Office of National Scholarship Advisement
At the University of Mississippi, we use that term to describe scholarships and fellowships offered through national and international competitions, usually (although not always) to fund post-graduate study and research. At the University of Mississippi, we also make a commitment to help students determine if they are good matches for national scholarships, to assist them in preparing competitive applications, and to provide a nomination process that promotes student development, whatever the outcome of the application. All students are welcome to contact the Office of National Scholarship Advisement for help in finding and applying for appropriate national scholarships, and to attend any of the workshops to learn more about these scholarships and procedures for applying. Before you look further, there are some things you should know:
- The competition for national scholarships is keen. These programs generally expect a very high GPA, an outstanding record of leadership/service, and evidence of commitment to one’s field, project, or cause (or to all of those). It’s a good idea to check websites for biographies of current and past Scholars, as well as the stated criteria and eligibility. If the Scholars sound a lot like you, you’ve got reason to continue looking into the scholarship. Be honest with yourself. UM students are often highly competitive for these national scholarships (see UM History), but your record will be standing on its own.
- Most of these scholarships require that applicants be U.S. citizens or permanent residents. There are some exceptions (such as the Gates Cambridge Scholarship), but not many.
- Many of the national scholarships require University involvement at some level. If you must be nominated for the scholarship or if your application requires University rating or sign-off, the institutional deadline will be earlier than the program’s announced deadline, to allow time for review of your application and an institutional decision regarding the nomination. See University Procedures and University Timelines.
- Completing the application (even to earn nomination) will be a lengthy and arduous process. Plan on a time/effort commitment equivalent to a three-hour course, say 40-50 hours.