CFSA: Cultivating Exceptional Potential

In the News

10 Tips for Applicants to Nationally Competitive Scholarships from a Successful Rhodes Scholar

By Blythe Scherrer | Mar 9, 2016

CFSA Director Jolynn Parker’s HNR 220 course, “Strategies for Scholar Development,” welcomed a special guest last Friday. Elliott Portnoy, a 1986 graduate of Syracuse University and SU’s first Rhodes Scholar, joined the course by telephone to share his experiences and advice. As a Rhodes Scholar, Portnoy earned his PhD at Oxford University in 1989. He…

Gilman Award – Writing Tips

By Jolynn Parker | Sep 11, 2015

Tips for applying for the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship for Study Abroad –Don’t wait until the last minute to apply. –Spend some time reading the Gilman website to get a sense of the program & for inspiration, ideas! Listen to one of their webnairs. –Read the essay questions carefully. Answer the questions that are…

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Fulbright Hint #9 – 2015

By Jolynn Parker | Sep 1, 2015

It’s getting down to the wire now! Remember the campus Fulbright Deadline is: 12 NOON on TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 15th #1 As I look over the list of applicants on Embark, I still see that some of you have NOT filled in the basic data about the country or program that you are applying to. DO…

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Fulbright Hint #8 – 2015

By Jolynn Parker | Aug 25, 2015

  Recommendations – All your recommendations and Language Evaluations (if needed) must be completed by September 15th!  Remind your recommenders that they need to enter their letters, forms, etc. by 9/15. Question #48b on the application asks for the recommendation due date And each time your register a referee or a language evaluator, they ask…

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Fulbright Hint #7 – 2015

By Jolynn Parker | Aug 25, 2015

By now you should have a completed a first draft of all parts of your application, and you should be working on edits and polishing. AFFILIATION LETTERS If you are applying for a full (research) Fulbright – you need an affiliation letter. Follow the directions for your specific country, but in general remember that… Plain…

What We Do

CFSA helps Syracuse University undergraduates, graduate students, and alumni apply for national scholarships and fellowships. These external awards provide funding and recognition across a range of disciplines and interests. 

You can read more about CFSA in this SU News story. 

Interest Meetings

One-on-One Advising

Writing Workshops

Interview Preparation

Institutional Endorsement

We require all Syracuse University students who are seeking institutional endorsement for the Marshall Scholarship and Rhodes Scholarship to register with CFSA by June 1 and to complete an “Intent to Apply” form by July 1, detailing their record on leadership, service, academic accomplishments, and their rationale for the application.

A campus committee will meet in July to review these forms and select the students who will be endorsed by the University.  Students seeking CFSA’s support and assistance with applications to the Gates-Cambridge Scholarship, the Schwarzman Scholars Program, the Luce Scholars Program, or the Knight-Hennessy Scholars Program should also complete the form.  The “Intent to Apply” Form will open in late May and close on July 1st.

Prestigious Fellowships Intent to Apply Form

Let us know if you intend to apply for a prestigious award (those listed under "Institutional Endorsement" above) by completing this form by July 1st. 

Upcoming Events

To request disability accommodations for any of the CFSA-hosted events below, please email cfsa@syr.edu

No Events

National Recognitions

Badge that reads Fulbright Top Producer U.S. Student Program 2024-2025
Badge that reads Fulbright Top Producer U.S. Student Program 2023-2024
Fulbright logo (blue ombre circle with white lines that intersect to look like an F) with the text above and below reading "Fulbright U.S. student program top producer 2022-2023"
blue circle with wavy exterior that reads AY 2021 - 2022 Gilman Top Producer
Fulbright Program logo of blue ombre circle surrounded by the text "Fulbright Program Top Producer Student Program"