There is little difference and the terms are often used interchangeably. There are a few minor distinctions: Grants are the most inclusive, representing any grant of money in exchange for a purpose or project. Scholarships usually provide support for undergraduate or graduate education. Fellowships often support post-graduate projects which may be pursued outside the normal curriculum. Typically, funding is provided by a foundation, institution or other organization to support academic work, research, independent projects or community service activity. All scholarships, fellowships and grants and all are referred to as national awards.
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National awards cover a broad range of academic, co-curricular and professional interests, including, but not limited to: study abroad, science research, public service interests, graduate school, international research, study or independent projects. It's reasonable for students to explore fellowship and scholarship opportunities as they develop their undergraduate and post-graduate special interests, passions, commitments and plans.
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There are many benefits of applying regardless of whether you receive an award. The process provides:
Start early! Whether or not you plan to study abroad before or after graduation, or go to graduate school, you should learn about your options as soon as you set foot on campus. Attend information sessions as a first year student. Use your time, at Hamilton and during summer months, wisely to get involved in meaningful activities and pursuits. These experiences often provide excellent preparation for future research or study and strengthen fellowship and scholarship applications. Note: The reality is that for many post-graduate awards, seniors often return to campus with ideas for projects, research or study, after time away or abroad. There are many examples of student award winners who considered national awards during September of their senior year!
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Every fellowship has its own process and application. Most awards require a traditional application with short essays or a project proposal or plan of study. A college transcript, record of extracurricular activities and two or three or more letters of recommendation are typically required. For some awards campus interviews (Fulbright, Watson, Rhodes, Marshal, Mitchell) and national interviews (Watson, Rhodes, Marshall, Mitchell) are required.
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National fellowships are highly competitive and academic excellence is required for many awards. But, for many awards a clear sense of purpose and future promise is essential and is equally as important as grades. Depending on the award, personal qualities and individual merits, notably:
Grades alone are less important than the overall combination of qualities (which might include research, service, leadership, and so on), but they are still significant. For example, the level of competition for Fulbright Grants will vary from country to country. A well thought out proposal for study, research or independent project combined with the background and skills to carry out the proposal is essential. This is as important as GPA.
Near perfect grades are never, by themselves, enough to win. So many students with excellent grades apply for these awards that other aspects of the application are more decisive.
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CONNECT THE DOTS! In a strong application, the pieces of the application fit together well, and offer a convincing composite picture of your strengths, commitments and interests. Your application may be compared to hundreds of others. It will likely be read by several groups of people during the selection process. To ensure that you are conveying the impression you intend, utilize the knowledge and experience of others in putting together your application package. The letters of recommendation should offer a portrait of the student that is consistent with the personal statement and other materials submitted by the candidate. A strong application will stand out from the crowd, and will impress a variety of people.
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Your time at Hamilton is not in preparation for pursuing national awards. It's a time to explore and nurture your interests.
Time, energy, creative and critical thinking. Winning national awards is not easy. After advising successful students for many years at Hamilton, I can never predict the results of any national competition. Elation, pleasant surprise, and bitter disappointment go hand in hand in this process. Applying for fellowships and scholarships asks students to dream big
First year students:
This varies with each application. Typically, people who become finalists and advance to the interviews for prestigious fellowships report spending as much or more time completing the application materials and preparing for interviews as they would spend on a regular academic course in one term.
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Most nominees who make a commitment to the competition and accept guidance from their faculty advisors:
Yes. You may apply for any of the awards that fit well your academic and other interests.
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Yes. It is possible to apply for some major post-graduate fellowships as a graduating senior or for several years after graduation. Fulbright Grants do not have an age limit. While other awards including the Rhodes, Marshall and Mitchell will have some limitations. Check the eligibility requirements for each award. Some students may put together stronger applications after graduation since they have completed a senior project and developed a clearer understanding of their future plans and goals. As a Hamilton graduate you are encouraged (and in some instances required) to work through the Student Fellowship Office. As an alum, you have access to the same guidance and information as undergraduates.
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Yes, there are fellowships and scholarships for international students. Please visit the
International Student Opportunities section of this website.
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At Hamilton there are many opportunities to conduct research in any discipline through Emerson Grants, Levitt Center Grants and summer science research grants. Consult faculty in your area of interest about research projects which you could work on during the academic year or during the summer. The Hamilton Career Center is a great place to research summer internship and job opportunities. See the Career Center Website for Internship Listings and Summer Internship Funding. Away from Hamilton, each summer, there are many opportunities to work in research around the country. The NSF Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) Program and the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education both sponsor many programs nationwide. For a variety of other opportunities, see some of these websites: National Summer Research Opportunities (Pitt), Research Database (UIUC), Health Related Summer Opportunities (Swarthmore), Health Professions Internships (CMU), Internships and Summer Jobs (Colgate), Extramural Research Opportunities (Yale), Summer Fellowship Opportunities (Yale), IT Internships (ACM), and Summer Internships (NASA).
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YOU MAY INDEED PURSUE THE PROJECT OF YOUR CHOOSING. Though topics or ideas may have similar themes to projects conducted in the past, each student will approach and pursue a project in an individual way – experiences and influences are specific to each student.
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The Student Fellowships Coordinator will assist you throughout the process – exploring your interests and ideas, making informed decisions regarding the pursuit of awards and applying for awards. Faculty advisors, professors and others in your field of interest can be helpful in terms of formulating ideas, identifying contacts and reviewing proposals for research or study. Discuss your ideas and plans with your friends, roommates, parents, siblings and anyone else who will listen. The more conversations you have, the better you will be able to articulate your goals and ideas. This is wonderful practice for both writing essays and interviewing with selection committees. Be sure you are able to clearly communicate why you are interested in a particular project, program of study, university or country.
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