IU Bloomington has a long history of successful applicants to dozens of prestigious national awards and scholarships. Students with a strong research interest and those who pursue engaged learning opportunities during their undergraduate studies at IU Bloomington such as undergraduate research, creative activity, and service learning are especially well-positioned to pursue national scholarships and awards.
Ready to apply for an award?
Regardless of the outcome, applying is valuable preparation for graduate school or your professional pursuits
Steps to consider when applying
The steps outlined here serve as general guidelines, but we recommend students interested in applying for a national scholarship or award email nsa@indiana.edu or schedule an appointment with Paul Fogleman to discuss their plans.
Applying for competitive awards can be a difficult and complicated process, and not all students who apply will be successful.
The process of preparing materials, organizing your thoughts and values, writing essays, and developing your confidence and eloquence in preparation for interviews and research opportunities will be valuable preparation for graduate school or your professional pursuits even if you are unable to earn the award you pursue.
Use the awards database to explore award opportunities that match your interests, background, and qualifications. Often, the essays and other materials you compile for one award can be used to apply for other awards as well (and may also be useful for graduate school applications or as professional statements for job applications). Be strategic about which awards you pursue.
If you are unsure where to begin, schedule an appointment with Paul Fogleman to discuss your options and plan.
Most awards listed in the awards database have individual application processes and deadlines, and are not managed by IU offices. Several popular awards, however, are administered by IU offices and have application processes and deadlines specific to IU Bloomington. See awards administered by IU offices to identify whether the award follows an IU-specific campus application process.
Awards administered by IU offices have campus representatives who can answer questions and help guide students through the application process. For these awards, students should contact the campus representative in order to get started. For all other awards, students can contact nsa@indiana.edu with questions or schedule an appointment with Paul Fogleman to discuss the application process and deadlines.
Once you know the application deadlines for the award, create reminders or calendar entries so you don't forget any required steps. Plan out when you will complete each part of the application along with when and how you will submit the necessary materials to apply.
The office of National Scholarships and Awards offers information sessions, structured Canvas courses that guide students through the application process, and semester-long in-person courses for preparing and editing application materials. Contact nsa@indiana.edu or schedule an appointment with Paul Fogleman for more information.