Friday, October 29, 2010
Monday, October 25, 2010
Paul and Daisy Soros Fellowships for New Americans
- Thirty Paul and Daisy Soros Fellowships for New Americans will be awarded in 2011 on the basis of a single national competition.
Please review further on the website: http://www.pdsoros.org/competition/
- Each fellowship supports up to two years of graduate study ր in any field and in any advanced degree-granting program ր in the United States.
- Each award is for up to $25,000 in maintenance grants and up to $20,000 in tuition support for each year of graduate study supported, a total of as much as $90,000.
- The deadline for submission of completed applications is November 1, 2010.
- To be eligible, you must be:
- A New American (a green card holder or naturalized citizen if born abroad; a child of naturalized citizens if born in this country).
- Not yet 31 years old, as of the application deadline.
- A college senior or holder of a bachelor's degree.
- Not beyond your second year ր if already enrolled -- in the graduate degree program for which you request support.
- Selection criteria emphasize creativity, originality, initiative, and sustained accomplishment.
- The program values a commitment to the constitution and the bill of rights.
- The program promotes a strong sense of community among fellows and alumni through fall conferences for fellows and numerous events for fellows and alumni held throughout the country.
- The top 84 applicants will be designated "finalists" and will be asked to appear for interviews in New York City or Los Angeles in mid-January of 2011. Reasonable expenses will be covered by the Fellowship Program.
- The 30 fellowship winners, selected from among the 84 finalists, will be announced in February of 2011.
Friday, October 22, 2010
Tips: Finding money for college
Finding money for college can be a difficult task, especially with the economy as it is. Luckily, there are a few options when it comes to getting college at a lower price so that getting the money for college isn't as difficult. These options might not be for everyone, but they definitely can help get some ideas flowing for those having a tough time rounding up resources.
One such option is going to a community college instead of a four year college to knock out some of those prerequisites. When the desired number of classes are taken, then the student can transfer those credits to the college of their choice. This way, college students only have to pay a community college price for some of the classes that are unrelated to their degree that they're going to have to take anyway! It is important, however, to know ahead of time which classes will transfer and which won't so that money is not wasted on a class that will not transfer.
Another option for cheaper college is tuition free colleges. There are several tuition free colleges which are colleges that charge nothing for tuition. Of course, the college do get SOMETHING but each college that offers this has their own catch. By completing a program from a school that doesn't charge tuition, students can get a four year degree and leave college owing no money on loans. This can definitely give peace of mind as most people who leave college take a large chunk of debt with them.
A final option to try is going to college through work. Many employers will pay a decent percentage of an employee's tuition. This varies with each employer as do the rules. Some employers require that the degree program be related to the job and many require a certain grade point average to be attained. This usually works on a reimbursement program which means that the student pays for the tuition ahead of time and then the employer reimburses the student after they complete their semester. Often employees interested in the tuition reimbursement program must get this settled with the company before the semester begins to qualify for the reimbursement.
It is important to figure out a plan of action in affording college before applying to schools so that a surprise tuition bill doesn't show up and there is no money to pay it. There are several options and ways students can get the education they desire at a lower cost.
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Monday, October 18, 2010
Whitaker International Award For Bioengineers - Application now open
The Institute of International Education (IIE) is pleased to announce the opening of the 2011-2012 Whitaker International Fellows and Scholars Program competition, with a January 24, 2011 deadline. The Whitaker International Program provides funding for biomedical engineers/bioengineers to conduct a field-relevant activity abroad.
Program Overview
The Whitaker International Program is a competitive grant that sends emerging leaders in biomedical engineering (or bioengineering) overseas to increase international collaboration in the field. The Whitaker Program was funded by The Whitaker Foundation (now closed), and is administered by the Institute of International Education.
Whitaker International Program grants are awarded based on an activity/project proposal that is relevant to biomedical engineering. We hope to offer about 50 grants annually, but only the highest-quality applicants are awarded. In the last three competitions, 15, 20 and 35 grants have been awarded.
We are looking for at least 150 qualified applications this year, so all students who are even thinking of this type of option are encouraged to apply.
Awards have included research in heart blood flow, improved prosthetic leg design, and development of affordable oral cancer screening tools. Projects occur worldwide, including the UK, Chile, Denmark, India, South Africa, and many more.
Types of Grants
The Whitaker International Program has two categories
瀀 Fellows - Graduate-level applicants, from graduating seniors through current PhD students. Fellows receive a stipend for one year, and are eligible for tuition reimbursement.
瀀 Scholars - Post-doctoral applicants, who recently received their PhD. Scholar awards can be for as little as one academic semester or as long as two years of funding, depending on their needs. Second year funding is contingent upon demonstration of progress made during the first year.
Website & Online Application
http://www.whitaker.org/
http://whitaker.usapplications.org/
The online application is now open with a January 24, 2011 deadline. The website listed above has all the information pertaining to the program, including eligibility requirements, potential host institutions, and former grantee profiles.
Whitaker Program On-line Forum
http://www.whitaker.org/forum/
A new Whitaker on-line forum has been created for applicants to interact with former grantees and ask them questions about grant projects, tips on the application, securing host affiliations, and the general grant experience. Additionally, the forum has answers to many Frequently Asked Questions on the Whitaker Program.
Friday, October 15, 2010
Reminder: Deadlines approachin for DAAD grants
November 1st is the deadline for: Study Scholarship for Artists Grant - These scholarships aim to provide highly qualified students in the fields of fine art, design, film, music, choreography and architecture with an opportunity to complete a program of additional studies, with or without earning a formal degree, at a German institute of higher education. German Studies Research Grant - This specialized DAAD program offers up to five German Studies Research Grants to highly qualified undergraduate and graduate students who are nominated by their department/ program chairs. The grant may be used for short-term research (one to two months) in either North America or Germany. Group Study Visits - DAAD offers financial support for academic information visits to Germany which are organized by faculty members for groups of students. Group Study Visit grants are intended to encourage contact with academic institutions, groups and individuals in Germany, and offer insight into current issues in the academic, scientific, economic, political and cultural realms. All departments are eligible for this funding. Leo Baeck DAAD-Grant - The Leo Baeck Institute is a research, study, and lecture center whose library and archives offer comprehensive documentation for the study of the history and culture of German-speaking Jewry. November 15th is the deadline for: Study Scholarship - Study Scholarships provide highly qualified individuals with an opportunity to do independent study in Germany or to complete a full Master's degree program at a German university. Research Grant - Research grants are awarded primarily to highly qualified PhD candidates who are early in their academic/professional careers or to individuals wishing to earn a doctoral degree in Germany. Funding may also be granted to recent PhDs who would like to conduct research. |
Please be reminded that application deadlines for many DAAD scholarships are in 
For further details and application information, go to: Tuesday, October 12, 2010
New European Scholarship Portal: ScholarshipPortal.eu
New European Scholarship Portal: ScholarshipPortal.eu
A new online scholarship database, ScholarshipPortal.eu, was recently launched at the European Association for International Education (EAIE) conference. ScholarshipPortal.eu is an integrated, centralized European platform providing information on all scholarships offered for studying in Europe. The database already contains over 700 scholarship programs. Students can now find and compare relevant programs based on their nationality, background, where and what they want to study, and many more search criteria. ScholarshipPortal has been developed by StudyPortals and the Academic Cooperation Association (ACA) and funded by the European Commission Lifelong Learning Programme.
For more information, please visit: www.scholarshipportal.eu
Sunday, October 10, 2010
Friday, October 8, 2010
CBYX for Young Professionals Fellowship for Germany
The Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange for Young Professionals (CBYX), a yearlong fellowship to study and intern in Germany, is currently accepting applications from your students. CBYX is open to applicants in all career fields without any prior German language knowledge, and is funded by the US and German governments through a grant provided by the US Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, under the authority of the Fulbright-Hays Act of 1961, as amended. More information can be found at www.cbyx.info.
The CBYX program covers the costs of and annually provides 75 participants with:
Հ 2 months intensive German language training in Cologne, Bremen, or Radolfzell
Հ Semester of study at a German University or University of Applied Sciences
Հ 5-month internship with a German company in the participant's career field
Հ Homestays with German host families, in shared apartments, and student dorms
Հ Transatlantic airfare, health insurance, and monthly living expense stipends
Հ Various seminars in the US and Germany
Հ Local in-country support throughout the program
CBYX for Young Professionals is open to students in all fields of study, though preference is given to students in vocational, technical, engineering, agricultural, business, and scientific fields. Applicants should have clear career goals and some relevant work experience in their career field, which may include summer, part-time, or internship work. Prior German language knowledge is not required, though it is strongly preferred. Participants must be between the ages of 18-24, possess a high school diploma or equivalent, and be US citizens or permanent residents.
Interested applicants can apply online at www.cbyx.info. The application deadline for the 2011-2012 program is December 1, 2010.
Thursday, October 7, 2010
Boren Awards Webinars
Boren Scholarships and Fellowships provide unique funding opportunities for U.S. undergraduate and graduate students to add an important international and language component to their educations. We focus on geographic areas, languages, and fields of study that are critical to U.S. national security, broadly defined, and underrepresented in study abroad.
Boren Awards will also be offering a series of webinars for potential Boren Awards applicants. To see a complete schedule and description of the webinars, please visit http://www.borenawards.org/webinars.html
Boren Awards will also be offering a series of webinars for potential Boren Awards applicants. To see a complete schedule and description of the webinars, please visit http://www.borenawards.org/webinars.html
Boren Fellowships
October 14, 1-2 pm EST, An Overview of the Application Register
November 10, 2-3 pm EST, Boren Fellowships General Information Register
November 22, 4-5 pm EST, An Overview of the Application Register
Boren Scholarships
October 13, 3-4 pm EST, An Overview of the Application Register
November 4, 4-5 pm EST, Boren Scholarships General Information Register
November 16, 1-2 pm EST, An Overview of the Application Register
Understanding the NSEP Service Requirement
October 20, 2-3 pm EST, Register
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
Critical Language Scholarship Information Session
2011 CRITICAL LANGUAGE SCHOLARSHIPS FOR INTENSIVE SUMMER INSTITUTES (CLS) INFORMATION SESSION at GEORGIA TECH
The selection process will be administered by the Council of American Overseas Research Centers (CAORC) with awards approved by the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. The CLS Program is administered by CAORC and the American Councils for International Education.
Critical Language Scholarships (CLS) provide group-based intensive language instruction and structured cultural enrichment experiences for seven to ten weeks each summer.
Levels available for each language are as follows:
www.CLScholarship.org
- Wednesday, October 20 at 9:00am
- Student Center, Room 320
The selection process will be administered by the Council of American Overseas Research Centers (CAORC) with awards approved by the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. The CLS Program is administered by CAORC and the American Councils for International Education.
Critical Language Scholarships (CLS) provide group-based intensive language instruction and structured cultural enrichment experiences for seven to ten weeks each summer.
Levels available for each language are as follows:
- Azerbaijani, Bangla/Bengali, Hindi, Indonesian, Korean, Punjabi, Turkish, or Urdu: Beginning, intermediate or advanced level;
- Arabic or Persian: Advanced beginning, intermediate or advanced level;
- Chinese, Japanese, or Russian: Intermediate or advanced level.
www.CLScholarship.org
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
Sunday, October 3, 2010
College Essays: from Writing to Revising
This is as crucial a time for me as it is for all of you Seniors. I've been reading about the application process for years, and now my first deadline is less than a month away. Panic? Not really - that was for junior year. I've ultimately learned how to control that inevitable anxiety about the process by doing things early and learning to objectively critique my own application and essays.
I've now written my main Common App essay, main supplemental essay that I'll be sending in a few applications, and my personal statement via the Common App's "additional information" section. "How are you managing?" people ask. Basically, I'm setting optimistic deadlines for my essays, teacher recommendations, and mountains of paperwork that come with this process. Now I have everything done... in rough form. I feel really relieved to have all of my essays at least started, even if I haven't edited them yet. The ideas are there, and I now have time to go back and revise, to help explain myself through these essays by connecting the thoughts and making sure everything makes sense.
I'm now onto stage two of the writing process: revising. As simple as this may sound, it's not just checking for grammar like you've likely gotten through high school doing: it's mapping your essay in an outline, making sure every point makes sense and logically flows from the one before it. The only way to be able to see this level of individual-point analysis is to start seeing things objectively. For me, this means putting at least two or three days between when you first spill out your ideas from when you next attempt to edit. You really need to pay attention to how you're telling the story, and not making any assumptions about what the reader already knows. This is really challenging, so if you haven't developed that eye for objectivity, give the essay to one of your parents, siblings, or friends to read. Chances are, you've skipped some logical links.
I have linked below some really helpful blog posts from Brown University's Admissions Office Blog, and I would really suggest reading them. One point I love that helps with objective analysis is to outline your essay after you've written it to see if it met the criteria you wanted to get across when you started writing. What does it say about you? How could you tie in more information about yourself to make the essay resonate with and compliment your resume and transcript? The post on choosing a topic is really helpful also: there really aren't any clich退 or exhausted topics, but there are definitely dull and typical ways to write about them. The post asks you to objectively ask yourself what the topic (and subsequent essay) says that makes you stand out from the applicant pool, and helps the admissions office see what you would contribute to the campus.
From the Brown University Admissions Office Blog, Prospects and Providence:
Getting a Personal: The Writing Process
Getting Personal - Choosing a Topic
The Personal Statement in Context
One thing I love about the Brown Admissions Office Blog, Prospects and Providence, is that their writers are real admissions officers at one of the most selective universities in the world, and yet they don't come off as intimidating. Everything is written to help the applicant, especially in terms of stress management and taking a really hazy process and breaking it down in to manageable pieces. As a final note, I couldn't agree with them more about their approach to taking the essays in context (the last article). Your essays are important, but try to focus more on ideas than writing at first, and everything will fall into place. The essay is ultimately just another tool for the admissions to learn about you, so put in the time and show off your skills. Embrace them and start writing and revising, seniors!
P.S. Hope you had an awesome Harry Potter Homecoming, BHS!
I've now written my main Common App essay, main supplemental essay that I'll be sending in a few applications, and my personal statement via the Common App's "additional information" section. "How are you managing?" people ask. Basically, I'm setting optimistic deadlines for my essays, teacher recommendations, and mountains of paperwork that come with this process. Now I have everything done... in rough form. I feel really relieved to have all of my essays at least started, even if I haven't edited them yet. The ideas are there, and I now have time to go back and revise, to help explain myself through these essays by connecting the thoughts and making sure everything makes sense.
I'm now onto stage two of the writing process: revising. As simple as this may sound, it's not just checking for grammar like you've likely gotten through high school doing: it's mapping your essay in an outline, making sure every point makes sense and logically flows from the one before it. The only way to be able to see this level of individual-point analysis is to start seeing things objectively. For me, this means putting at least two or three days between when you first spill out your ideas from when you next attempt to edit. You really need to pay attention to how you're telling the story, and not making any assumptions about what the reader already knows. This is really challenging, so if you haven't developed that eye for objectivity, give the essay to one of your parents, siblings, or friends to read. Chances are, you've skipped some logical links.
From the Brown University Admissions Office Blog, Prospects and Providence:
Getting a Personal: The Writing Process
Getting Personal - Choosing a Topic
The Personal Statement in Context
One thing I love about the Brown Admissions Office Blog, Prospects and Providence, is that their writers are real admissions officers at one of the most selective universities in the world, and yet they don't come off as intimidating. Everything is written to help the applicant, especially in terms of stress management and taking a really hazy process and breaking it down in to manageable pieces. As a final note, I couldn't agree with them more about their approach to taking the essays in context (the last article). Your essays are important, but try to focus more on ideas than writing at first, and everything will fall into place. The essay is ultimately just another tool for the admissions to learn about you, so put in the time and show off your skills. Embrace them and start writing and revising, seniors!
P.S. Hope you had an awesome Harry Potter Homecoming, BHS!
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