FAQ: Applying for Honors Scholarships

 

Q: Am I eligible for Honors Scholarships?

All current University of Iowa students who are members of the Honors Program are eligible to apply are encouraged to participate.  

PLEASE NOTE: Entering students who have been admitted to the University of Iowa and have opted into the Honors Program are NOT YET eligible to apply, but are encouraged to apply once they have completed their first semester on campus. Transfer students must have completed at least one semester on the University of Iowa campus.

To be considered for any of our program scholarships, students:

  • must be a member of the University of Iowa Honors Program,
  • must be currently enrolled as a full-time student,
  • must plan to be enrolled as a full-time student in the following Academic Year.

Q: Where do I apply?

To access the online universal application, visit the Iowa Scholarship Portal.  Please note: Any admitted or enrolled undergraduate student at the University of Iowa who wishes to apply for opportunities through the Iowa Scholarship Portal must complete the university's General Application before they are able to access information about or apply for any scholarship connected to the platform. Most of the available scholarships are connected to this platform, but there are a handful of discipline-specific opportunities which are available OUTSIDE of the portal. 

Q: When does the application open?

Friday, November 21, 2022

Q: When does the application close (or when are my materials due)?

Sunday, February 26, 2023

All materials must be submitted to Honors via the Iowa Scholarship Portal by 11:59 PM on the established deadline.

Q: Are international students eligible to apply for Honors Scholarships?

YES! International students ARE eligible to apply for the following Honors Scholarships:

  • the Rhodes Dunlap First & Second Year Scholarships,
  • the Dewey Stuit Second Year Scholarship,
  • the Rhodes Dunlap Collegiate Scholarships.  

Q: What scholarships are available?

To view a list of Honors scholarships, grants, and awards, click here. 

Q: What should I expect to submit when I apply?

A complete application package must include the following components:

  • a résumé or CV, not to exceed more than two pages in length,
  • one letter of recommendation from an individual who is familiar with your academic work and intellectual potential. This letter of support MUST come from a University of Iowa faculty member, lecturer, or teaching assistant. Please note: Honors Program Professional Staff are NOT able to serve as recommenders,
  • the 2022-23 Iowa Scholarship Portal conditional application.

Q: Where do I start? How do I know what is even available to me?

Thoroughly research your options.  While there are people on campus who can steer you towards good resources and offer you guidance and feedback once you start developing an application or essay, YOU are responsible for investigating your options and identifying the opportunities that are a good fit for you.  Start with our "Conduct your search" page, but don't stop there! Become a search ninja, check out what other students like you are applying for right now, and figure out what you will need to do keep track of deadlines, essay topics and letters of recommendation. Identifying relevant funding opportunities is something that anyone can do with practice and persistence.  Like any other valuable skill set, you will have to invest time and energy into developing your search skills. No matter what you end up doing as a professional, knowing how to find and successfully apply for funding - scholarships, grants, or fellowships - will always be an asset to you and to your employer. 

Know the timeline. The Honors scholarship competition will start in November and be open through late February. The application timeline is a longer than most other merit competitions on campus. Be sure to also check your college and departmental websites and the UI International Programs undergraduate funding page. Many of these awards may be found through the Iowa Scholarship Portal, but it never hurts to check out organizational websites since not all scholarships and grants will be found on the portal. Once students complete their general profile in the Iowa Scholarship Portal, they will receive alerts when relevant competitions are opening or closing, but it is smart to set a reminder for yourself.  

Read ALL the directions and application material requirements thoroughly before doing anything else. Read carefully and ask questions when you have them.

Answer the essay question asked.  Even if you do not like it or do not know how you will answer it right away, you MUST answer the question asked in order to be considered for our scholarships. If an individual does not do so, they are removed from consideration.  Since instructions can be confusing or interpreted in different ways, we encourage students with questions to reach out BEFORE the deadline to find out more about what is motivating us or just to clarify any piece that feels unclear to them.  

 

Note: If you are not able to find the answer to your question, contact the Honors Program at honors-program@uiowa.edu.