Distinguished Scholarships
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What We Do:
- Undergraduate Research and Distinguished Scholarships (URDS) provides comprehensive advising and mentorship to students from all schools and colleges exploring and pursuing nationally and internationally competitive scholarships and fellowships for undergraduate research, graduate education, and career internships.
- The URDS team coaches students throughout their undergraduate careers and as recent alumni to develop portfolios of academic, research, leadership, and service experiences that will culminate in competitive candidacies.
- The URDS team also provides expert counsel on application preparation, including composition of written materials, working with recommenders, communicating with prospective graduate programs, facilitating connections with distinguished scholarships alumni, performing mock interviews, and hosting networking events.
- URDS liaises closely with representatives of distinguished scholarships foundations and are active involved in the National Association of Fellowship Advisors (NAFA) and the Big 10 Academic Alliance Directors of Undergraduate Research and Distinguished Scholarships groups. As leading research university and member of the American Association of Universities (AAU), the University of Oregon has a long history of distinguished scholarships recipients and national finalists.
Explore Opportunities
Explore Distinguished Scholarships
Learn more about scholarship opportunities before connecting with URDS.
Scholarship Navigators
View recorded workshops to develop skills in navigating distinguished scholarships.
Getting Started
Step 1
Find a scholarship on our list
Identify what part a scholarship will play in the attainment of your goals. Make sure your interests and plans match the goal and intent of the scholarships. And make sure you are eligible. Finally, consider whether you will be competitive based on the information provided on the scholarship’s website. UO students have an excellent record of winning prestigious scholarships!.
Step 2
Meet with Undergraduate Research & Distinguished Scholarships
The first step is to set up a 30-45 minute meeting with us. We'll talk about your goals, the specifics of a scholarship, application process details and how we can provide support, as well as discuss the opportunities and possibilities. Email us at urds@uoregon.edu to schedule a time.
Step 3
Get to know your professors
Forge relationships with faculty in your academic area, who will connect you to research and engagement opportunities and, later, will be able to write about you in a detailed way in letters of recommendation. Get connected with faculty using URDS's help, or via the Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP). URDS and UROP can also work with you to explore research opportunities and funding resources.
Step 4
Look for opportunities to present on your research, scholarship or creative activities
Competitive scholarship applicants typically have conducted research and presented their work, and they are often pursuing publication of their research. UO's annual Undergraduate Research Symposium is an excellent place to present your work to the campus community. The Oregon Undergraduate Research Journal publishes original undergraduate research. Also look for ways to present at regional, national and international conferences.
Step 5
Work on application materials
This often includes a statement of future goals, essays, transcripts, and letters of recommendation. URDS will provide support with all of this, including thorough discussion of career goals and academic pathways, strategizing about letters of recommendation, and development of your statement. URDS recommends that you start working on a scholarship at least three months before the submission deadline (though this varies by scholarship).
step 6
Internal Deadline
Note whether there is an internal deadline for a UO competition to select finalists for the national or international scholarship competition. Don't hesitate to ask questions!
Step 7
External Deadline
The date by which materials are due to the scholarship foundation. Each scholarship has a different process that you will need to get familiar with.
Step 8
Prepare for finalist interviews
Some scholarships require a finalist competition that involves an interview, either virtually or in-person. URDS support students as they prepare for their finalist interviews. For example, for Rhodes, Marshall and Mitchell finalists we provide extensive guidance and stage multiple mock interviews with UO faculty and staff. Schedule an appointment or join for drop-in hours.
Step 9
Scholarship awarded
You could be next!
Step 10
Pay it forward
Join our network of UO Distinguished Scholars Alumni.
Contact Us
Meet the URDS Team
Connect by Email at urds@uoregon.edu
Follow us on Instagram @uourds