How do you earn one of these fabulous scholarships?
There are two ways to get into the pipeline to be considered.
1. Some schools around the country may endorse up to two candidates
2. Students may endorse themselves and they are at no disadvantage in the process if they self-endorse
3. School endorsements are due by October 1; self-endorsements are due by October 25.
Here’s the great news–you can major in anything and be a Park Scholar. You can even have a double major. But . . . beware. This is a highly competitive program–I mean there are 1300 applications for 50 scholarships. Do the math–that’s competitive. While the review of candidates is holistic, there are certain talents and qualities the selection committee seeks. Here are the four criteria used to judge applicants:
• scholarship–yep, academics matter . . . Myron
and Holley
stressed that a student’s record didn’t have to show a perfect 4.0 but the student needs to demonstrate true intellectual curiosity . . . the candidate needs to display raw and applied smarts!• leadership–initiative and get-it-done trumps elected-do-nothing, title only stuff . . . how has the candidate seized opportunities and gotten a job done while others were still trying to figure out what the issues were?
• service–students must demonstrate a sense of and dedication to a more than a what’s-in-it-for-me mentality . . . they need to demonstrate a desire to make something better
• character–in today’s seemingly ethics-challenged world, integrity matters more and more every day–how has the student demonstrated an honorable lifestyle and shown, even when the going got tough, that he or she followed through any way
There are several essays–even an optional one–that are part of the Park application. Students were urged to complete the optional essay too. The advice was to be yourself in the essays, proofread, and make sure your voice is coming through in your essays.
In February about 100 finalists are brought to campus in-person. There are actually hundreds of staff members, alums, and students involved in the selection process. By early March, a student will know if he or she has been named a Park Scholar. However, the student has until May, the Candidate’s Reply Date, to decide whether to accept the scholarship.
The Park Program offers the best of both worlds–a small, structured living/learning community with amazing support and opportunities nestled in a large, major research university. Football Saturdays with pig roasts to a Commons open 24/7 just for the Park Scholars. That sounds good to me! Reach for the opportunities like my friend Toby. In fact, that also makes me hungry–gotta go find some food.
CYA,
Clyde
