Important information for scholarship applicants
Donors
The financial support for CBS undergraduate scholarships comes from the generosity of donors who have provided funds to promote education in the biological sciences through the CBS Annual Giving Scholarships and from those who have created special scholarships to honor the memory of colleagues, friends or family who served as valued members of the University of Minnesota community. Through these scholarships, we are able to provide recognition and assistance to deserving members of the current student population. Memorial scholarships are special grants that often honor the memory of an individual by seeking to support current students who share the same ideals and interests. The CBS scholarship committee strives each year to support as many deserving students as possible and to select recipients for the memorial scholarships whose attributes and actions resonate with the wishes of the donors.
Typical recipient profile
Scholarships for continuing students are awarded on a competitive basis and approximately half of the applicants will be successful in receiving some funding. A cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 is required of all applicants. While financial need and other factors do play a significant role, a successful applicant will usually have a GPA of 3.2 or better and the average successful applicant will have a GPA of about 3.8.
The typical recipient of a memorial scholarship will have a very high GPA and strong letters of recommendation, along with a record of activities, interests and personal values that mirrors and honors the individual for whom the award was named. A meaningful evaluation by the scholarship committee usually requires that an applicant has a significant record of course work at the University, so most successful applicants will have at taken at least 60 credits from the U of M. Applications from students with fewer credits are occasionally successful in cases where there is evidence both of strong individual potential and of substantial financial need. On the other hand, students who would have as many as 120 credits by the time a scholarship award would take effect will be encouraged to graduate. The committee does not seriously consider these applicants, regardless of their academic qualifications, unless there is a sound justification for the extension of their undergraduate experience.
Deadline
Prospective applicants should download the 2009 application (PDF) and submit the completed form with supporting materials, by March 2, 2009.
