements.
• Follow all directions carefully, and make sure you submit a complete application. Respond to all questions, and submit all required supplemental forms and materials.
• Do not include additional material that is not required.
• Your application is a "first impression" to the application reviewers. Make sure your application is neat and thorough. Always type your application. If you must hand-write your application, do so neatly and legibly. Make photocopies of the blank application forms in case you make an error and need to start over.
• Put your name (and Social Security Number, if applicable) on all pages of the application. Pieces of your application may get separated and lost unless they are clearly identified. Different scholarships require different information in their applications. Some emphasize academics, while others look for community service, extracurricular activities, leadership, or employment experience. Try to determine the desired qualities, and emphasize those areas in your application.

UGSP Tip: The UGSP is intended for students who are committed to careers in biomedical, behavioral, or social-science health-related research.

Strong UGSP applicants are able to demonstrate this commitment. Some ways to demonstrate a commitment to a research career include research experience, involvement in extracurricular science activities, having taken advanced courses in your field, and having firm research interests and career goals. Each of these shows that you have already invested time and effort to pursue a health research career.

• Ask for letters of recommendation at least 1 month before the deadline.

UGSP Tip: We strongly recommend that you ask for recommendations from your laboratory mentor/supervisor, professors/teachers, and/or academic advisors. Since our scholarship is for research students, we also suggest at least some of your recommenders be science professors.

• Show your appreciation to your recommenders by writing them thank-you notes.
• Whether submitting your application online or on paper, compose your essay responses in a word processor. Use the spell-check and grammar-check tools, and save your responses in case your application is lost. (You may also be able to use parts of your responses for future applications.)
• Proofread your application. (There are many errors that the spell-check and grammar-check tools may miss.)
• Ask a parent, friend, or teacher to proofread your application.
• Proofread your application again.
• Before sending the application, make a copy of the entire packet. If your application gets lost, you will be able to reproduce it quickly.
• Complete and mail your application BEFORE the deadline. Doing so will allow for mail delays and will allow you to confirm receipt of your application while there is still time to submit a copy if the original is lost.
• Follow up with a telephone call or e-mail to confirm receipt of your application materials.

Tips for Interviewing:

Do your homework before the interview:

• Find out about the organization that sponsors the scholarship. What is its mission? Why does it offer this scholarship?
• Review your application and essay responses. You may be asked to clarify your responses, or you may be asked similar questions during the interview.
• Be prepared to speak about your past experiences and accomplishments, as well as your goals and plans. You may want to write out or outline your answers, or practice your answers by role-playing with a friend.
• Have one or two thoughtful questions to ask the interviewer about the scholarship program or sponsoring organization, but avoid basic questions that are answered in the scholarship's application materials or Web site.

At the interview:

• Dress conservatively. Feel free to ask what the appropriate dress is for your scholarship interview. A business suit may not be required, but you should still dress conservatively.
• Simplify. Wear minimal jewelry, makeup, and perfume/cologne. Make an impression with your intellect, not your fashion sense.
• Simplify. Go to your interview alone. Do not bring friends, parents, children, a significant other, or pets.
• Simplify. Don't bring anything you don't need. Turn off your cell phone, pager, PDA, and other devices that make noise or might distract you. Avoid large purses or bags, bottled water, etc.
• Bring any requested documents, but bring them in a simple folder or portfolio, and feel free to bring a pen and paper.
• Arrive early.
• Greet your interviewer with a firm handshake and an enthusiastic smile.
• Relax. Think of your interview as a conversation rather than a test. The interviewers are there to learn more about you. View the interview as an opportunity to discuss your goals, plans, and concerns with experienced professionals.
• Be confident and proud about yourself and your capabilities. Demonstrate your confidence by maintaining eye contact and good posture and by speaking clearly.
• Be attentive to the interviewer and listen to his or her entire question or statement before responding. Feel free to take a moment to think before answering a question or to ask for clarification if you don't understand the question.
• If you don't know something, just say so. Never pretend to know something you don't. (Your interviewer may even be looking for an opportunity to explain something to you or to pass along guidance or advice.)
• Don't eat, drink, chew gum, or smoke, or even ask if it's acceptable. If the interviewer offers a nonalcoholic beverage, it's okay to accept, but it's probably better to politely decline snacks (unless you're at an interview meal) so that you don't accidentally drop crumbs or are forced to talk with your mouth full.
• If you are attending an interview meal, follow all the good table manners your parents taught you. For example, put your napkin in your lap, don't order anything complicated and messy like ribs or crab legs, avoid bad-breath foods like garlic and onions, chew with your mouth closed, keep your elbows off the table, and order only moderately priced items from the menu. Do not order alcohol, even if your interviewer does. Let your interviewer pick up the tab, and be sure to thank him or her for the meal.
• Leave your interviewer with a firm handshake and an enthusiastic smile, and thank the interviewer for meeting with you. Follow up by mailing thank-you notes within 24 hours.
  

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