Essay Section:

Career Goals and Plans:

Describe a specific moment or experience that influenced your choice of career path. How do your current academic and extracurricular activities align with your long-term career goals? Discuss any challenges you anticipate in achieving these goals and your strategies for overcoming them.

Things to consider:

• The applicant fully answered all parts of the question asked.
• The applicant concisely connected their career goals with their academic, extracurricular and community activities.
• The applicant fully understands the challenges they may/are facing to achieving these goals, but included specific steps to overcome them.
• The writing provided readers insight into the student’s experience.
• The applicant’s writing piqued interest and engaged the reader.

Handling Systemic Challenges:

Reflect on a situation where you encountered a systemic challenge, such as inequality or discrimination. How did this experience shape your perspective on societal issues, and what steps did you take to address or navigate these challenges? Discuss the impact of this experience on your values and commitment to making a positive change within your community or chosen field.

Things to consider:

• The applicant fully answered all parts of the question asked.
• The applicant thoughtfully described how their experience shaped their perspective and included specific steps to address/navigate the challenge(s).
• The applicant fully understands the impact this experience has had on them and explains how they will make change within their community or through their field of study.
• The writing provided readers insight into the student’s experience.
• The applicant’s writing piqued interest and engaged the reader.

Current Challenges and/or Barriers:

Describe a current challenge and/or barrier you are facing along your educational journey. In describing, explain how a scholarship will support you in overcoming the challenge and/or barrier and outline alternative avenues you have explored or are currently exploring to overcome this challenge.

Things to consider:

• The applicant fully answered all parts of the question asked.
• The applicant concisely stated their challenge/barrier, and provided detail for context.
• The applicant demonstrated their ability to overcome via methods they have or are exploring.
• The applicant effectively linked what they are/have experienced to how a scholarship will support them.
• The applicant displays skills that will be useful in college and in life (ex: asking others for help, prioritization, time management, money management, utilizing resources, organization, etc.).
• The writing provided readers insight into the student’s experience.
• The applicant’s writing piqued interest and engaged the reader.

Recommendation Section:

Recommendation Request for Academic or Merit Scholarships:

Likert rating scale (0 - 5):

• Motivation and dedication
• Initiative
• Academic achievement
• Disciplined work habits
• Ability to set goals and accomplish them.
• Respect of peers and/or authority
• Potential for growth
• Ability to communicate effectively (written and oral)
• Overall recommendation

Short Answer Questions:

• How long and in what capacity do you know the applicant?
• Briefly describe the applicant’s personal characteristics and attributes, accomplishments and leadership roles you have observed.
• Generally speaking, why do you recommend the applicant to receive a scholarship?

Things to consider when reviewing the online recommendation:

• Demonstrates firsthand knowledge of applicant through specific examples
• Cites applicant’s strengths
• Demonstrates belief in the applicant’s ability to succeed in college
• Recommender is not a family member, relative, close friend, or roommate of the applicant