Newswise — FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Test scores and transcripts count, but a well-written essay and letters of recommendation that address a students’ creativity, leadership skills, and grit often provide the deciding factor in awarding scholarships, says Noah Pittman, assistant dean for recruitment and retention at the University of Arkansas Honors College.
Pittman holds a doctorate in public policy and has reviewed and ranked close to 700 scholarship applications in the past five years. He shares practical and succinct advice on scholarship applications, resumes, transcripts, the dreaded personal essay and key factors that decision-makers look for in letters of recommendation.
“The college selection process is a big, frequently overwhelming job for students and their parents, and the competition for scholarships is fierce,” Pittman said. “We’ve seen the number of applicants for our fellowships double in the last five years.”
With 70 percent of 2014 graduates leaving school with an average debt of $33,000 in student loans and an underemployment of recent college graduates hovering around 46 percent, competition for merit-based scholarships is more intense than ever.Pittman can also offer expert advice on building a list of prospective schools, making the most of campus visits and showing parents how they can help without hovering.
“I would challenge parents to empower their students to call or email when they have questions about the application process,” Pittman said. “It’s a transition to adulthood that they need to make, because they’ll be dealing directly with professors and administrators once they arrive on campus.”
Seven application tips Pittman recommends:1. For resumes, don’t just list activities; demonstrate your actual contributions to an organization. 2. Take the essay seriously. It carries significant weight, especially when selecting from the high end of an applicant pool for a top scholarship. 3. Keep your language direct and clear in the essay. Answer the question posed.4. Think carefully about who will write a good recommendation for you. You should seek teachers who can go above and beyond establishing that you’re an “intelligent young person” who is “very responsible.” Find teachers who can address attributes such as work ethic, creativity, communication skills, leadership, empathy, and ability to work well with others.5. Your transcript is still the most important element. One of the best predictors of college success is a strong high school GPA achieved in a series of rigorous courses.6. Don’t stretch yourself too thin in the chase to get into the best college possible. A good balance between academics and social life will help you learn and retain more … and you’ll be happier, too.7. Value the scholarship if you’re lucky enough to earn one. Prove to us that we made the correct choice in offering you an award over another worthy candidate.
The Honors College was established in 2002, when the University of Arkansas received a historic $300 million dollar gift from the Walton Family Charitable Support Foundation. Each year the Honors College awards up to 90 freshman fellowships that provide $70,000 over four years. The Honors College also awards more than $1 million in undergraduate research and study abroad grants annually. Honors programs are offered in all disciplines, tailored to students’ academic interests, with interdisciplinary collaborations encouraged. One hundred percent of Honors College graduates have engaged in mentored research.
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