How to Apply for an American Meteorological Society Undergraduate Scholarship

Don't like the weather? Well, you may not be able to control it, but at least you can understand it. Study meteorology with the help of this one-year scholarship from the American Meteorological Society, ranging from $700 to $5,000.

Difficulty:

Moderately challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Internet Access
• Postage Stamps
• Personal Organizers
• Computers
• Word-processing Software

1. Make sure you're eligible. You are if you're a U.S. citizen enrolled full-time at an accredited U.S. college or university, have a grade-point average of at least 3.0, are majoring in atmospheric - or related hydrologic or oceanic - science and plan to make a career in one of these fields.

2. Keep in mind that you must also be entering your final year of college for the year covered by the scholarship.

3. Get an application either by downloading one from the organization's Web site (see ametsoc.org) or by sending a self-addressed, stamped envelope to the American Meteorological Society, Attn: Fellowship/Scholarship Program, 45 Beacon St., Boston, MA 02108-3693.

4. Notify professors, teaching assistants and employers well ahead of time for any letters of recommendation you need from them.

5. Follow the instructions on the application form. It will tell you what other materials you need.

6. Send in all your materials by the March deadline. Apply well before the application deadline to avoid being too late.

Tips & Warnings

• Visit the official Web site for more information (see ametsoc.org).

• The award amounts vary greatly because there are actually several different scholarships under this one umbrella. You only need to fill out one application for all the scholarships.

• Consult with your school's fellowship office for information on other fellowships and financial aid. If you're applying for numerous fellowships, consider setting up a calendar with important deadlines.

• Photocopy your application materials before sending them in and keep a copy for your records.

• Be wary of any fellowship that sounds too good to be true; it probably is (see "How to Watch Out for Scholarship Scams").