The vast majority of first-time scholarship searchers believe they either have to be brilliant or belong to certain ethnic, racial, religious, or financial communities in order to qualify for merit, need, or identity-based scholarships. I prefer to think about organizations and individuals who have created scholarship opportunities as generous entities that wish to support people…
How to Perform an Effective Scholarship Search
Most students who are looking for scholarships start with a simple question: “Where can I find a list of scholarships that are perfect for me?” During my time at the UCLA Scholarship Resource Center, I used to swivel around in my chair and say, “This whole office is a list. So is the internet.” Though…
What Is a Scholarship? And Why Didn’t I Get One?
This time of year is the most popular time for students to start asking questions about scholarships. Admission notifications have gone out for most graduate programs, and offers related to financial aid packages, admissions-based scholarships, and teaching positions quickly follow. For many recent admits, the moment of admission initiates a series of raw moments in…
The Personal Statement That Got Me a Large Scholarship to Cambridge
In October 2008, I submitted an application for a Masters program in Latin American Studies at Cambridge University. At the time, I was a bit lost in life; I was what they call a “super-senior” at UCLA, taking my last three General Education requirements during Fall quarter of a fifth year. I had already walked…
The Ford Foundation Pre-Doctoral Fellowship Application Essay Tips
This post focuses on application strategies for pre-doctoral students and graduate student applicants to apply for three years of funding from the Ford Foundation through The National Academies of Sciences. What to Know About the Ford Foundation Fellowship Since 1936 The Ford Foundation, created by members of the Ford family, has turned what started as…
