Career Services &
Professional Life Development

"Help in exploring your options; Support for the plans you make"

Need help paying for your classes?
Now is the time to apply for  scholarships!

Students should search the following listings paying particular attention to application
requirements and due dates for each award. It is up to the student to complete the
required materials for each award.

Dear University of Southern Maine Student,

This guide contains information about three different types of fellowship and scholarship opportunities:

1. Selective fellowship and scholarship opportunities that are offered to all students, nationally.

2. University of Southern Maine scholarships that you can  apply for (verses faculty nominated scholarships) by current students and alumni.

 3. An extensive list of other fellowships and scholarships by major, interest, activity, and ability, which we have been able to link to by Bowdoin College’s kind permission. See the bottom of the page for more information.

By reading this guide, you will gain a brief amount of information on:

• selection criteria

• applications

• essays

•  recommendations

• the nomination process

• academic records and transcripts

•  interviews

• resumes 

For specific fellowship and scholarship information, please see the tables in this packet with the websites for the department or endowment that is sponsoring it, or contact me.

I hope you will find this guide helpful.  Remember that it is not too early or too late to apply for scholarships or fellowships whether you are an undergraduate, graduate student, or recent alumni.  Do not be discouraged by thinking that you are not “scholarship material”.   There are many, many different types of opportunities that draw on unique strengths and interests. 

Jill Dickey,
Graduate Assistant
Department of Career Services and Professional Life Development
University of Southern Maine
207-780-4220
jdickey@usm.maine.edu

SELECTION CRITERIA

It is important to note that, while most fellowships and scholarships contain common components, such as the application, essay, recommendations, and transcripts; some request other information.  An artist’s portfolio, a photograph, and a written proposal of what you would like accomplish (if, for example, you are applying to study, work, or do research abroad) might be required.  It is best to familiarize yourself with the selection criteria for each scholarship to which you are applying at least two months in advance.

APPLICATIONS

Every fellowship and scholarship contains an application that contains basic biographical information including address, citizenship, educational institutions attended, etc.  While it is tempting to speed through the application, remember that it is the first thing the selection committee will see, and that neatness and clarity counts!  While many applications can be filled out online, those that can’t should be typed, or at the very least written legibly and carefully.  Be sure to note the due date for the application, and leave yourself enough time to complete all of the components thoughtfully.

ESSAYS

The essay is commonly the most feared part of the application process, but it is helpful to remember that this is your chance to write about your aspirations and your personal history that lead you to make the choice to apply for this fellowship or scholarship opportunity.  Sometimes this is easier to do than in others.  For example, if your academic history as a anthropology major with an interest in Andean culture entices you to do some research in Peru, you will have an easier time writing an essay for a fellowship that funds you to go to Latin America than Europe. 

A few tips for successful essay writing:

• Brainstorm, plan, write, and re-write your essay until it says exactly what you want.
• Allow yourself enough time to write multiple drafts of the essay so you feel confident about the finished product.
• Instead of “telling” the committee things, “show” them by using examples of things you have done in the past.  Instead of being “excited about” the opportunity to teach English as a Second Language in Greece, talk about how by volunteering and tutoring speakers of other languages, you have a strong knowledge and teaching base.
• Elements of your essay should have an organized and logical format, grammatically correct sentences, and appropriate vocabulary.
• Have your essay read by someone who knows you well and is a good writer, and have that person tell you if it “sounds” like you.

RECOMMENDATIONS

Before you decide on a list of recommenders to ask to write a letter on your behalf, compile things it would be helpful for them to have in order to write the most personal recommendation.  Such things include: an updated copy of your resume, any newspaper articles about you, a copy of letters other recommenders have written on your behalf, and anything that might be able to speak to your character or intellect.  In order to be “up front” about what the selection criteria is, photocopy the application materials so the recommenders have an idea of the goodness-of-fit in their letter about you and what types of qualities the scholarship and fellowship committee is looking for in an applicant.

In every possible case, ask professors who know your work inside the classroom and out, or in as many different environments as possible. The most important thing to keep in mind when choosing recommenders is that the people can attest specifically to your character, strengths, and scholarship.  Here are a few more tips for choosing suitable recommenders and obtaining a positive and specific recommendation:

• Set up an appointment with each recommender to discuss your strengths and the reasons you believe yourself a good candidate for the scholarship.
• Give your recommenders at least two weeks to write the recommendations. 
• Include stamped envelopes with the scholarship and fellowship address typed, and follow the instructions on the application as to whether the recommendations should be sealed (meaning you don’t read them) or not.
• Follow up with your recommenders if you have not heard back from them at least a week before each application deadline to double check that the recommendations were sent.
• Have in mind at least one extra person to write you a recommendation in case someone declines your request to write one, or case one of the recommenders cannot get it out on time.

FACULTY NOMINATIONS

Many students at USM obtain scholarships by nominations from their faculty members in their major, minor, or specific interest or research area.  It is important to check the table of USM scholarships in this guide, keeping an eye out for the words “faculty nominated” under the application heading.  Faculty nominated scholarships are those for which you do not fill out an application: you express interest to the faculty members in that department in being nominated.  If a specific contact person is listed, call, email, or set up an appointment to meet with that person directly to talk about your potential as a nominee.

ACADEMIC RECORDS AND TRANSCRIPTS

All national fellowships and scholarships require official transcripts, so you should plan on contacting your student records department at your high school and any post-secondary institution you have attended to get a copy sent to the selection committee ahead of time, as this process can take a few weeks.  Here at USM, contact the Office of the Registrar.  You may need to pay a small fee to the institution for each transcript sent out by your undergraduate or graduate institution.

INTERVIEWS

You may be asked to interview for the fellowship or scholarship, and preparing for them by doing a “mock” interview would likely be immensely helpful.  Having a parent or friend ask you questions about your strengths, weaknesses, how you would handle specific situations, what your personal philosophies are, and your knowledge on current events issues, would ease your nerves and get you thinking about how to conduct yourself and formulate answers in an interview situation.  While interviews can be nerve-wracking for almost all students, it might help to remember that they are another chance to tell the committee why and show them how you would be a good candidate for their scholarship or fellowship.  The more prepared you are, the less nervous you are likely to be, so prepare for tough questions, get enough sleep the night before, don’t do anything out of your ordinary daily routine the day of the interview (like drinking 3 cups of coffee when you usually drink one), and dress professionally.

RESUMES

If you have not come to see the Career Services and Professional Life Development staff in the Portland or Gorham office, now is the time to do so!  If you have a resume, make an appointment to have it critiqued, and bring along the scholarship or fellowship criteria if possible.  If you do not have a resume, stop by and pick up our sample resumes and handout on the components of a resume, then make an appointment once you have a draft.  Having a resume that speaks to your schooling, work experience, extra-curricular  interests and activities, volunteer experience, languages spoken, computer proficiency, etc. is important and necessary. 

National Fellowship & Scholarship Information
for University of Southern Maine Students

      University of Southern Maine Scholarships and Websites 2007

For more information on scholarships, please visit the following page: http://www.bowdoin.edu/cpc/fellowships/biglist.shtml

To can download a copy of this booklet in .PDF format,  here.

Are you interested in attending Graduate Schools Abroad? We have gathered a collection of resources compiled by the Office of International Exchange & the Office of Career Services & Professional Life Development