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> UB School of Architecture & Planning Scholarship Search

Last Updated: 12/20/2007 11:12 AM

A "scholarship" is money awarded to you that you do not have to repay. Scholarship information is available at any University or public library, and in UB Student Financial Services at 232 Capen Hall on UB's North Campus or 104 Harriman Hall on UB's South Campus. UB School of Architecture and Planning students can schedule appointments for South Campus financial aid advisement by calling UB Student Financial Services at 716.829.3914.

Applying for Scholarships

>> Obtaining Information

Include a self-addressed stamped envelope when you request application forms by mail. If you can get a form or routine information by telephone or on the web, do so, and save valuable time.

>> Read the Fine Print

As soon as you receive the application, read the instructions carefully. Pay attention to the information required.

If the application requires a transcript from all schools you have attended, request this information as soon as possible. After a few weeks have passed, call the schools to be sure that the transcripts have been sent to the proper addresses.

If by chance you have to hand-deliver a transcript, do not tamper with the seal; the transcript may not be accepted if you do.

>> The Reasons Most Applications Come With a Phone Number

If you find that some instructions on an application are unclear, seek advice either from the scholarship provider, high school guidance counselor or a financial aid advisor.

Don't be afraid to call the scholarship provider! Undoubtedly, you're one of many asking the same question.

>> Letters of Recommendation

Ask for letters of recommendation well in advance and discuss the kind of information needed in the letter. A concrete, detailed letter from someone, usually a professor, who knows you and your work well is usually worth more than three or four letters from people who don't know you well.

Find that person and give him or her time to write a strong letter. To assist the people who write the letters, it is helpful to provide a copy of your resume and/or something written about yourself. Let the writer know what sorts of things you would like the letter to say. The more information that you provide to you reference may result in a more substantial and persuasive letter.

Be sure the writer knows the deadline. To ensure that the letter is sent on time, ask the writer once or twice, before it is due, whether it is finished, as a "friendly reminder." If the letter is delayed, ask whether more information is needed. You will be reminding the writer about your letter as well as giving him or her the necessary information.

>> How to Write a Scholarship Essay

Many scholarship applications require at least one essay -- although they are usually (but not always) shorter than those for college admissions.

Similar to admissions officers, scholarship committees see the essay as a window into the hearts and minds of the applicants. Because of this, essays for scholarships should be written similarly to college essays. They should be original, well written, honest, and describe something meaningful about you. Scholarship essays should captivate the readers and make then care about the writer. All the strategies that you learned in the college essay writing also apply to scholarship essays.

While scholarship applications may give you the luxury of writing on any subject -- in which case you can easily submit one of your college essays-- most give you a much more focused topic. For example, if you are applying to a civic group, they may ask you to write about your volunteer experience. In these cases you need to demonstrate in your essay that you are the most suitable candidate because you fulfill the specific criteria of the award better than anyone else.

The final thing you should keep in mind when writing is to consider the kinds of people who will be reading your essay. Make sure what you write will not offend the readers.

Applications should always be written to provide the reader with what they want to see. Before you prepare scholarship applications, do what you can to find out who will be on the review committee. While this information is not always available, it can be gained simply by asking. "Who will be reviewing my application?," when you request materials. You can often use common sense to figure that a bank--sponsored scholarship is reviewed by bankers or a music scholarship by musicians.

>> Scholarship Essay Practice Makes Perfect

If essays, statements of purpose, or paragraph-long answers are requested, rework them over a series of drafts until they are as well written as you can make them. A good essay or answer is one that is concise, well-organized, smoothly written, interesting, distinctive, and without clichés or errors. Show your application to an academic adviser, faculty adviser, financial aid adviser, or anyone else who can give good criticism. Leave time for this rewriting and consultation.

The essay is often the key item in scholarship applications. This is where the committee can "visualize" the real you, your goals and accomplishments. Write several drafts and share them with teachers, family, and friends. Begin and end with strong statements that capture the reader's attention and leave a lasting impression. Use personal anecdotes or experience to illustrate your points. Committees may read 50 or 100 essays, so make yours memorable.

>> The Finished Product

Type all application forms, letters, essays, questionnaires, or any other information that needs to be sent as part of the application process.

Proofread all materials and make sure they are picture-perfect: no obvious white-out, no last-minute corrections with a pen, no misspellings, no errors, and no crumpling of paper. Just to be sure, after making all the corrections, have someone else look over the application and proof it.

> UB School of Architecture & Planning Admission Statement

The UB School of Architecture and Planning has an admission policy that actively encourages applicants from protected groups and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, or veteran status. Admission is competitive, and applicants are reviewed according to the admission criteria. Acceptance of students in the pre-professional, professional, and post-professional programs is determined on the basis of the applicants' qualifications and experience. However, since the school's size is limited, the programs may exercise discretionary powers of selection. Courses and programs offered by the UB School of Architecture and Planning may include an instructional technology fee.

> UB Undergraduate Student Responsibility Statement

By accepting responsibility for their education, students enhance the development of their academic, social, and career goals. As a condition of enrollment, students are responsible for reviewing, understanding, and abiding by the university's regulations, procedures, requirements, and deadlines as described in official publications, including the university's undergraduate catalog, UB Web sites, and official university e-mail communications. In addition, all students are required to positively affirm their knowledge of, and adherence to, UB's Student Conduct Rules, University Standards and Administrative Regulations prior to their inaugural semester at UB. Asserting a lack of knowledge of university regulations will not be accepted as a basis for an exception to these regulations.

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