Advice for competitive applications
To get started on your scholarship application(s), consider:
- Your project and focus on one well-developed project.
- Your mentor and identify the person/people who will support you in your project.
- The project impact and why doing the project and receiving the scholarship is valuable to you.
- The project plan and what are your specific project methods and goals.
- The mentorship and how your mentor(s) will support you.
- Your preparation and how your experiences, skills, and background will contribute to the success of your project.
- Your motivation to engage in the project work.
- The broader context of why your project matters.
Competitive applications
- Are focused
- Write a focused essay about one project idea.
- Your project may have multiple phases, but focus on the phases that have priority for you during the scholarship period(s).
- If you are involved in multiple projects, pick the project that requires your attention and the support of the scholarship the most.
- Clearly articulate your research/leadership, project idea, goals and plans
- Organize and balance your project essay - most of your essay should be dedicated to discussing your project (context, preparation, plan, goals, mentorship, etc.).
- Convey sincere engagement with the project or activity
- It needs to be clear the project is a good fit for you.
- Outline project milestones
- Include strong mentorship
- Think about different aspects of mentorship (resources, opportunities for growth, etc.)
- Discuss any challenges or limitations
- Properly cite references, figures, etc.
- Discuss long-term impact and how the project will prepare you for your next steps (academic learning, career, life, etc.)
- Share how the Mary Gates Scholarship will allow you to engage in the project
Remember to
- Give yourself plenty of time to prepare your application(s)
- The most successful applications go through many rounds of feedback, editing, and rewrites.
- You can learn a lot by giving and getting feedback from others!
- Study the available scholarship review criteria for Research and Leadership scholarships
- Successful applicants speak to the fit with the criteria
- Be clear, specific, and authentic in your writing
- Successful applicants write with clarity, specificity, and authenticity.
- Highlight your personal perspective, motivation, and passion in your writing
- Successful applicants are compelling when uniquely describing their potential personal growth as a researcher or leader.
Review process information
- All applications receive a comprehensive review of the whole application
- Reviewers evaluate the project proposed for the quarter(s) of the award and its future
- The focus is not on past accomplishments, but past accomplishments may speak to your preparation for the project you are proposing to pursue.
- For Research applications: Each application is usually read and scored by 3 reviewers, including one-two faculty specialists related to your field and one generalist reviewer
- For Leadership applications: Each application is reviewed by a committee of 3 reviewers
- Applications that move beyond the initial reading phase are invited for an interview.