Preparing to Apply for Prestigious Scholarships and Fellowships

1. Investigate the different types of scholarships and fellowships that exist. Read the criteria for those that interest you and figure out if any of the awards match your academic and/or professional interests.

2. Meet with the Fellowships and Undergraduate Research Office to find out how you should prepare and when you should apply.  To do so, please contact Valerie Wade at scholars@rice.edu or call 713-348-2223.

3. Pursue academic excellence in challenging courses. Be a strong student and engage your professors in the classroom. If they don’t know you, they can’t write effective letters of recommendation for you, nor will they be able to discuss their interactions and experiences with you.

4. Establish relationships with your professors, your academic advisors, and others who can help you on campus.

• When you ask someone to write a letter of recommendation, give him or her your transcript, a resume, and information about the scholarship. Give the letter writer plenty of time to write the letter.

5. Get involved in extra-curricular activities and leadership opportunities both on and off campus. Select activities that seem like fun and are interesting to you. Don’t pad your resume by just joining clubs; be an active participant and contribute to the organization or activity.

• Visit Student Activities at http://www.ruf.rice.edu/~stact/ to get ideas or groups to consider joining.
• Visit the Center for Civic Engagement at http://cce.rice.edu/ to get ideas regarding community based activities involving research, as well as leadership mentoring through Leadership Rice: http://www.ruf.rice.edu/~leading/.

6. Get hands on experience in your field or area of interest via community service, internships, or undergraduate research.

• Visit the Community Involvement Center at http://www.ruf.rice.edu/~service/ to see what types of service activities are available.
• Visit the Center for Student Professional Development at http://cspd.rice.edu/#1 to find out more information regarding internship and other professional opportunities.
• Visit the Office of Undergraduate Research at http://ugresearch.rice.edu/ and meet with your professors about research opportunities.
• Visit the National Science Foundation Research Experiences for Undergraduate (NSF REUs) site at http://www.nsf.gov/crssprgm/reu/reu_search.cfm

7. Expand your knowledge of the world.

• Read newspapers and news magazines from various perspectives.
• Visit the Office of International Programs at http://abroad.rice.edu/ for information regarding study abroad opportunities.

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