Advice for Students

The recognition and monetary rewards for national awards can be enormous, but applications require substantial time commitments and competition can be intense.

By applying for these awards you will closely examine your academic and career goals and identify where you want to go either academically or professionally.

Nationally competitive awards are intensely competitive, and require a clear understanding of what their committees seek in candidates. In almost all cases, the award committees look for a longstanding interest and involvement in specific activities—in terms of academics, leadership, and service—that lead in some way to a specific scholastic goal. In short, it is important that you can demonstrate relevant involvements and activities that contribute to a specific trajectory.