National Scholarships and Fellowships

What are National Scholarships?

National scholarships are highly competitive awards that provide opportunities and support for undergraduate and graduate study, research, study abroad, public service, teaching, and employment in non-profits, city and federal government. There is a wide range of prestigious national scholarship programs open to City College undergraduates and recent graduates.

In addition to high academic achievement, national scholarship selection committees generally look for students with demonstrated and sustained leadership, research experience community and/or public service, and participation in professional activities or internships in their fields of study. See advice on becoming a strong candidate for competitive scholarships.

Applying for National Prestigious Scholarships

City College students have been highly successful in winning major national scholarships. Among these are the Critical Language Scholarship, Fulbright, Gilman, Goldwater, NSF GRFP, Pickering, Truman, Rhodes, and Udall, in addition to many others. In addition to high academic achievement, national scholarship selection committees are looking for well-rounded students who are engaged in their field of study beyond the classroom. Applications require well-written personal statements and essays, and strong, detailed faculty letters of recommendation. Some of these fellowships require official endorsement from City College, which entails an additional on-campus selection process.

By clicking on any individual scholarship in the list of links, you can get more information about scholarship requirements, deadlines, and benefits, and view the current application. City College's internal campus deadlines are often months before foundation deadlines, so interested applicants should prepare well in advance.
 

The National Scholarships Director mentors students through the application process, assists them in developing personal statements and essays required for the applications, and coordinates the overall application process with students and recommending faculty. After researching national scholarships of interest, to discuss or begin applying, contact Jennifer Lutton, National Scholarships Director at jlutton@ccny.cuny.edu .

Benefits of competing for national scholarships

Applying for a national scholarship is challenging but comes with many benefits, whether you are awarded or not. Going through the application process will help you: clarify your academic and professional goals; develop greater awareness of your strengths, interests, and commitments; improve your thinking and writing; and identify the most appropriate graduate study or professional path for you. In general, applying for nationally competitive scholarships encourages reflection on your thinking and values, along with academic plans, internships, study abroad, service activities, work and graduate study and can help you make well-informed decisions about your future.

Upcoming National Scholarships--events and application deadlines (not full list of scholarships)

For Graduate Study 

Critical Language Scholarship deadline--mid November, application available in September

Fulbright U.S. Student Program--Campus review deadline--early September; Fulbright national deadline--early October 

Ford Foundation Pre-Doctoral Fellowship --mid December 

NSF-GRFP --Dates run from late October through early November

Rangel Fellowship for Foreign Affiars --mid September 

Schwarzman Scholars --late September 

UK Scholarships--Gates Cambridge, Marshall, Mitchell, Rhodes Scholarships--deadlines in early October. Campus deadline-early September

For undergraduates

Critical Language Scholarship deadline--mid November, application available in September

DAAD RISE (STEM research internships in Germany)--mid December 

The Gilman Scholarship for Study Abroad--October and March

Harvard Public Policy Leadership Conference deadline--mid-November (sophomores)

Public Policy Junior Summer Institutes deadline--early November  (juniors)

Upcoming Scholarship Information Sessions

The Truman Scholarship--Thursday, April 4, 12:30-1:45pm, NAC 6/141

National Scholarships Information Session for Education Majors--Thursday, April 11, 12:30-1:45, Room TBA

If you are interested in learning more or applying, please contact National Scholarships Coordinator, Jennifer Lutton jlutton@ccny.cuny.edu