By Jane Curlin, Ph.D.
Before joining the Udall Foundation, Dr. Curlin served on the Udall Scholarship Selection Committee in 2002-2003.
In March 2002 I departed the damp and chill Northwest for sunny Tucson, to serve on the selection committee for the Morris K.
Udall Scholarship. Honored by the invitation, I looked forward to hours of reading and evaluating hundreds of applications;
gleaning useful bits of information to squirrel away and take back to campus and colleagues, and not least for this transplanted
Okie, a few glorious days of southwest sunshine.
All my expectations were amply met. I learned a great deal about how Udall Scholars are selected. No longer do I wonder that
some of my candidates didn't win a scholarship; rather, I marvel that any won at all. I read scores of applications from the
most inspiring individuals who had started recycling programs on their campus, participated in international environmental
conferences, and volunteered at Ground Zero. I also gained insight into the nuts and bolts of the selection process. These
observations I share with you.
How the Applications Are Read
Applications are read by state, grouped by region (which is usually geographical, but not always). On average, readers award
three scholarships per region.
Readers work in pairs. Our backgrounds varied, from professors of environmental policy and science, EPA officials, directors of
scholarships and Honors programs, to representatives of Native American interests. (The Native American health care and tribal
policy applications are read separately.) I was paired with an environmental sciences professor. Each application is read twice,
and in some instances three times.
We had two and a half days to read approximately 450 applications, a grueling schedule (which the Foundation assuaged somewhat
by keeping us well supplied with chocolate, chips, and more substantial snacks). We were urged to read and evaluate each
application - including letters of recommendation - in 10 to 15 minutes, which, for the first few hours, I was unable to do.
Soon, however, I acquired a sense of the "typical" Udall application, and a feel for just how competitive the scholarship could be.
How the Applications Are Rated
Readers use a rating sheet with four principal categories:
- commitment to improving or preserving the environment, or to health care or tribal public policy;
- personal characteristics - the criteria include leadership, community service, well roundedness, and references;
- academic achievements;
- the essay.
A fifth category is for discretionary points, which may be awarded for overcoming adversity, balancing family and/or work
responsibilities, or promoting diversity. I found that I was rarely inclined to award discretionary points, and only in truly
exceptional circumstances.
I soon realized that a substantial number of applicants were either "good" or "excellent." The best applicants will be very
strong in three areas: demonstrated commitment, academics, and personal characteristics, or truly outstanding in two of the three.
Because the essay has a category to itself, it is weighted far more heavily than I had previously realized, accounting for almost
one fourth of the total score. Essays are read for content; quality of writing; critical analysis; and relevance to the
applicant's career or educational goals. Most applicants scored only a 2 or 3 on the essay out of a possible 4.
What I Learned
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Activities matter. Looking over the Udall application, I find numerous opportunities to list and
describe the variety of ways students can "demonstrate commitment" to preserving or restoring the environment. Commitment
emerges in an applicant's career choices and study plans, willingness to search out opportunities for community service,
activities, internships and research in support of environmental causes, and assumption of leadership roles with groups
and organizations. Advisors should make sure the student's commitment to the environment, health care or tribal public
policy shines through in every answer on the application.
Beyond such commitment, readers also look for a breadth of interests and activities. Morris K. Udall - athlete, pilot,
lawyer, activist and public servant - really does serve as a role model.
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The essay is a critical component of the application. Students should address both aspects of the topic
thoroughly. The Foundation suggests a two-part structure; in the first section, analyze a significant speech or
legislative act of Congressman Udall. In the second, integrate that into a discussion of its impact on the student's
interests, studies and career goals. Its relevance - the link to the student's interests and projected career - is
essential, and is where most essays fall short.
Readers also appreciate (and reward) some freshness of perspective and originality of voice, so applicants should be
encouraged to spend some time familiarizing themselves with Udall's significant speeches and legislative acts. The Udall
Foundation's website (www.udall.gov) has many helpful links, particularly to The
University of Arizona archives.
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Answer Question #7 (additional personal information). Take advantage of the invitation to address an
interest, activity, research project, or anything else that hasn't been expanded upon elsewhere in the application.
Making a plea for the scholarship based on financial need or hardship is a wasted opportunity.
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Don't Sweat the Small Stuff. As a former writing instructor, I tend to obsess - and require that my
students do as well - over every word and punctuation mark. Readers don't parse the application - we dont have time.
As long as it's accurate, concise, and grammatical, from now on I won't worry (or harass my students).
However, neatness, legibility, and presentation do count. It's worth the candidate's effort to submit a clean copy of
the application, in which the information is carefully and judiciously organized (presented, for example in paragraphs
and not one run-on sentence), and where a little white space relieves the eyes.
The experience was enlightening, exhausting, and intensely rewarding - and I'd jump at the chance to do it again.