VCU Honors College

The National Scholarship Office (NSO) is focused on giving the best and brightest VCU students and alumni the opportunity to compete for prestigious national and international scholarships, including the Rhodes, Marshall, Truman, Goldwater and Fulbright scholarships. Candidates for these awards include alumni, graduate and professional students, as well as honors and non-honors students from across the university.

In addition to assisting candidates applying for these major scholarships, the NSO works closely with faculty to identify potential candidates and encourage application for these major awards. Once faculty committees select nominees for each scholarship, the NSO works with the nominees to strengthen their applications and prepare them for potential interviews. Prospective candidates for the major scholarships should be willing to devote considerable time and energy to applying and preparing for these competitions.

Scholarship recipients represent a wide range of interests and talents, but most share the following characteristics:

• An interest in the world beyond the U.S., which typically manifests by studying foreign languages, studying abroad and taking courses that explore different cultures, religions and economic and political systems.
• Undergraduate research experiences that deepen the level of education and interactions with faculty to that approaching a graduate school experience.
• Internship experiences that build upon academic and research interests and foster an understanding of how academic pursuits will be applied in the real world.

To be competitive for these elite awards, you should maintain the highest possible academic performance, enroll in courses that encourage critical thinking from a broad range of perspectives, take advantage of opportunities to be involved in the campus community and beyond, and take on leadership roles when appropriate.

Current and prospective students who are interested in learning more about national scholarship opportunities should contact the Honors College and make an appointment with a representative in the NSO.