How to Apply for a Clare Boothe Luce Undergraduate Scholarship

The Clare Boothe Luce Undergraduate Scholarship provides two years of funding - including tuition, room, board and other expenses - for women undergraduates in the fields of physics, chemistry, biology, meteorology, engineering, computer science and mathematics. In rare cases, full four-year support is provided.

Difficulty: Moderately challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Internet Access
• Computers
• Word-processing Software

1. Make sure you meet the criteria: that you are a woman, an American citizen, and that you are an undergraduate majoring in physics, chemistry, biology, meteorology, engineering, computer science or mathematics.

2. Keep in mind that financial need doesn't matter. Neither does race, age, religion or ethnic background.

3. Check to see if your university is either a "designated institution" or an "invited institution" that receives funds for the fellowship. If not, then you aren't eligible to apply.

4. Contact your university's financial aid and/or scholarship office for specific information on application procedures, as the scholarships are administered on a campus-by-campus basis. Deadlines and supporting materials also vary by campus.

5. Notify professors and TAs well ahead of time about any letters of recommendation you'll need from them.

6. Apply well before the application deadline to avoid the risk of missing it.

Tips & Warnings

• You'll have the best chance at the scholarship if you're a prospective junior.
• One scholarship each year is awarded to a secondary-school student attending a private institution.
• Amounts of funding vary from school to school, as do selection criteria, but all share academic excellence as the primary criterion.
• Photocopy your application materials before sending them in; keep a copy for your records.
• Clare Boothe Luce was a playwright, journalist and politician - the U.S. ambassador to Italy at one point - who was committed to helping women advance in fields historically dominated by men.
• Pre-med science majors are ineligible.
• Be wary of any scholarship that sounds too good to be true; it probably is. (See "How to Watch Out for Scholarship Scams.")