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FELLOWSHIPS AND SCHOLARSHIPSGUIDELINES FOR CASE WESTERN RESERVE UNIVERSITY UNDERGRADUATESCHARACTERISTICS OF COMPETITIVE APPLICANTS Applicants who have reached the level of finalist or winner in national scholarship and fellowship competitions are, in general, students whose academic records are outstanding and who have, in addition, engaged in a significant way with one or more activities on campus or in the community. They are students who are intellectually curious, thoughtful, passionate and committed in their activities. Examples include students who have pursued significant undergraduate research, demonstrated initiative or creativity in organizing or leading campus or community organizations, or excelled in the arts. Many have had strong interest in and awareness of philosophical, political or international issues. GATHER INFORMATION Visit the web sites of the programs that interest you. If the scholarship program requires that you specify a particular institution that you wish to attend, use the web to find out about various universities in various countries. PERSONAL ESSAY For most of the programs, you will be required to write an essay about yourself and your goals. However, the essay should not be a narrative of your life. The essay needs a focus, and should let your spark and passion shine through. If a specific person or event has been especially significant in your development as a person, that can be a good starting point. What you say should lay a foundation for you, at the conclusion of the essay, be able to say why you want to study a particular subject or topic in a particular location, and what you hope to gain from the experience. For the scholarships with fall application deadlines (Rhodes, Marshall, Mitchell, Fulbright), seniors should let Dean Hamel know early in the summer of their intention to apply, and should have a first draft ready for review and discussion in the summer or upon return to campus in the fall. RECOMMENDATIONS For your applications, you will need letters of recommendation. Make a point of getting to know your professors and helping them get to know you; engage in discussion, ask questions, find out about research opportunities, invite a professor for a meal in the residence hall. For your scholarship applications, you should request recommendations after you have written a draft of your application, but well before the application deadline. These should be from professors and others who know you well and who can write in detail about your qualities and accomplishments. It's OK (and even preferred) that the letters be long and detailed, with specific examples which illustrate your outstanding qualities...more than a single page. You should talk with your recommenders about your plans and give them a copy of your list of honors, activities, etc. PRELIMINARY SCREENING For the programs for which the University makes nominations, students seeking consideration must submit preliminary materials, as indicated in the enclosed program descriptions, and from among the students submitting such materials, nominees will be selected. GRE EXAMS Some of the programs require the GRE general test, and a few require a GRE subject test as well. The test(s) should be taken no later than the October test date. For additional information about national scholarships and fellowships for which Case students may apply, please contact: Dean Lynmarie Hamel Phone: (216) 368-2928 |
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