A strong applicant has maximized their undergraduate experience. Here are some suggestions:
- Take challenging courses
GPA is important but so is the range and difficulty level of study, including courses outside your major. - Communication skills
Essays and interviews are an integral part of the scholarship application process. Fortunately, many of our liberal arts courses will help you develop the skills to construct a well-written or spoken argument. - Seek internships or volunteer experience
Preferably in your field or related. This can begin in your Freshmen year with Community Learning but should continue and evolve in nature. - Summer
Don’t forget the summer can also be a time to gain additional experiences. - Study abroad
If possible, take advantage of study abroad or travel opportunities. - Extra/Co-curricular activities
Get involved in organizations, whatever resonates with you. - Leadership
Demonstrate your leadership abilities, make things happen. This does not only mean having a title; can you point to an accomplishment you initiated? - Practice
Apply for smaller scholarships, essay contests. The more often you write personal statements, the better they should become. - Start early
Research potential scholarships and fellowships and begin the application process early. - Research
Take advantage of research opportunities or creative projects with faculty or outside the college. - Reflect
What are your goals, what have you accomplished? Think about getting from “HERE” to “THERE”. - Know people
Take or create opportunities to meet faculty, staff and other students. - Explore your knowledge
Read books outside of your course, newspapers, professional journals. All of these sources will become a reservoir of ideas, inspiration and information.