MITCHELL SCHOLARSHIP
APPLICATION PROCESS OVERVIEW
APPLICATION PROCESS OVERVIEW: MITCHELL SCHOLARSHIP
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All Big 7 candidates work with Scholarship Opportunities Program (SOP) staff, who run the
campus advising, application evaluation and endorsement processes. Read this document
while you complete the 2015 Pre-Application and refer to it throughout the application process.
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS
BE A UCI UNDERGRADUATE
The SOP is funded to advise current UCI undergraduates only. Students at other universities
must work with representatives on their campuses.
UCI ALUMNI EXCEPTIONS
In some cases, SOP staff may coach highly motivated recent UCI alumni IF they meet all
eligibility requirements and intend to take/are taking a gap year (i.e. year off) before enrolling in
a graduate program.
BE A U.S. CITIZEN
BE A JUNIOR
Submit a 2015 Pre-Application the spring before your final year on campus. The full
application process lasts six months, so by the time you complete it, you’ll be in your final
year of study at UCI. If you win a scholarship, you will travel shortly after graduating.
You may also submit a Pre-Application the spring of your final year if you plan to take a gap
year after graduating.
BE GOAL-FOCUSED
The Mitchell funds graduate study. Be able to articulate your graduate program goals.
BE AVAILABLE IN SUMMER 2015
Most of your application draft writing, correspondence with faculty recommenders, and SOP
advising will occur then. Candidates must participate in these activities and attend an August
campus interview for their application(s) to earn UCI endorsement consideration.
BE WILLING TO WORK HARD
You will submit a series of application drafts to SOP staff and receive advising and editing
suggestions. You will also share drafts of application essays with the faculty who will write your
letters of recommendation.
Be ready to devote a minimum of 10 hours/week to the process; the commitment is equivalent
to that of a part-time job.
SUBMIT A PRE-APPLICATION BY 4/1/15 (NOON)
MITCHELL SCHOLARSHIP
APPLICATION PROCESS OVERVIEW
You must complete and submit a 2015 Pre-Application to continue the application process.
BE DEADLINE-ORIENTED
You are responsible for ensuring SOP staff receives all application components -- including
letters of recommendation written on behalf of your application(s) -- by SOP deadlines.
Late materials will jeopardize UCI endorsement consideration, which is necessary to continue
the process.
COMMUNICATE WITH SOP STAFF
Candidates must maintain regular communication with SOP staff and with recommendation letter
writers.
Email ALL staff to submit drafts or ask questions.
APPLYING FOR MULTIPLE AWARDS
Candidates may apply for multiple scholarships simultaneously. However, consider the work
required to apply for each, the variances in application components, letters of recommendation and
interview scheduling and the time constraints you’ll face this summer.
IS MITCHELL RIGHT FOR YOU?
SELECTING A PROGRAM AND INSTITUTION
Ask your faculty which institutions/programs are considered competitive.
FACTORS TO WEIGH
Consider location preference, strength of particular overseas programs and institutions, field of study,
long-term academic focus, and eligibility requirements relating to GPA and age.
IRELAND = MITCHELL SCHOLARSHIP
Read the U.S.-Ireland Alliance’s description of Institutions of Higher Learning and Fields of Study.
Funds one year of postgraduate study in any field at a university in the Republic of Ireland or
Northern Ireland. Award covers tuition, housing, living expenses and an international travel stipend.
Candidates must be U.S. citizens aged 18 to 30.
Administered by the US-Ireland Alliance, the scholarship aims to connect the next generation of
young leaders to Ireland while creating a community of Scholars committed to service, integrity,
intellectual curiosity, and imbued with a sense of responsibility to each other and society.
Up to 12 annual winners. No minimum GPA required, but the average winner has a 3.7 or higher.
Candidates should examine the degree residence requirements at each university, as master’s
programs can be for 1 or 2 years, and the Mitchell Scholarship funds only 1 year.
Requires 4 letters of recommendation. Two must come from faculty with whom you have done
academic work.
Letters of Affiliation are strongly encouraged.
SELECTION CRITERIA
Academic excellence
MITCHELL SCHOLARSHIP
APPLICATION PROCESS OVERVIEW
Leadership
Sustained commitment to service and community
Sufficient undergraduate preparation for proposed course of study
Demonstration of interests in Irish-European-US relationships or in making people-to-people
connections across borders.
APPLICATION COMPONENTS
1 essay: 1000-word personal statement describing your field of interest and the justification for
your proposed study in Ireland or Northern Ireland. Please note that Mitchell forbids others
from editing or providing suggestions to improve your personal statement.
Four letters of recommendation
Official transcript(s)
Proof of U.S. citizenship, scan of signature, and passport-size photo
Letter of institutional endorsement from UC Irvine if the applicant is a full-time student.
WINNER CHARACTERISTICS
Outstanding cultural ambassadors; demonstrated potential to perform well in chosen Irish
program of study (knowing that students are unlikely to find as much support, encouragement,
or on-going academic feedback in an Irish university as they have at UCI); ability to contribute
as a member of a team yet be independent.
ESSENTIAL PROCESS COMPONENTS
EARN CAMPUS ENDORSEMENT
PURPOSE
The US-Ireland Alliance will not accept applications directly from students. They will only review
applications that university officials have endorsed. The SOP runs this process at UCI. We evaluate
candidate applications and forward the best for national-level consideration.
SOP staff write a unique, personalized, comprehensive letter of institutional endorsement on behalf of
each application (by each student) that earns campus-level endorsement. Students whose
applications for multiple scholarships are all endorsed receive distinct letters of institutional
endorsement tailored to the goals of the award and the candidate’s strengths.
Letters are signed by the Dean of the Division of Undergraduate Education and are part of the formal
application packages SOP staff submit to the funding agencies that govern application consideration
at the national-level.
CAMPUS INTERVIEW
Each candidate is interviewed by a personalized campus committee in August, after candidates
have submitted final applications to the SOP. Each candidate has a single interview of
approximately 60 (for one award) to 90 minutes (if applying for multiple Big 7 scholarships). The
committee evaluates application strength(s) and determines endorsement level(s).
Candidates MUST attend in person. If you plan to study abroad or otherwise be outside the U.S.
during Summer or Fall 2015, alert SOP staff immediately to discuss alternatives.
WHO CONDUCTS IT?
MITCHELL SCHOLARSHIP
APPLICATION PROCESS OVERVIEW
Faculty letter writers are enthusiastically encouraged to serve on the interview committee, which is led
by Dean of the Division of Undergraduate Education. Faculty participation complements the expertise
of SOP staff and the Dean; your professors are uniquely able to support you by providing disciplinespecific commentary and offering feedback on the feasibility of your study or project. In June, SOP
staff will inform your recommenders of dates reserved for interviews.
Please also identify potential alternate committee members, such as other faculty or teaching
assistants in your field of study, to share with SOP staff. If your letter writers cannot attend or decline
to participate in the endorsement interview, we may solicit participation from your suggested
alternates.
WHEN DOES IT OCCUR?
The SOP schedules interviews in advance, based on the availability of the Dean and your faculty.
Please reserve the pertinent dates on your calendar. Mitchell candidate interviews, as well as those
applying for multiple scholarships, will occur Aug. 10-14.
Once SOP staff has coordinated the availability of faculty, deans, staff and candidate, we will contact
you to finalize the date of your interview. We may not know the details of your interview time, date,
and location until early August.
LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION
WHY ARE THEY NECESSARY?
Mitchell requires four letters from faculty who support your candidacy.
Campus endorsement consideration entails evaluating the entire application, including letters.
Candidates should contact prospective faculty letter writers during Spring Quarter to ensure you have
their support and that they have the time and necessary information to write a strong
recommendation.
DRAFTS PRODUCED BY FACULTY
Faculty will send SOP staff two drafts of unique letters for each relevant scholarship. This enables the
SOP to complete the process of application evaluation and campus endorsement.
PURPOSE
Letters must reflect the content of candidates’ updated application materials, specifically
addressing the feasibility of the proposed course of study.
Submitting letter drafts allows faculty to update content to reflect changes in candidates’ proposed
research or study goals, degree of preparation, knowledge or language accrual, correspondence
with researchers overseas, etc. Drafts enable SOP to catch and correct any small typos (listing
wrong candidate’s name, spelling errors, etc.) that may occur.
To ensure faculty letter drafts reflect updated candidate study/research plans, SOP staff require
candidates to share drafts of their evolving essays with faculty throughout the summer. Candidate
essay drafts will enable faculty to update drafts of letters written on students’ behalf.
CONTENT & FORMATTING
In June, SOP staff will provide faculty with scholarship-specific letter requirement information.
WHEN ARE FACULTY LETTER DRAFTS DUE?
June 29 (1st draft)
July 27 (2nd draft)
MITCHELL SCHOLARSHIP
APPLICATION PROCESS OVERVIEW
LETTER DRAFT DEADLINES – WHOSE RESPONSIBILITY?
Candidates are responsible for ensuring faculty have submitted their letter drafts to SOP staff by
the correct deadlines.
HOW IS THE CANDIDATE INVOLVED?
SHARE ESSAY DRAFTS WITH FACULTY
To aid faculty in writing letters that comment upon the feasibility of candidates’ proposed study,
the SOP requires candidates to share drafts of their evolving essays with letter writers.
While refining their essays, candidates continue to update faculty. We encourage any additional
discussion, revision, and suggestions faculty can offer to help candidates narrow their focus.
After conferring with faculty, follow up to find out if they need additional information from you or
have questions about your goals.
CANDIDATE DEADLINES FOR SHARING ESSAYS
Candidate Essay Draft 1 – Mitchell students submit to faculty, CCing SOP staff, by June 15.
Candidate Essay Draft 2 – Mitchell students submit to faculty, CCing SOP staff, by July 6.
DEADLINES – HOW IMPORTANT?
Drafts and deadlines are mandatory for all application components. Failure to adhere to
deadlines will result in dismissal from the application process.
HOW DO I REQUEST LETTERS?
UNDERSTAND THEIR ROLE IN APPLICATION
Letters for all scholarships must be comprehensive, detailed, highly personalized and
confidential.
They may discuss a range of candidate aspects, including academic performance and potential;
feasibility of proposed overseas research or study plans; significance of long-term academic
and career goals; research, service or leadership activity; and contributions the candidate has
made to the field of study or student learning processes on campus or beyond. They must
demonstrate awareness of the specific scholarship’s purpose and discuss ways in which the
candidate reflects its goals.
As the candidate, it is your responsibility to familiarize yourself with the guidelines the
scholarship has set for letter content. Understand their role in the overall application. If they are
expected to function as assessments of particular candidate traits, for example, learn which
traits they are to discuss before you ask faculty to write on your behalf. Then you will be able to
provide faculty with information that reflects scholarship-specific goals for letters.
SELECT THE RIGHT PEOPLE
Only ask faculty who know you well. You should have established a strong working relationship
with them beyond the classroom. Faculty with whom you’ve conducted research or independent
study or who have advised you in your involvement in campus activities are good options.
Avoid having content of letters overlap by asking people who know you from different contexts.
If you’re a transfer student, it’s fine to ask faculty from previous institutions to write for you,
especially if they have doctoral degrees.
APPROACH FACULTY
After submitting your Pre-Application, meet in person with each faculty member you listed.
MITCHELL SCHOLARSHIP
APPLICATION PROCESS OVERVIEW
Discuss your plans for completing drafts of the full applications. Explain that you’ll furnish
him/her with drafts of your application essays as they evolve, and let him/her know when to
expect these.
Detail your ideas for potential study/research proposals. Ask for advice in narrowing your topic.
Ask if s/he is willing to write a comprehensive letter of recommendation on your behalf.
Let him/her know you will provide your CV, recent transcript and essay application drafts to
inform letter content.
Ask whether s/he will be available to review your essays and meet with you during the summer.
Acquaint him/her with the timing of your interview. Confirm s/he will be available to participate.
Mention the letter draft process. Discuss the summer deadlines for letter draft submissions to
the SOP. State that SOP staff will provide award-specific content and formatting information in
June. Provide faculty with SOP contact info for any questions they may have.
OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPTS
Purchase from the Registrar’s Office and from other universities (including community/junior colleges) at
which you’ve completed undergraduate work.
NEXT STEPS?
REVIEW PRE-APPLICATION FEEDBACK
After we have reviewed your Pre-Application, SOP staff will contact you to schedule a late April/early
May meeting to review your plan for crafting (a) strong application(s).
SUBMIT SIGNED LETTER OF INTENT AND CONSENT FORM TO SOP OFFICE BY 5/15/15 (NOON)
You will be provided a letter of intent and consent form to return with signature. By this date, you must
also meet with your faculty mentor(s) to secure endorsement interview participation (between Aug. 1014) and discuss project feasibility.
READ WINNING APPLICATIONS BY 5/22/15 (NOON)
On file in the SOP office, these demonstrate successful methods used by past UCI winners to produce
compelling and concise research/study proposal and personal statement essays. They also showcase
successful formatting amid each application’s unique space constraints.
Email SOP staff to make an appointment to view these files.
REGISTER & BEGIN APPLICATION(S) BY 5/28/15 (NOON)
Access this year’s application.
REGISTER UCI INFORMATION
This step allows SOP staff to view your application and provide you with edits. You will not
be considered for campus endorsement if you do not complete this step.
 Register Institutional Endorser: Identify Dr. Michael Dennin; University of California,
Irvine; Dean of Undergraduate Education; UC Irvine, 193 Ayala Science Library,
Irvine, CA 92697-5695; (949) 824-7765; mctsai@uci.edu. This was in Section H (p. 6)
of a previous application.
OBTAIN LETTERS OF AFFILIATION
MITCHELL SCHOLARSHIP
APPLICATION PROCESS OVERVIEW
WHAT THEY ARE
Letters of Affiliation (LOAs) are brief, informal invitations from a faculty member at your
overseas institution of choice to study in a particular department, lab, etc. should you receive
the scholarship. They show funding agencies that someone overseas vouches for your
proposed study/research, underscoring its feasibility.
Letters must be scholarship-specific. If you’re applying for multiple awards, obtain multiple
LOAs. LOAs written in another language must be translated into English.
Examples are available to view in the SOP office by appointment.
HOW TO ACQUIRE
Ask UCI faculty whom they know at your selected institution. Building on existing
professional relationships helps expedite the process. If your UCI faculty do not know anyone
there, find UCI professors in other fields who have connections to faculty at your proposed
institution (or to faculty at any institution in your country) to establish a chain of introduction.
You may also look up and email faculty whose research interests match yours directly.
Email this person (or people), identify your mutual acquaintance, state the scholarship(s) to
which you are applying, and formally convey your interests, skills, and goals. Explain why
you are a good fit for performing specific research/study in his/her lab or department and why
you are a good match for the scholarship. Attach your updated CV and a draft of your
research/project proposal.
OBTAIN FACULTY SUMMER CONTACT INFO BY 5/28/15 (NOON)
In your email to SOP staff, include full names, positions, departments, emails & phone
numbers for each faculty letter writer. If you are applying for multiple scholarships, identify to
SOP which faculty will write on behalf of which of your application(s).
SOP staff will contact faculty and email them: information about the program(s) to which you
are applying, deadlines for all steps and examples of letters written by UCI faculty for past
scholarship winners.
CONFIRM SCHOLARSHIPS TO WHICH APPLYING BY 5/28/15 (NOON)
List proposed program(s) & institution(s) for each. Email information to SOP staff.
SUBMIT 1ST APPLICATION DRAFT(S)
ALL APPLICATION DRAFTS
All drafts must be submitted to SOP, not to scholarship funding agencies. All drafts
must include the components (forms & essays) of a complete application.
If you’re applying to multiple scholarships, remember that Fulbright drafts are due on different
dates.
DEADLINE 6/15/15 (NOON)
Save draft in electronic application system so SOP staff may access. DO NOT HIT SUBMIT
when saving draft in electronic system.
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT
MITCHELL SCHOLARSHIP
APPLICATION PROCESS OVERVIEW
You’ll receive feedback from SOP staff and your faculty on everything but the Personal
Statement, as Mitchell forbids feedback on this essay. Incorporate this feedback into your
second draft.
SUBMIT 2ND APPLICATION DRAFT(S)
DEADLINE 7/6/15 (NOON)
Save draft in electronic application system so SOP staff may access. DO NOT HIT SUBMIT
when saving draft in electronic system. Email application to SOP.
Submit evidence of affiliation, such as an email commitment. Recommended: Bring hard
copy of letter of affiliation to SOP office (or email a PDF if signed and on official letterhead).
Email 2nd essay drafts to faculty letter writers.
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT
You’ll receive feedback from SOP staff and your faculty on everything but the Personal
Statement, as Mitchell forbids feedback on this essay. Incorporate this feedback into your
second draft.
SUBMIT APPLICATION(S) FOR INTERVIEW
DEADLINE 7/27/15 (NOON)
Email full, revised application, Activities List; and Personal Statement to SOP.
Scan or bring official transcript(s) to SOP.
Submit copy of letter of affiliation to SOP office.
ENDORSED CANDIDATES SUBMIT AUXILIARY INFO
DEADLINE BY DATE OF INTERVIEW
Email to SOP details of your future academic & career plans; familiarity with Ireland; senior
thesis title, topic, findings & relation to proposed graduate study; and plans for engaging in
community service while abroad.
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT
Using information you provide, SOP staff will complete your campus evaluation.
SUBMIT FINAL DRAFT(S)
DEADLINE 9/1/15 (NOON)
Incorporate interview feedback. Upload all items, including proof of citizenship and
photograph, to electronic application system. DO NOT HIT SUBMIT when saving draft in
electronic system. Ensure faculty have submitted all finalized letters via electronic system
AND have emailed to SOP.
Email full, finalized application including forms, Activities List; and Personal Statement to
SOP.
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT
MITCHELL SCHOLARSHIP
APPLICATION PROCESS OVERVIEW
SOP staff will confirm receipt of a copy of your complete application and supplementary
materials (letters of recommendation, etc.) and will upload your campus endorsement letter.
AFTER you receive confirmation from SOP, submit the complete application via the
electronic system. You will have submitted your application to the funding agency.