Before beginning the application process: |
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1Decide |
Which of the many scholarships are best suited to your academic interests, career goals, geographical preferences, and financial circumstances? Forget the others. If your chosen scholarships have application deadlines within two weeks of each other, pare your choices to no more than three. You may not be able to prepare, with the required care, more than three application packets simultaneously. |
2 Eligibility |
Check your eligibility. Be absolutely certain that you meet all requirements. Each scholarship website provides a section on this issue, but if there is a question about your eligibility -- with respect to, say, minority status -- ask the Office of National Fellowships. It is disheartening to spend hours on an application only to discover that you are ineligible for consideration. |
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3 Deadlines |
Highlight all application deadlines on all your
calendars. Enter alerts in your calendar, one week and two weeks
prior to the final deadline. |
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4 GRE |
Check to see whether your scholarship requires GRE scores,
and if so whether on the "Subject" as well as the
"General" test. See
www.gre.org. |
| 5 Requirements |
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| 6 Referees |
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| 7 Resume |
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| 8 Photographs |
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| 9 Voicemail , MySpace |
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Completing the application: |
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1Rules |
Carefully read all information provided by the scholarship foundations on how to apply, “rules” governing applications, procedures. Follow instructions to the letter, to avoid technical disqualification. |
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2 Typing |
If you cannot apply on line and are permitted to apply in hard copy, you will need a typewriter. Script is not allowed. |
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3 Completing |
Answer every question, complete every blank, that is relevant to you on the application form. Limit yourself to the space provided unless you are specifically invited to expand. Do not feel obliged to fill up all provided space: blank space is preferable to padding. Avoid packing too much into limited space: readability trumps exhaustiveness. Don’t offer more or other than what’s requested. If instructions read, “If applicable,” and the question isn’t, do not write in “N/A”: just leave the space blank. |
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4 Fine Prints |
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5 Titles |
Use academic titles in listing academic referees:
“Professor” not “Dr.” for senior faculty,
“Dean”, “Provost,”
etc. Do not write, “Professor John Smith, Ph.D.” (doctorate is assumed).
If uncertain, check the SMU directory. |
| 6 Order |
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| 7 Sign & Date |
Sign and date the form after carefully reading any prose about “agreement” or “declaration” or “commitment” or “understanding” above the signature line. Be sure you understand what your signature agrees to and commits you to. |
| 8 Visit |
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