Applying for a nationally competitive scholarship can be daunting. Students who go through this rigorous process are asked to define specific career goals, present themselves through personal statements and sometimes engage in oral interviews. Additionally, most applications seek evidence of participation in high impact practices, such as undergraduate research, internships, study abroad, and community engagement as well as numerous recommendation letters. Given these criteria, many students are hesitant to even try an application.
That's why faculty are so critical to identifying and encouraging students to apply. Faculty members need to know that there is VALUE beyond winning. Carole Levin, Willa Cather Professor of History, encourages students to apply knowing even if winning is a long shot, engaging in the process is always a valuable learning experience.
“The process is an important learning experience whether the student wins or not" says Levin." Truly brilliant and very hardworking and worthy students have not received the Fulbright and one of my superb students was a finalist for a Rhodes scholarship but did not receive it. In both cases, the effort to write a fine application and to go through the practice interviews gave them a strong sense of purpose that opened many opportunities.”
If you know of an outstanding student who would be competitive for a national scholarship or fellowship, contact Laura Damuth at 472-5024 or visit https://fellowships.unl.edu/faculty-resources.
More details at: https://fellowships.unl.edu/faculty-resources