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Tips for Applying and Interviewing for
Scholarships |
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Applying for a Scholarship:
- 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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