Office of Merit Scholarships, Fellowships & Awards (OMSFA)

Encompasses a broad range of disciplines within the College of Arts & Sciences, including visual arts, performing arts, and more. The Arts Division within UW emphasizes both the study and creation of art, uniting theory and practice. Learn more about undergraduate majors at UW.

Money awarded to students to support their educational or other types of goals. Awards are not required to be paid back, but may have other requirements.

See also: scholarship, fellowship

The quarter(s) in which the scholarship will be disbursed to you.

Encompasses a liberal arts curriculum along with a full spectrum of the many areas of business, which includes: financial accounting, managerial accounting, business economics, statistics, management, macroeconomics, finance, marketing, operations management, quantitative methods, and strategy. Learn more about undergraduate majors at UW.

Some scholarships and fellowships are restricted to citizens of specific countries. Citizenship will be listed as one of the qualifications or requirements needed to apply for that award.

Class standing indicates a student's academic progress, which is determined by the total number of earned credits recognized by the university. Some scholarships require applicants to have a certain class standing determined by the number of years remaining before graduating.

Scholarships that receive many applications for only a few offers; scholarships that look for exceptional candidates and applications that fit specific, rigorous criteria; scholarships that offer generous financial awards and professional development opportunities; scholarships that have significant name-recognition or have been established in the larger academic community, which bolster its popularity among applicants. 

If you find a scholarship opportunity that fits your goals and interests but is considered or described as “competitive” or “highly selective,” don’t hesitate to apply. Our office is here to support your endeavors and build your confidence; there’s no such thing as a “perfect” candidate profile, so don’t discredit your experiences, talents, and goals from the jump!

Curriculum Vitae means 'course of life' and is a comprehensive document which lists all of an applicant's education, accomplishments, projects/publications, awards/honors, skills and professional experiences. There is no length limit for a CV, it will depend on the applicant's level of experience.

Some scholarships and fellowships require applicants to be nominated or endorsed by their school. Nomination/endorsement requirements can vary, but for many, the UW Office of Merit Scholarships, Fellowships & Awards is the office that manages nomination processes for UW students. OMSFA asks students to apply for nomination/endorsement. OMSFA hosts different application processes for different scholarships requiring nomination/endorsement. Contact us if you are interested in applying for a scholarship that has this requirement.

An opportunity to build skills and knowledge by doing. Often these are hands-on experiences such as internships, community-based service learning, volunteering or leadership, research and study abroad. These experiences include some reflection time for students to connect the dots between their academics and longer-term professional goals.

Federal Application for Student Financial Aid. A form that students use to apply for federal grants, work-study, and loans to help pay for college or career school. It is free to complete and provides access to federal financial aid. States and colleges also use FAFSA information to award their own financial aid packages.

Money awarded to students to support their educational or other types of goals. Fellowships are not required to be paid back, but may have other requirements.

See also: scholarship

UW Office of Student Financial Aid generally defines "financial need" as the difference between what it costs you to attend school and what you and your family can afford to pay.

Students who are enrolled in 12 or more credits per quarter/semester are considered full-time students/enrolled full-time.

Money awarded to students to support their educational or other types of goals. Grants are not required to be paid back, but may have other requirements.

See also: fellowship

The study of human culture, encompassing a broad range of disciplines including literature, history, philosophy, art, languages, and more. These fields explore human experience, values, and beliefs. Learn more about undergraduate majors at UW.

The ability, attribute, and practice of creating, supporting, and helping to execute a project, mission, or goal that will impact individuals, a group of people, an organization, or community in a larger way.

The skills, experiences, networking, and personal/professional development gained and developed through an educational or learning experience. These can be broad, from leadership and collaborating with a cohort, to picking up specific research skills or learning a specific language.

Scholarships, awards, or other opportunities someone must apply for in order to receive them. Generally, merit-based opportunities are evaluated based on one's achievements, academic background, leadership, research, etc. It is always a good idea to consult selection/review criteria for a specific opportunity when they are available.

Scholarships awarded to students who demonstrate financial need, meaning their family's income and assets are below a certain threshold. These scholarships are designed to help make higher education more accessible to students who might not be able to afford it otherwise.

Some scholarships and fellowships require applicants to be nominated or endorsed by their school. Nomination/endorsement requirements can vary, but for many, the UW Office of Merit Scholarships, Fellowships & Awards is the office that manages nomination processes for UW students. OMSFA asks students to apply for nomination/endorsement. OMSFA hosts different application processes for different scholarships requiring nomination/endorsement. Contact us if you are interested in applying for a scholarship that has this requirement.

Required typically means that you should meet all or almost all of the skills or criteria listed: it signals that these are important for the position. Preferred means that these skills or criteria are valued and are important. Meeting some of the preferred criteria may strengthen your application.

This is how professionals keep current and build their skills with on-going education and training.

The act of bettering the public and improving society. Public service can happen in all realms (government, nonprofit, or private sector), all levels (local, federal, international) and all fields through which someone intends to work toward solving the world’s most complex problems and enriching the lives of others (teachers, community organizers, scientists, entrepreneurs, socially impactful businesses, arts, etc.).

UW Office of Undergraduate Research defines research as "a creative and systematic process of asking questions and discovering new knowledge. Any student, regardless of major, year, or experience, can get involved in undergraduate research."

This document is a summary of the applicant's academic, professional and personal experiences. Applicants typically tailor the resume to highlight skills and accomplishments that align with the award or job they are applying for.

Money awarded to students to support their educational or other types of goals. Scholarships are not required to be paid back, but may have other requirements.

See also: fellowship, grant

Circumstances or conditions that must be met in order to be considered for a scholarship. Each scholarship program is unique and has unique requirements applicants must meet to be able to be considered. These requirements are typically set by the person or entity that gave the money that funds the scholarship. Eligibility requirements tend to be strict; if an applicant doesn't meet all the required elements, they simply cannot even be considered as a potential recipient.

STEM, which stands for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, is an educational and career field that integrates these four disciplines. It emphasizes hands-on, problem-based learning and focuses on developing skills in innovation, problem-solving, and critical thinking. Learn more about undergraduate majors at UW.

A set of standards scholarship committees, or individuals giving scholarships, use to decide which student(s) to award. Because each scholarship program has a specific amount of money they can give out, and because they are not able to award scholarships to every student who applies for that scholarship, they will use a set of criteria to help them decide which applicants most strongly align with their scholarship program's mission or goals.

A group of people, usually composed of staff, faculty, alumni, and community individuals who read, score, discuss, and determine which applicants in the scholarship pool produced the strongest applications based on the selection criteria and rubric. The selection committee chooses which applicants will receive the award.

The study of human behavior and societies, encompassing diverse disciplines that explore how individuals and groups interact, develop, and shape the world around them. These disciplines range from individual social experiences to political structures, cultural systems, and global issues. Learn more about undergraduate majors at UW.

The amount of money awarded to students up to a maximum, potential dollar amount. The exact amount awarded could vary due to funding, the amount of scholarships that will be offered during a specific award cycle (which would determine the exact amount awarded per student), scholarship requirements, or the length of the opportunity (i.e. a shorter study abroad program might be awarded a smaller amount).

Washington State Application for Financial Aid. An application for Washington residents, including undocumented students, who are ineligible for the FAFSA due to their immigration status. It allows students to apply for state financial aid, such as the Washington College Grant, College Bound Scholarship, and other state and institutional sources.