Characteristics of Successful Applicants

Although scholarships and fellowships list different criteria for evaluating applicants, successful applicants most often demonstrate:

Academic achievement

• High GPA (typically above a 3.5) and a challenging curriculum
• Capacity to succeed in challenging academic environments

Committed leadership and civic engagement

• Engagement in academic departments, campus organizations, and/or the community
• Participation beyond membership or affiliation
• Demonstrated capacity to implement positive change
• Commitment to a particular cause or issue
• Promise of a lifetime of service and leadership

Research and/or practical experience

• Lab research, independent study, assistantships, internships, exhibitions, concerts
• Ability to conduct independent research and work – e.g. an Honors thesis, distinction project, or advanced portfolio review

National and global awareness

• Study abroad, language study, or work with Syracuse’s international communities
• Understanding of how their interests engage with the larger world and current events

Strong support of faculty members and staff

• Connection with faculty in major/minor fields through coursework or extracurricular activities
• Close collaboration with one or more faculty mentors on a major project
• Ability to identify at least 3-4 individuals willing to write letters on their behalf

Looking for more advice? Check out the 10 tips for scholarship applicants that SU's first Rhodes Scholar, Elliot Portnoy, shared with CFSA.