The precise criteria for the awards demonstrates how thorough the selection committee is in choosing recipients. She notes that a personal interview is no longer required because of the logistics required in pulling both the scholarship committee and the applicants together at one time. Given such a comprehensive selection process, students must give equal attention to detail in applying for a scholarship. To start the process, contact the financial aid department of your nursing school and find out what it has to offer. Then give yourself plenty of time, and follow your school's guidelines to the letter, advises Beth Richardson, dean of student affairs at Indiana University.
Students tend to start the application process too late.
They need to start at least six to 12 months ahead of time before the applications are due. Students need time to get themselves organized, and if the application calls for some kind of an essay, additional time should be set aside to write and review the essay. Be sure to have other people read and critique your essay so you can be confident that you have done it well. The University of Wisconsin-Madison's School of Nursing offers both undergraduate and graduate scholarships. Carol Rosga works in the Office of the Assistant Dean for Student Services there and stresses that students also need to read the instructions carefully.