Interviews
The Full Story
Here you will find __2__ interviews. One with Ms. Melissa Berkey about her experiences with students as a staff member at the UConn Office of Undergraduate Research (OUR), the other with UScholar and current junior Marlene Abouaassi
Ms. Melissa Berkey
Ms. Melissa Berkey is a staff member at the UConn Office of Undergraduate Research (OUR). Here, the contents of her interview are summarized.
Berkey works in UConn OUR (Office of Undergraduate Research). She deals with many of the logistics surrounding different grant programs and advises students on how to apply to such grants. Some of the points that she made are the following:
There are differences between scholarships and grants. Scholarships are what pay for education, while grants fund projects. If you are applying for any financial aid make sure that you use the right terminology and understand the difference between these two items.
Some students applying to grants don’t actually know what the grants are about. They just see the name and think that the program might be able to fund them, while in actuality the program might not be the right for their kind of project. For example: if the grant program to which a student applies is about funding students with community outreach projects, applying with a chemistry research project idea, even with a very strong application, is likely not appropriate. There are many different funding programs available to UConn students, so choose the one which is right for your project. In fact, during the application process each applicant needs to be able to explain why their project idea fits the specific program to which they are applying. In this vein, it is also important that students clearly articulate the details of their projects. Often a poor, unclear application will fail to be selected by a program’s committee even if it represents an excellent project idea which is aligned with the purpose of the program, so make sure to articulate ideas clearly.
Another related aspect of the application process which some students neglect is the importance of allowing an application to be reviewed before the due date by the organization which will judge it. Ms. Berkey is happy to read a draft of your application to the IDEA grant, and so are many of the other faculty and staff on campus as well as other writing resources such as the W center. Allow these experienced eyes to help you build your application in a way that will be clear and attractive to reviewing committees. They know what they’re doing, and their perspective on the project may better inform your own, so please ask for help even if you think you don’t need it.
By writing a clear application you will give yourself an edge in the pool of applicants, but what else can you do to stand out? “Own what you’re doing,” says Berkey. “Especially with lab sciences students tend to be very deferential.” This project is about you and why you deserve funding for your project, so don’t write an application which creates the impression that you aren’t in charge of the project. Writing things such as “We will do this” or “We will order that” makes the application less about you and more about the team you’re be working with, but you are applying for yourself. Make the application about you and own your role as your own.
A common mistake students may make is not answering the questions of an application. Grant committees write questions to test you, but also to help themselves understand the most important aspects of your project. In many cases the criteria which will be used to judge your application are available online for you to use while writing your application. Use this resource as well as advisors and other faculty and staff to assess how well your application fits the individual criteria for each question.
“Another important aspect of any application is the letter of recommendation,” says Berkey. This is the part of the application you should be working on before you even know you’re going to apply. By taking the time early in your undergraduate career to create and maintain relationships with faculty, by allowing them to get to know who you are and what motivates you, you make it a lot easier to find someone willing to write a letter of recommendation which truly speaks to your character. It is not advisable to approach a professor for your first conversation and ask them for a letter of recommendation a week before the deadline. Rather, make relationships ahead of time which will allow you to be a successful applicant later on.
Finally, be on time. This may seem like an obvious tip that needn’t be said, but many students fail to comply with this basic advice. Often materials will simply not be accepted after application deadlines, and even if they are your lateness will reflect poorly on your application. Be on time.
Marlene Abouaassi
Marlene Abouaassi is a current UConn Junior and UScholar. Here she shares her experiences of applying to the UScholar program.
What is your experience/background with student scholarships/grants?
As a student, I seek opportunities either through asking questions to my professors, reading daily digest, signing up for emails to notify me about grants/scholarships, or searching on google for scholarships that best fits my interests. The main key I look for is deadlines and qualifications so I can plan accordingly.
What are some of the general tips you’d want any student applying for financial scholarships/grants to know?
The tip I will provide is being aware of deadlines and the associated documents needed. In general, scholarships and grants are competitive, thus it is important to plan ahead of time. Planning ahead is important to settling on a goal you want to pursue and avoiding any hindrance along the way. In addition, you can seek advice and help from professors or advisors and see if the grant is best fit for your interest and background.
In your experience, what mistakes do students often make in their applications/essays? What pitfalls or traps do they usually run into?
The mistake I have encountered from other students is not planning ahead. For example, when I applied to University Scholar I did not give myself enough time to fully edit my proposal, thus I had to change my priorities to complete my assignments. Another mistake is not seeking any professional help or advice from professors or advisors. When you apply to programs it is important to have all the required documents as well as a feasible project idea for the given time and your skill set. Definitely apply to as many scholarships and applications as you want to either to fund your research or your educational studies but take into consideration if you meet the requirements of the applications and if the research you are proposing fulfills what the people behind the application are looking for.
What can a student do when crafting an application to stand out to selection committees?
From my observations, the students who stand out are the ones who maintain a decently good GPA, submit full applications with no missing information, write essays in understandable formats, and show effort and commitment in their application. For example, when I applied to Summer Undergraduate Research Fund (SURF) award I kept many things in mind. I acknowledged the committees are not all familiar with my research thus I explained each term and explained the significance of the research. In addition, I mentioned how I am qualified to conduct my proposed research and showed an in-depth understanding of what I was doing. Moreover, I made sure the research was feasible within my scope of knowledge, and I had a mentor that could guide me during the project. The selection committees are looking for students who express interest and commitment and demonstrate the ability to complete their proposed projects. More importantly, they also want applicants to outline how the grant in question will be of use if they are accepted. It is essential for them to know what benefits each applicant will gain and how these benefits will allow them to achieve their goals.
What should students look for when choosing which scholarships/grants to pursue? In other words, how can they find the right “fit”?
Navigating through the server and finding information about the scholarships/grants will help you to determine if an application is the best fit for your capabilities. There are sometimes sample templates of previously accepted essays, budgets, and recommendations that applicants can view before applying, and there will definitely be lists of tips and recommendations to use. In addition, there are information sessions at which potential applicants can find out more information about a program. It is extremely important to put in effort on your part to decide whether something is best for for you.
Could you please give a brief explanation about what the University Scholar program is?
The University Scholar program is one of the most prestigious programs awarded to undergraduates in the final three semesters of their college degree. It allows students to pursue an in-depth research or creative project and alter their plan of study in order to support the student’s intellectual interests that will benefit them later in their career. In addition, the UScholar program does have benefits in allowing you to enroll in advanced graduate level courses in order to help you pursue a masters degree in your field of interest.
How did you come across the program and why did you apply?
I came across the university scholar program through the daily digest and asked my PI if I could apply for it. My PI certainly encouraged me to apply to it. In addition, I wanted to apply because I wanted to pursue an in-depth project that suited my interests and helped me alter my plan of study to fit my career goals. I am interested in molecular evolution and microbiology especially in understanding the evolution of genes and horizontal gene transfer between species, which is what my UScholar project focuses on.
Synthesis
While both Ms. Berkey and Marlene touched upon many unique points, both addressed the ideas of "fit" and asking for help.
"Fit" is another word for compatibility. If you find yourself applying to a program which seems really awesome, you may go so far as finishing your application before you realize that that particular program isn't right for you. That's okay. Yes, you have invested a lot of effort into your application already, but you are doing a disservice to both the program and yourself if you go forward in an application for a spot which might be better suited to a different student. Don't be afraid to reflect and realize that what you're doing isn't right for you, and don't be afraid to scrap what you already have and start fresh with a different program in mind.
Advisors and mentors can help you with this process as well. They are there to do everything from recognizing that something isn't the right fit for you to spotting a few inconsistencies with your application essay. Use many different mentors with different perspectives to build an application which can stand up to scrutiny. Ask for help!