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Student Academic Affairs > Scholarships

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How do I apply for a Letters & Science scholarship? 

Please log on to MyUW enter in your assigned NetID and password.  Go to the Finances Tab at the top of the page.  Select Finances.  At this point you should see a link to Scholarships@UW-Madison.  Typically the application for continuing students is available in early Fall and the incoming freshmen application is available in late December.

2. I am an applicant to UW-Madison.  How do I apply for freshmen scholarships?

Applicants receive a letter from the Admissions office with their UW Campus ID number on it.  If an applicant needs a Campus ID number, please contact the Admissions office. (Undergraduate Admissions - 608-262-3961) 

Applicants activating a NetID will need to use a web browser and go to the following link: https://www.mynetid.wisc.edu/activate. On this page you will be prompted to enter information to verify your eligibility. Follow the activation instructions to finish activating. For assistance, contact the Help Desk at 264-HELP (4357).

Now that you have your NetID and password follow the directions stated above in #1.

3. Who do I contact if I am experiencing a technical problem?

  For technical assistance, browser issues, etc., contact the DoIT HELP Desk at: help@doit.wisc.edu (608) 264-HELP (4357)
http://kb.wisc.edu/helpdesk/page.php?id=1

4. I do not understand the questions on the Letters & Science application?  Whom do I contact?

Please send an e-mail to scholarships@lssaa.wisc.edu or call 608-262-4852.

For general information about UW-Madison scholarships, contact the Student Financial Aid Scholarship Office at scholarships@em.wisc.edu or call (608) 262-9996.

5.No scholarships are presented to me for application after answering the questions.  Why is this?

You may not meet the criteria to apply for the scholarships available.  Please contact scholarships@lssaa.wisc.edu if you would like the Scholarships office to review your eligibility.

6.After answering the questions I am not getting any departmental scholarships as selections.  Why is this?

Please keep in mind that departmental scholarships are for students with declared majors.  Since this online application process is a relatively new technology, departments will be added slowly starting in the Spring of 2010.  Some departments may choose not to participate.  Find your major department in this list.  Contact the department and ask about scholarships.

7.Why does Scholarships@UW-Madison presents me with several scholarships but there is only one application to fill-out?

The College of Letters & Science has three primary applications.  One application for all incoming freshmen, one application for all sophomores (second year students), and one application for all juniors and seniors combined.  By completing the application presented the student is considered for all scholarships for which he/she is eligible.

8.My cumulative credits mean that I have junior (or senior) class standing but this is only my second year on campus.  Do I apply as a sophomore or a junior/senior? 

If cumulative credits earned to date are:	Class Standing	Application Assigned
High School senior	Incoming Freshman	Apply by February 12, 2010
1- 24	Current Freshman	Must have applied by February of your senior High School year.
25-53	Sophomore	Sophomore application
More than 53 credits but completed only 2 full-time semesters in college and at UW-Madison	Sophomore	Sophomore application
54-85	Junior	Junior/Senior application
86+	Senior	Junior/Senior application

The application will ask you a few questions about your class standing.  If it is your second year at UW-Madison and in college then you will be presented the sophomore application where you will be competing with other second-year students.  If you have been at UW-Madison more than two years and have junior or senior standing you will be presented the junior/senior application.

9. Can I get an extension on the deadline to submit the application?

Due to the large number of applicants and the small number of

scholarships available we are unable to extend application deadlines.

10. What are the odds of my getting a scholarship?

The number of scholarships available fluctuates from year to year.  Many circumstances can affect the number of scholarships Letters & Science has to offer applicants.  Outstanding multi-year commitments to awardees, interest earnings on endowments, newly established funds, graduation rates, and depleted funds all impact scholarship availability. 

In the Fall of 2008 over 90 scholarships were awarded to continuing students with approximately 400 applicants in the pool.  However, Fall 2009 scholarships for continuing students decreased to 62 awards from 90 awards.  And more applicants are expected with the new online application process. 

Approximately 30 scholarships will be available for incoming freshmen for the 2010-2011 freshmen year.  This number also reflects a decrease in awards from the prior year.

Of course your ability to receive scholarships is not only reflection of the Letters & Science values but also the time you spent on putting together your application and writing the essay questions.  Keep in mind that the application pools contain exceptionally qualified students like you.  Ask yourself what will make your application stand out among the crowd.

11. I am a non-resident student.  Are there any scholarships available to non-residents?

Non-resident students including international students can apply for scholarships.  However there are fewer opportunities available due to donor preferences for Wisconsin residents.

12. If selected for a scholarship when can I expect the money?

If selected for a scholarship, you will be contacted via email and asked to confirm your acceptance.  You will also be asked to complete a form and write a thank you letter.  Once these pieces are received, a payment will posted to your tuition account at the Bursar’s office in the beginning of the following semester.  The scholarship award is also automatically reported to Student Financial Aid.  In some cases an adjustment is made to a student’s original award package.  If your tuition has been covered, a check will be mailed to you from the Bursar’s office.

Current Class Standing	Application Due Date:	Notification Date:	Payment Date:
Second-Year Sophomores	10/30/2009	01/12/2010	01/25/2010
Juniors/Seniors	10/30/2009	01/12/2010	01/25/2010
Incoming Freshmen	02/12/2010	04/12/2010	08/23/2010

13. There are many awards listed on the scholarships website, yet when I filled out the application, I only qualified for a few. Why is that?

You may not meet the criteria to apply for all of the scholarships available.  Please contact scholarships@lssaa.wisc.edu if you would like the Scholarships office to review your eligibility.  The scholarships posted are part of a comprehensive list.  Each scholarship fund does not always have available scholarship awards for each cycle.

14. Who should I ask to write my letter of recommendation?

Please review the recommendations tips on the Letters & Science Scholarships webpage.

15. Where can I get help with writing the essay question answers?

Please contact the Writing Center, http://writing.wisc.edu/ for assistance.

16. I need some help with my resume.

The resume is important because it tells the Scholarships Committee about your experiences overtime in a variety of areas.  The resume is being reviewed for a scholarship and not for a position of employment.

Here are the resume sections required for the Letters & Science application:

• Awards, honors, scholarships, and professional memberships;
• Civic, leadership, community service, volunteer activities, and other out-of-classroom projects and activities;
• Academic-related projects and activities;
• Internships and paid employment.

 Briefly describe your participation or position beginning with the most recent (within each section stated above). Include beginning and end dates and hours spent per week on the activity. Do not submit more than 2 pages.

You can get assistance with your resume from Letters & Science Career Services, http://www.lssaa.wisc.edu/careers/resumes/resumes+cover.html.

 

 

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