Distinguished Scholarships and Fellowships

Distinguished Scholarships and Fellowships are available to current Stetson students and recent alumni.  These opportunities can fund graduate studies, study abroad, research, summer internships, fellowships, and other unique experiences.  These opportunities are extremely competitive, but Stetson has a strong record of preparing students to be successful applicants.  Continue reading this page to learn more about the process of becoming a strong applicant and applying for scholarships or fellowships.  If you have any questions or need any help, contact the external scholarships and fellowships advisor, Professor Michael Eskenazi ([email protected])

How to Become a Strong Applicant

Although many applications are not available to you until your junior or senior year, the process of becoming a strong candidate must begin in your first year.  Each scholarship or fellowship is looking for a particular type of student with unique experiences.  Your job is to mold yourself into the strongest possible candidate by immersing yourself in high-impact experiences before it is time to apply.  A high GPA is necessary but insufficient – you must do more outside of the classroom.

To get an idea of what a strong applicant looks like, you should first identify which scholarships or fellowships you want to apply for. There are lists organized by category on the left side of this page that you explore.  Most of their websites have a page where you can read about the recent class of scholars or fellows.  Read the profiles of successful applicants so you can get ideas about how to develop yourself into a successful candidate.

Here are some ideas for how to become a strong candidate:

Research Experiences

One of the best ways to develop your skills and become a strong candidate is to gain research experience.  There are internal and external opportunities for you:

SURE Grant: The Stetson Undergraduate Research Experience Grant is an internal grant for Stetson students to work closely with a faculty member over the summer on a research project.  It would be a good idea to complete one in your sophomore year and maybe again in your junior year. 

Research Assistantship: Most Stetson faculty have active research programs and invite students to work in their labs on various projects.  Ask a professor in your academic area if you can work in their lab to gain research experience.

Independent Study: Similar to a research assistantship, you can work independently with a professor on a project.  However, instead of working on their projects, you would work on a project that you develop independently with their mentorship.  Typically, you will have worked with a professor already before conducting an independent study with them.

Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REUs):  The National Science Foundation (NSF) funds REUs where undergraduate students work closely with a group of professors on a cluster of research projects.  REUs occur over the summer and you are funded to move to the host university for 6-8 weeks.  You can read more about REUs at the link on the left side of this page or at their REU Website.

International Experience

International experience is a good way to strengthen your application, especially for scholarships and fellowships that are related to international affairs or government service.  This can also help with other scholarships or fellowships if your graduate studies are related to international issues. 

Faculty-Led Study Abroad: Many Stetson professors lead study abroad programs every summer to different parts of the world.  You can read more about these opportunities on the WORLD website.

Independent Study Abroad: If you’d rather study abroad for a longer period of time, you can work with an organizer to study abroad in almost any country you want.  Work with WORLD to identify countries and programs.  Be sure that your study abroad experience is related to the scholarship or fellowship you plan to apply for.

Study Abroad Fellowships: There are funded opportunities for you on the “Awards to Fund Study Abroad” link.  Being awarded one of these prestigious scholarships or fellowships will set you up well to apply for other scholarships in your senior year.

Other Experiences

Government Work: For scholarships related to international affairs or government service, having some existing experience with government work will make you a stronger candidate.  There are opportunities to volunteer or intern at various government agencies, departments, or political offices. 

Internships: Work experience is a great way to develop skills and align your experiences with what the scholarship or fellowship is looking for.  You should work with your department or Career and Professional Development to identify internships related to your interests. 

Volunteer and Community Service: Some scholarships and fellowships are specifically looking for people with strong community service experiences.  Stetson’s Center for Community Engagement can help you identify relevant community service experiences.

Leadership and Development: Leadership positions can help boost applications, but it is more important what you do as a leader more than simply being a leader.  Being a leader who makes an impact through a project, policy change, or other impactful outcome can help build your narrative of why you are a strong candidate.

How to Apply for Scholarships and Fellowships

  1. Read through the list of scholarships and fellowships to determine which ones you are most interested in.  You can find a brief summary of each scholarship or fellowship organized into different categories by clicking on the links on the left side of this page.
  2. After you identify potential scholarships, read their linked websites to determine if you are eligible and have the right experience to be a strong applicant.  Look at the list of recent award recipients to see the profile of a successful candidate.
  3. Meet with the designated advisor to begin preparing your application.  You should never apply for an award without having your materials reviewed by at least one professor.  Some awards require you to be nominated before you can apply.
  4. Begin working with the award advisor at least three months before the application is due to perfect your personal statements, solicit letters of recommendation, and prepare any other relevant components of your application.
  5. If you are invited for an interview, be sure to work with your advisor and other faculty to practice mock interviews. 

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