1
00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:02,670
Hello and welcome
again to the webinar

2
00:00:02,670 --> 00:00:04,995
on the office of major
scholarship advising.

3
00:00:04,995 --> 00:00:06,855
This is Dr.
Noor Borbieva,

4
00:00:06,855 --> 00:00:08,490
Director of the Office.

5
00:00:08,490 --> 00:00:10,020
This webinar is intended

6
00:00:10,020 --> 00:00:11,550
for students and
alumni who are

7
00:00:11,550 --> 00:00:13,410
looking for exciting
opportunities

8
00:00:13,410 --> 00:00:15,270
to further their
education and

9
00:00:15,270 --> 00:00:17,610
professional development
by applying for

10
00:00:17,610 --> 00:00:18,870
a major scholarship or

11
00:00:18,870 --> 00:00:21,249
competitive internship.

12
00:00:21,520 --> 00:00:24,710
Welcome to part four
of the webinar.

13
00:00:24,710 --> 00:00:26,540
In this part, you
will hear more

14
00:00:26,540 --> 00:00:28,325
about the
application process,

15
00:00:28,325 --> 00:00:29,930
including my
approach to working

16
00:00:29,930 --> 00:00:31,790
with students on
the writing and

17
00:00:31,790 --> 00:00:33,380
what it takes
to write award

18
00:00:33,380 --> 00:00:36,335
winning proposals
and essays.

19
00:00:36,335 --> 00:00:38,960
Applying for a
major scholarship

20
00:00:38,960 --> 00:00:40,955
takes time and energy,

21
00:00:40,955 --> 00:00:42,365
and it's important
that students

22
00:00:42,365 --> 00:00:45,090
understand what to expect.

23
00:00:45,250 --> 00:00:47,930
As you learned
in Part three,

24
00:00:47,930 --> 00:00:49,220
most major scholarship

25
00:00:49,220 --> 00:00:51,485
competitions require
the following.

26
00:00:51,485 --> 00:00:52,774
Essays.

27
00:00:52,774 --> 00:00:54,530
Letters of
recommendation from

28
00:00:54,530 --> 00:00:57,065
professors and supervisors
who know you well,

29
00:00:57,065 --> 00:00:58,325
transcripts from

30
00:00:58,325 --> 00:01:00,245
institutions you
have attended,

31
00:01:00,245 --> 00:01:03,800
and in a few cases,
institutional nomination.

32
00:01:03,800 --> 00:01:05,795
You heard about
how to approach

33
00:01:05,795 --> 00:01:08,495
the letters and
transcripts in part three.

34
00:01:08,495 --> 00:01:10,115
In this part of
the webinar,

35
00:01:10,115 --> 00:01:11,990
you will hear
about the essays.

36
00:01:11,990 --> 00:01:14,300
For many scholarships,
the essays are

37
00:01:14,300 --> 00:01:16,100
the single most
important part

38
00:01:16,100 --> 00:01:17,615
of the application.

39
00:01:17,615 --> 00:01:19,430
You must make
the case that

40
00:01:19,430 --> 00:01:21,080
you have distinguished
yourself by

41
00:01:21,080 --> 00:01:23,210
showing dedication
to and acquiring

42
00:01:23,210 --> 00:01:26,090
expertise in relevant
areas of study.

43
00:01:26,090 --> 00:01:27,740
To be competitive, you

44
00:01:27,740 --> 00:01:29,420
must explain clearly and

45
00:01:29,420 --> 00:01:31,715
persuasively why
the scholarship

46
00:01:31,715 --> 00:01:34,085
is a necessary
stepping stone,

47
00:01:34,085 --> 00:01:35,510
one that will
help you meet

48
00:01:35,510 --> 00:01:37,790
your educational
and career goals.

49
00:01:37,790 --> 00:01:40,730
Finally, the essays
allow you to explain why

50
00:01:40,730 --> 00:01:42,470
your goals and
the goals of

51
00:01:42,470 --> 00:01:45,690
the funding organization
are aligned.

52
00:01:45,730 --> 00:01:48,500
I suggest students
approach writing

53
00:01:48,500 --> 00:01:50,540
these essays in
three stages.

54
00:01:50,540 --> 00:01:52,520
The first stage
is brainstorming,

55
00:01:52,520 --> 00:01:53,780
when you write
out ideas for

56
00:01:53,780 --> 00:01:55,400
the essays without
editing or

57
00:01:55,400 --> 00:01:57,530
reflecting critically
on what you've written.

58
00:01:57,530 --> 00:01:59,195
The second stage is

59
00:01:59,195 --> 00:02:00,740
organizing what
you wrote during

60
00:02:00,740 --> 00:02:03,110
your brainstorm session
so that you can use

61
00:02:03,110 --> 00:02:04,430
these ideas to address

62
00:02:04,430 --> 00:02:06,575
the prompts on
the application.

63
00:02:06,575 --> 00:02:08,975
The third stage
is polishing.

64
00:02:08,975 --> 00:02:10,970
In this stage, you
continue to revise

65
00:02:10,970 --> 00:02:12,530
your answers so
that they are

66
00:02:12,530 --> 00:02:15,690
clear, compelling,
and precise.

67
00:02:16,000 --> 00:02:19,430
Most major scholarship
competitions pose

68
00:02:19,430 --> 00:02:20,690
some variation on

69
00:02:20,690 --> 00:02:23,345
the following
four questions.

70
00:02:23,345 --> 00:02:26,165
What have you
accomplished already?

71
00:02:26,165 --> 00:02:28,745
What are your goals
for the future?

72
00:02:28,745 --> 00:02:30,320
Why are you a good fit

73
00:02:30,320 --> 00:02:32,135
for the scholarship
program?

74
00:02:32,135 --> 00:02:33,965
And for some of them,

75
00:02:33,965 --> 00:02:35,855
what project will
the scholarship

76
00:02:35,855 --> 00:02:37,355
allow you to complete?

77
00:02:37,355 --> 00:02:38,960
The funding organization

78
00:02:38,960 --> 00:02:40,535
may combine
these questions,

79
00:02:40,535 --> 00:02:43,445
asking you to answer
them in one long essay,

80
00:02:43,445 --> 00:02:46,565
or ask you a series
of shorter questions.

81
00:02:46,565 --> 00:02:48,020
Let's look at each of

82
00:02:48,020 --> 00:02:51,110
these four questions
in more detail.

83
00:02:51,110 --> 00:02:54,050
Most scholarship
applications will ask you

84
00:02:54,050 --> 00:02:56,210
some variation on Where

85
00:02:56,210 --> 00:02:58,445
have you been? In
your response,

86
00:02:58,445 --> 00:02:59,510
you can write about

87
00:02:59,510 --> 00:03:01,325
your academic
accomplishments.

88
00:03:01,325 --> 00:03:03,725
You can write about
intellectual interests.

89
00:03:03,725 --> 00:03:05,420
You can mention
highlights from

90
00:03:05,420 --> 00:03:06,755
your life as a student,

91
00:03:06,755 --> 00:03:09,710
such as a favorite class
or a favorite book.

92
00:03:09,710 --> 00:03:10,820
You can talk about

93
00:03:10,820 --> 00:03:12,829
independent work
you've completed.

94
00:03:12,829 --> 00:03:14,120
You can write about extra

95
00:03:14,120 --> 00:03:15,200
curricular activities

96
00:03:15,200 --> 00:03:17,520
and leadership experience.

97
00:03:17,920 --> 00:03:20,990
Most scholarship
applications will ask you

98
00:03:20,990 --> 00:03:23,030
some variation
on, Where are

99
00:03:23,030 --> 00:03:25,070
you going? In
your response,

100
00:03:25,070 --> 00:03:27,155
you can write about
your short-term goals,

101
00:03:27,155 --> 00:03:29,165
like a degree,
an internship,

102
00:03:29,165 --> 00:03:30,425
or a first job.

103
00:03:30,425 --> 00:03:32,510
You can explore your
long-term goals,

104
00:03:32,510 --> 00:03:34,250
including the
dreams that inspire

105
00:03:34,250 --> 00:03:37,260
you and the values
that inform them.

106
00:03:37,330 --> 00:03:40,040
For each application, read

107
00:03:40,040 --> 00:03:41,390
the funding organization's

108
00:03:41,390 --> 00:03:42,920
mission and criteria.

109
00:03:42,920 --> 00:03:44,765
How do your
goals and values

110
00:03:44,765 --> 00:03:47,645
align with those of the
funding organization?

111
00:03:47,645 --> 00:03:49,430
Why will funding you help

112
00:03:49,430 --> 00:03:52,310
the funding organization
achieve its mission?

113
00:03:52,310 --> 00:03:54,005
Why is the scholarship

114
00:03:54,005 --> 00:03:55,190
and the opportunities it

115
00:03:55,190 --> 00:03:57,050
affords well-suited
to helping

116
00:03:57,050 --> 00:03:59,580
you meet your goals?

117
00:03:59,770 --> 00:04:02,390
For scholarship
competitions that

118
00:04:02,390 --> 00:04:03,995
fund a period of research,

119
00:04:03,995 --> 00:04:05,660
you'll be asked
about the project

120
00:04:05,660 --> 00:04:06,935
you intend to complete.

121
00:04:06,935 --> 00:04:08,270
If the scholarship funds

122
00:04:08,270 --> 00:04:09,590
independent research like

123
00:04:09,590 --> 00:04:11,060
the Fulbright does be

124
00:04:11,060 --> 00:04:12,860
very specific about
your methods,

125
00:04:12,860 --> 00:04:14,390
the type of data
you will gather,

126
00:04:14,390 --> 00:04:15,725
and what you will
do with the data

127
00:04:15,725 --> 00:04:16,970
after your scholarship.

128
00:04:16,970 --> 00:04:20,120
Will you publish it?
Use it for a thesis?

129
00:04:20,120 --> 00:04:21,995
If the scholarship funds

130
00:04:21,995 --> 00:04:24,425
a research degree,
like a PhD,

131
00:04:24,425 --> 00:04:25,760
you might be asked about

132
00:04:25,760 --> 00:04:27,710
the degree programs
you've applied to,

133
00:04:27,710 --> 00:04:30,020
what you've proposed as
your dissertation or

134
00:04:30,020 --> 00:04:32,435
thesis project, and
the significance

135
00:04:32,435 --> 00:04:35,345
of your project in
your discipline.

136
00:04:35,345 --> 00:04:37,550
So far, the
different parts

137
00:04:37,550 --> 00:04:38,840
of the webinar
have provided

138
00:04:38,840 --> 00:04:40,190
information about what to

139
00:04:40,190 --> 00:04:42,395
expect during the
application process.

140
00:04:42,395 --> 00:04:45,245
What is my role as
director of the office?

141
00:04:45,245 --> 00:04:47,660
In the process,
I will help you

142
00:04:47,660 --> 00:04:48,710
identify appropriate

143
00:04:48,710 --> 00:04:50,540
scholarship competitions.

144
00:04:50,540 --> 00:04:52,220
I will advise you as you

145
00:04:52,220 --> 00:04:53,825
put together your
applications,

146
00:04:53,825 --> 00:04:55,940
including by working
closely with you

147
00:04:55,940 --> 00:04:58,400
on essays and other
written sections.

148
00:04:58,400 --> 00:05:00,170
I will be available
to meet with you

149
00:05:00,170 --> 00:05:02,825
regularly and answer
your questions.

150
00:05:02,825 --> 00:05:05,300
Finally, I'm
available to provide

151
00:05:05,300 --> 00:05:06,950
institutional
endorsement or

152
00:05:06,950 --> 00:05:09,530
nomination where required.

153
00:05:09,530 --> 00:05:11,420
What do I expect from

154
00:05:11,420 --> 00:05:12,980
the students I work with?

155
00:05:12,980 --> 00:05:14,675
First, motivation.

156
00:05:14,675 --> 00:05:16,205
This is your future.

157
00:05:16,205 --> 00:05:18,470
So it is up to you to
drive the process.

158
00:05:18,470 --> 00:05:20,060
I will not try
to convince you

159
00:05:20,060 --> 00:05:21,860
to apply for a
major scholarship.

160
00:05:21,860 --> 00:05:23,120
You should apply
because you

161
00:05:23,120 --> 00:05:24,575
genuinely want to.

162
00:05:24,575 --> 00:05:26,750
Second, I expect
that you are

163
00:05:26,750 --> 00:05:28,220
proactive in reaching out

164
00:05:28,220 --> 00:05:29,840
to me and scheduling
meetings.

165
00:05:29,840 --> 00:05:31,520
You can do that
easily using

166
00:05:31,520 --> 00:05:32,810
a scheduling tool called

167
00:05:32,810 --> 00:05:35,165
Calendly on the website.

168
00:05:35,165 --> 00:05:37,730
Third, the focus of
our work will be

169
00:05:37,730 --> 00:05:40,205
preparing the essays
and written statements.

170
00:05:40,205 --> 00:05:42,170
Toward that end, I expect

171
00:05:42,170 --> 00:05:44,060
that you put time
into revising

172
00:05:44,060 --> 00:05:46,160
your work after each
meeting and you

173
00:05:46,160 --> 00:05:48,950
send me the revisions
before we meet.

174
00:05:48,950 --> 00:05:51,590
Next, as I said
in Part Three,

175
00:05:51,590 --> 00:05:53,270
Keep your eye on deadlines

176
00:05:53,270 --> 00:05:54,710
and submission
requirements.

177
00:05:54,710 --> 00:05:55,850
I expect students to

178
00:05:55,850 --> 00:05:57,560
be responsible
for submitting

179
00:05:57,560 --> 00:05:59,510
their parts of
the applications

180
00:05:59,510 --> 00:06:01,955
on time and appropriately.

181
00:06:01,955 --> 00:06:04,520
Another thing I expect
is that students will

182
00:06:04,520 --> 00:06:06,920
be persistent
and optimistic.

183
00:06:06,920 --> 00:06:09,230
Yes, major scholarship
applications

184
00:06:09,230 --> 00:06:10,775
take a lot of work,

185
00:06:10,775 --> 00:06:12,230
but accomplishing anything

186
00:06:12,230 --> 00:06:13,984
worthwhile is difficult.

187
00:06:13,984 --> 00:06:16,610
The application process
will prepare you

188
00:06:16,610 --> 00:06:19,865
for similar challenges
later in your career.

189
00:06:19,865 --> 00:06:23,809
Finally, many students
don't realize,

190
00:06:23,809 --> 00:06:25,580
I do not automatically get

191
00:06:25,580 --> 00:06:28,250
notified about
competition outcomes.

192
00:06:28,250 --> 00:06:29,690
If we have
worked together,

193
00:06:29,690 --> 00:06:31,070
please notify me of

194
00:06:31,070 --> 00:06:34,140
the outcome of a
competition when you hear.

195
00:06:34,240 --> 00:06:36,575
That takes us to the end

196
00:06:36,575 --> 00:06:38,435
of this four-part webinar.

197
00:06:38,435 --> 00:06:40,385
As always, if you
have questions,

198
00:06:40,385 --> 00:06:42,860
you may reach out to
me directly via email.

199
00:06:42,860 --> 00:06:44,210
On the website, you

200
00:06:44,210 --> 00:06:45,740
will find more information

201
00:06:45,740 --> 00:06:47,210
about the scholarships and

202
00:06:47,210 --> 00:06:48,665
preparing applications.

203
00:06:48,665 --> 00:06:49,850
You can also find

204
00:06:49,850 --> 00:06:52,440
links for my
scheduling tool.