resources
Major Scholarship advising
wORK WITH OMSA
How to prepare
Maintain a high GPA while taking challenging courses.
Explore subjects and disciplines until you find topics you are genuinely passionate about.
Read! Subscribe to major periodicals and read nonfiction publications about topics that interest you.
Pursue research opportunities with faculty mentors.
Present your research at a conference or publish it.
Get involved with extracurriculars—prioritize fewer but meaningful involvements.
Study international languages, preferably earning credit for your study.
Set up a meeting with the director of OMSA.
Identify one or two scholarships you want to apply for in the next year.
Put the deadlines in your calendar.
Read the “how to apply” webpages of the scholarships you want to apply for. Download application materials.
Meet with the director of OMSA regularly.
Commit to 30-40 minutes of daily work.
Talk to mentors who will write you letters of recommendation.
Order transcripts.
Familiarize yourself with the online application system for the scholarship(s) you are applying to.
more resources at purdue and beyond
Links for prospective applicants.
Are you preparing an application now or hope to prepare one some day? Additional Purdue and other resources are listed here, to get you started. Work with the OMSA director if you need any help or advice.
- Purdue students can use the transcript service called parchment to order transcripts online.
- PFW students interested in study abroad should contact the Study Abroad Office.
- Apply for 2025 summer research funding for undergrads. More info here. Deadline 2/25/25.
- Students looking for funding for research can find PFW funding sources on the University Research and Innovation website.
- The PFW Student Research Symposium is held every March. Find a faculty mentor and submit an abstract by the beginning of February.
- The Purdue Undergraduate Research Journal is a peer reviewed outlet that publishes papers by Purdue undergraduates.
- The Honors Program and numerous PFW departments organize research presentations for their students. Ask your mentors and advisors how to present your work.
- Professional associations often have offerings for undergraduates, such as designated panels at conferences, undergraduate conferences, and publication outlets.
SCHOLARSHIP UNIVERSE. Use your PFW credentials to log on, update your profile, and search for scholarships.
HANDSHAKE. Use your PFW credential to look for jobs and internships in this database. Contact the PFW Career Development Center for more information.
Florida State University scholarship database is user-friendly and open-access.
CIEE is an open-access database listing study abroad scholarships.
Pathways to Science is an open-access database listing STEM opportunities.
preparing your application
The personal statement
The most time-consuming element in a major scholarship application is the personal statement. Work with the OMSA director to develop a persuasive statement that describes who you are, where you want to go, and why the scholarship you are applying for will get you there.
learn more
Additional resources
Find downloadable documents here, with additional information about applying for major scholarships. These resources support but do not substitute for the personalized advising students receive through OSMA.
OMSA Student Guide 2024.pdf
2.33 MB
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Uploaded 01/05/25
OMSA guide to writing personal statements_2024.docx
19.76 kB
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Uploaded 01/05/25
