Why apply for a national scholarship?
In addition to receiving lifelong recognition for these achievements, scholars study at world-renowned institutions, become immersed in another culture, enjoy international travel, become friends with fellow scholars, and join the networks of scholarships' distinguished alumni. Even if you don't win a scholarship going through the application process is a valuable experience. You'll learn more about yourself, improve your writing and interviewing skills, define and articulate your academic and career goals, and develop relationships with mentors. Your scholarship application can also easily be turned into an application for graduate school.

What is a national scholarship?
A national scholarship is a funded academic opportunity that is nationally competitive. This might mean: funding for your education at Wright State, funding for a study abroad program, funding for graduate or professional school, or it might be an internship opportunity. The key term here is national. You will be competing with students from around the country. Go national with your talents and achievements! We know Wright State Students can do it.

Should I apply for every fellowship that interests me?
It is best to concentrate your efforts on two or three applications that suit your interests and talents. You don't want to spread yourself too thin and compromise all of your applications. As you will see, the application process is quite involved with multiple components. Look at the guidelines section for more information about the application process.

What is the difference between a fellowship and a scholarship?
The terms have pretty much become interchangeable. But, a scholarship always includes some sort of funding, whereas a fellowship might not. Generally speaking, however, there tends not to be a difference, so if you see the term "fellowship," do not dismiss the opportunity without reading the details first.

I already applied for a scholarship and was not awarded one. Should I apply again?
Yes. So many factors go into the decision to award, or not award, someone a scholarship. The competition pool will change, the selecting jury might change, the jury member might be in a different frame of mind, etc. If you think that you are competitive for an award, and your mentors agree, you should most definitely apply again. Maybe your first try will have been a practice run for the real thing! You never know until you try.

I am a first-year student and would like to apply when I am a more advanced student. What steps should I take now to be competitive in the future?
Of course, most important is keeping a high GPA. After that, you should aim for being involved in campus and community groups that demonstrate leadership, research, and/or community service skills. If you can, and have the opportunity, try to find internship opportunities beyond the local community. You should also cultivate good relations with your professors and communicate your ambitions to them. And don't shy away from keeping up with your other interests or hobbies (playing guitar, writing poetry, fencing -- for example), even if they are not related to your field of study. The jury committees who read these applications tend to look for a Renaissance-style, well-rounded applicant. In terms of more specific preparation, if you already have your eye on a particular scholarship, get a copy of the application and guidelines in order to get a sense of what you need to aim for over the next few years. If you don't have your eye on any particular scholarship, then start researching opportunities by following your interests and seeing what you would be eligible for. Click here for links to search databases.