As a sophomore, you will narrow your academic focus and choose a major, pathway, or center. You might also be planning for study away. Remember that connecting your off-campus learning experiences to your academic interests and goals is crucial to making the most of your time at Conn.
Meet with faculty to discuss the subjects that interest you and to learn about their own work. Building these relationships lays the groundwork for a strong support network and can also open unexpected doors. Take more than one class with the professors you connect with so that they develop a better understanding of your strengths and motivation. Explore faculty-student research opportunities and take leadership roles in the clubs and activities that you participate in.
Attend the All-College Symposium to see how other students have woven their interests into an academic path. Maintain a record of your academic journey by using tools like e-portfolios. This archive of experiences that have impacted you will be incredibly helpful as you develop your personal statements for future applications.
Continue to pay attention to the local, national and international news and if you do study away, be sure you have chosen a program that relates to your academic goals. Be sure to consult with faculty and staff advisers.
Find something meaningful to pursue during your summer, ideally an activity that aligns with your academic interests.
Contact fellowships@conncoll.edu to learn more about these and other opportunities and visit the internal funding opportunities page to learn about Connecticut College funding resources for off campus study and research.
Area of Focus: STEM fields, PhD trajectory Description: Living memorial to honor the work of Senator Barry Goldwater.
BARRY M. GOLDWATER SCHOLARSHIP
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Scholarships to college sophomores and juniors who intend to pursue research careers in the natural sciences, mathematics and engineering. Minimum GPA 3.7, average 3.9. and record of undergraduate research. Students wishing to pursue careers in medicine can apply if their career goal is medical research.
Candidate Profile: Involvement in research as an undergraduate is highly desirable. Eligibility: STEM, Rising Sophomores and Juniors. GPA Min: 3.0 (average 3.9) Campus Deadline: December (national- January)
Area of Focus: Language study, culture, STEM summer Description: Supports semester long, 6-12 months or summer-only study abroad programs in all regions/countries except Western Europe, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.
BOREN SCHOLARSHIP
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Focused on geographical areas, languages, and fields of study deemed critical to U.S. national security. Special summer-only programs for STEM students. Recipients commit to working for the federal government in some capacity for at least one year after graduation.
Candidate Profile: Successful candidates will meet Boren preferences for country, language, field of study, duration of program and articulate the ramifications of these choices to matters of interest to U.S. national security. Candidates commit to at least one-year of service with the federal government (preference given to well-researched longer term plans), must also include a study plan with an immersive language component and possess appropriate academic preparation, cultural adaptability, flexibility and maturity. Eligibility: First Years, Sophomores, Juniors. GPA: No minimum Campus Deadline: December
Area of Focus: Language study, cultural exchange, US government Description: Fully funded intensive summer overseas language and cultural immersion for one of 15 critical languages.
CRITICAL LANGUAGE SCHOLARSHIP
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Part of U.S. Government initiative to expand the number of Americans studying and mastering foreign languages that are critical to national security and economic prosperity. Further goal to represent geographic, institutional and field of study diversity.
Candidate Profile:Key Characteristics: Applicants selected based on merit, with consideration for academic record and potential to succeed, commitment to language learning, connection between target language and career/academic goals, ability to adapt to an intensive program and challenging environment, potential to contribute to overall CLS program goals. Eligibility: All enrolled students, U.S. citizens. GPA: No minimum Campus Deadline: October
Area of Focus: STEM (biology, chemistry, computer science, physics, earth sciences or engineering) Description: RISE Germany offers summer research internships in Germany for undergraduate students.
DAAD RESEARCH INTERNSHIPS IN SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING (RISE)
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In their internships, students are carefully matched with doctoral students and researchers (only from universities of applied sciences, UAS) – whom they assist and who serve as their mentors.
Candidate Profile: RISE seeks to promote student exchange to Germany in the fields of natural science, engineering and life sciences, and to motivate undergraduate students to learn more about Germany’s research landscape and study opportunities. Candidates should have an excellent academic record and a passion for studying/researching in Germany. Eligibility: Open to students who have completed two years of study by start of internship. Students from North America, Great Britain and Ireland. Campus Deadline: Mid-October
Area of Focus: Peace and conflict, social justice Description: Davis Projects for Peace is an initiative for students to design grassroots projects for the summer of 2020 - anywhere in the world – that promote peace and address the root causes of conflict among parties.
DAVIS 100 PROJECTS FOR PEACE
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Applicants are encouraged to use their creativity to design projects and employ innovative techniques for engaging in conflict resolution, reconciliation, building understanding, breaking down barriers that cause conflict, and finding solutions for resolving conflict and maintaining peace. Projects selected will receive funding of $10,000 each.
Candidate Profile: Projects to date have reflected one or more of the following characteristics: contributing to conflict prevention; ameliorating conditions leading to violence/conflict; looking for and building on shared attributes among differing peoples, races, ethnicities, tribes, clans, etc.; fostering diplomacy or otherwise contribute to advancing peace processes underway; promoting economic opportunity and entrepreneurship among those in post-conflict areas; finding creative ways to bring people on opposite sides of issues together, such as through art, sports, music, or other techniques to promote a common humanity; developing leadership and mediation skills training for those in conflict or post-conflict societies; starting or leveraging initiatives, organizations (e.g. education, health) or infrastructure projects to build/rebuild community. Eligibility: Students from all class years may apply. International students are eligible. Campus Deadline: November
Area of Focus: cultural exchange, history of UK, diplomacy Description: Three-to-four week summer opportunity to explore the culture, heritage and history of the UK while experiencing higher education at a UK university.
FULBRIGHT UK SUMMER INSTITUTES
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Open to students with little or no travel experience outside of the US who come from a broad range of backgrounds with a strong academic record and demonstrated leadership.
Candidate Profile: Successful candidates will exhibit curiosity and openness, evidence of leadership qualities and initiative, academic ability, character, adaptability and ambassadorial qualities as well as an interest in the UK and its culture. Eligibility: First years and Sophomores with at least two academic years left, U.S. Citizens. GPA: 3.7 minimum (average 3.8) Campus Deadline: December
Area of Focus: East or South East Asia Description: The Freeman-ASIA program is designed to support U.S.-based undergraduates with demonstrated financial need who are planning to study abroad in East or Southeast Asia.
FREEMAN ASIA
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The program’s goal is to increase the number of U.S. citizens and permanent residents with first-hand exposure to and understanding of Asia and its peoples and cultures. Funding to assist with the cost of the study abroad program and related expenses, including airfare, basic living costs, local transportation, books, etc.
Candidate Profile: Demonstrate interest in incorporating East or Southeast Asian Studies into future academic and/or professional plans. Must have little or no previous experience in the country in which he or she plans to study. Award recipients are required to share their experiences with their home campuses or communities. Preference given to those who participate in language study that will enhance their ability to engage with the host culture. Eligibility: All currently enrolled students who are U.S. Citizens with demonstrated financial need. Campus Deadline: TBD
Area of Focus: study abroad, all fields, language Description: U.S. Department of State program enables Pell Grant recipients and those who have been historically underrepresented in US higher education to study or intern abroad
GILMAN INTERNATIONAL SCHOLARSHIP
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thereby gaining skills critical to U.S. national security and economic competitiveness.
Candidate Profile: Pell recipient, academic preparedness and impact of planned program on student's academic and career trajectory, diversity of background and experience, choice of program and destination, impact to community. Eligibility: Pell grant recipients, U.S. Citizens, GPA: no minimum. Campus Deadline: September
Area of Focus: Human rights, democracy, international Description: Fully funded, month-long educational program on human rights, pluralism and democracy in a program city, followed by local community project that each participant designs and implements.
HUMANITY IN ACTION FELLOWSHIP
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The objective is to facilitate a collective exploration of the social and political roots of discrimination, provide a forum for discussion of potential solutions and to inspire HIA fellows to protect minorities and promote human rights—in their own communities and around the world.
Candidate Profile: Key characteristics: openness, collaborative, inquisitive, critical, self-reflective. Eligibility: Sophomores or higher, U.S. Citizens and all nationalities and DACA students studying at U.S. institutions. Campus Deadline: December (national- January)
Area of Focus: Summer enrichment, U.S. Foreign policy, economics, international affairs, global challenges Description: Six-week summer program designed to provide undergraduate students with a deeper appreciation of current issues and trends in international affairs, a greater understanding of career opportunities in international affairs, and the enhanced knowledge and skills to pursue such careers.
RANGEL INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS SUMMER ENRICHMENT PROGRAM
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Students live at Howard University, attend classes and participate in a variety of programs with foreign affairs professionals at Howard and at divers locations around Washington, DC.
Candidate Profile: Interest in public service and international affairs,strong academics and leadership potential. This program encourages the application of members of minority groups historically underrepresented in the Foreign Service, women, and those with financial need. Eligibility: Sophomores and Juniors, U.S. Citizens, Min GPA: 3.2 Campus Deadline: December
Area of Focus: Undergraduate funding, Native American focus, tribal policy, native health care, environment and conservation Description: Merit-based award for college sophomores and juniors focused on leadership, public service, and commitment to issues related to Native American nations or to the environment.
UDALL SCHOLARSHIP
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The scholarship honors the legacies of Morris Udall and Stewart Udall, whose careers had a significant impact on Native American self-governance, health care, and the stewardship of public lands and natural resources.
Candidate Profile: Candidates exhibit leadership, desire to make a difference and are well rounded with a demonstrated commitment to environmental or natural resource issues, tribal public policy or native american healthcare as seen in campus activities, research, tribal involvement, community or public service. Course of study or career plans must be likely to lead to making significant contributions to these areas. *Native health care and tribal policy applicants must be Native Americans or Alaska Natives Eligibility: Rising sophomores/sophomores and juniors Campus Deadline: February