The Committee on Nationally Competitive Scholarships has been created to identify and nurture exceptional candidates for nationally competitive scholarships, grants, and awards. Its members are committed to your success and would like you to:
Start thinking about the extraordinary choices you can make now that will profoundly affect the quality of your college career.
Remember that grades are very important for many scholarships.
Pursue interesting and relevant summer opportunities and internships now — they are increasingly important for success.
Dare to try different, exceptional, and extraordinary experiences; for example, present and/or publish research, study abroad in unusual places, begin new groups or organizations reflecting your own interests and passions. These types of experiences will set you apart from many other highly qualified applicants.
Work closely with a number of faculty in a number of disciplines—work as an assistant, collaborate on research. Help the faculty to know you in ways that will enable them to write effective letters of recommendation necessary for your success.
Remember that applying for major scholarships has many benefits, even if you are not selected:
Applications for major scholarships can often be modified with minimal effort to apply for secondary scholarships that are less difficult to secure.
The application process helps you to clarify future goals, learn how to write effective personal statements, and develop closer relationships with faculty — all of which are valuable when you are applying for graduate school, law school, medical school, or a job.
