If you are planning to apply for a prestigious scholarship upon your return, the following advice is especially important!

• After seeing a Study Abroad Advisor, make an appointment with the Scholarships for International Study Office (321 International Studies Building; 244-0254; scholarships@uiuc.edu).
• It is imperative that you do not fall victim to the out-of-sight, out-of-mind syndrome.
• Set up independent study courses with professors from whom you would like to have strong letters of recommendation.
• Develop mentoring relationships with professors both here and abroad. Stay in touch! Explore the possibilities of returning for graduate study.
• Become actively involved in extracurricular activities both here and abroad.
• Integrate as much as possible with your host culture.
• Volunteer both here and abroad. And when you return, volunteer again--share your experiences with others.

Scholarship committees are looking for candidates with strong GPA's who:

• are well-rounded
• are actively involved
• are resourceful
• have a demonstrated potential for independent research/study
• have a demonstrated commitment to the "betterment" of society
• have a demonstrated potential for leadership
• have initiate and drive
• have faith in their own potential for accomplishment
• are interesting and interested
• are well-informed, well-read, and articulate
• can hold their own in intellectual discussions and debates
• bring out the best in themselves and others
• are not put off by artificially imposed boundaries
• give of themselves
• enjoy life