Each year, many departments at Mississippi State University award thousands of dollars to students majoring in the departments’ respective fields. To receive these departmental scholarships, students can follow advice from some of the staff members responsible for awarding the funds:
apply for as many
scholarships as possible:
Students in any department should research what their department or college offers and apply for every scholarship for which they qualify.
Richard Meiring, assistant dean for admissions and student affairs for the College of Veterinary Medicine, said students in the veterinary program can apply for and receive multiple scholarships each year if they meet the criteria.
Laura Dunn, admissions coordinator for the College of Arts & Sciences, said many students do not know what scholarships are available.
“Ask around. Your adviser might know a great scholarship, or maybe an organization you are a part of on campus offers something,” she said. “You can’t receive a scholarship unless you apply.”
 
show gratitude:
If a student receives an award from his or her department, it is important to appreciate the person who made it possible through a thank you note.
Willard said he thinks students should take a pay-it-forward approach to donor appreciation.
“Giving back and helping other students by establishing a scholarship or donating back to a department can go a long way towards helping the next generation achieve success as well,” he said.
 
keep up your grades:
Most scholarship opportunities require students to maintain a certain grade point average to apply for and receive funds.
Scott Willard, Department of Biochemistry & Molecular science head, said he encourages students looking for scholarships to focus on their GPAs.
“In order to be competitive for a wide range of opportunities, concentrating on classes and doing well academically is of paramount importance,” he said.
Meet the deadline:
Dinetta Karriem, assistant to the dean for student services in the College of Education, said one mistake students make is submitting applications after the deadline has passed.
“It is important to find out about the application dates and submission deadlines to ensure you don’t miss the opportunity,” she said.
The deadlines are often early in the semester, so students should search for scholarship opportunities as early as possible.
 
list activities:
Many scholarship committees are looking for students with a well-rounded college career, including a role in leadership and community service opportunities.
Dunn said she thinks it is important to list all student involvement activities a committee might find interesting.
“Did you organize a community service project or achieve something and got a special award? Put it all down,” she said.
Mary Celeste Reese, director of undergraduate advising for the Department of Biological Sciences, said while it is important to have student involvement, students should draw attention to experiences that make them unique.
“Meaningful extracurricular activities enhance your application. Unfortunately, high school endeavors do not count,” she said.
have the necessary papers:
Letters of recommendation and personal statements are two of the requirements students gather for many applications.
Thomas Anderson, director of undergraduate studies for the English department, said he thinks it is important for students to secure recommendations and write personal statements.
“Develop strong relationships with faculty who will write in support of your application,” he said. “Also, be able to articulate how your studies contribute to a broader professional or personal goal.”