Knight-Hennessy Scholars Program Campus Endorsement Application
Among the most competitive scholarship opportunities, the Knight-Hennessy Scholars Program application requires a significant investment in time and attention on the part of the applicant. Students who intend to apply to this programs must first be endorsed by the University. To receive this endorsement, one must meet the following deadlines and adhere to the following instructions.
Campus Application Deadline: June 3rd, 2019 (Materials submitted after this date will not be considered).
To receive institutional endorsement from the University of Chicago, which is required for all current undergraduate students, applicants must complete the following steps:
- During Winter and early Spring Quarter, you should meet with the Director of the Center for College Research and Fellowships, Nichole Fazio, to discuss your proposed programs, award interests, and application processes.
- By June 3, 2019: Submit a complete final campus application, including 2 letters of recommendation. This application will form the basis of your institutional endorsement and be used during an interview endorsement, should you be invited.
- If endorsed, work from June - early September: revise essay drafts and complete the application(s).
Campus endorsement application instructions:
You must complete the ONLINE APPLICATION HERE. A complete campus application functionally replicates the national application and requires the following:
- Complete online application, which includes the following documents saved into a single PDF file and uploaded into the online application:
- A 1000-word motivation statement, or "statement of intent" (also called a personal statement). You can find writing tips here. Please also address the following: how have the influences and/or experiences in your life shaped you? How will pursuing a Stanford education and your Knight-Hennessy Scholars experience prepare you to realize your intentions? Pursue your life's calling?
- Responses to the following short answers: you can download a PDF of these prompts for reference here.
- Proposed Academic Program at Stanford (200-words max): Candidates should describe their top-choice department and proposed program of study at Stanford, giving specific reasons for their program of choice. Those intending to apply for a research-based degree should provide an outline of the proposed research they wish to undertake. Candidates are also encouraged to identify the faculty with whom they wish to work and/or who may supervise their research, if relevant. Candidates do not need to reach out to faculty in advance of the campus application processes.
- Evidence of ambition for others (350-words max): Candidates should describe an experience that exhibits their “ambition for others” – that is a significant, meaningful leadership or service experience in which they recognized and responded to needs greater than themselves. This can be related to a candidates “big issues” or the things they care about academically, politically, or socially. It can also include a discussion about failure; not everything we try works the way we hope. If an effort didn’t work perfectly, reflect on the motivations but also where things went a bit sideways.
- Post-scholarship plan (350-words max): What are your immediate and long-term intentions after graduating from Stanford?
- List of 8 improbable facts: this is a list, not a narrative essay. Candidates should list eight (8) interesting things about themselves, their experiences, and/or their lives. This should not be a list of accolades or awards, nor taken from the CV. It should provide for the reader interesting information that would not otherwise be in the application. It can be humorous, unexpected, informal and should be specific to you. Don’t over think this.
- A comprehensive curriculum vitae (CV) detailing honors, awards, research, leadership/service, and other co- and extra-curricular activities you have pursued since starting College. Do not include high-school experiences. since beginning college, as well as significant co- and extra- curricular activities (2 pages maximum).
- Unofficial transcripts. Please do not upload screen shots.
- 2 letters of recommendation. See the specific guidance on your two Knight-Hennessy letters of recommendation here. Ideally, this will be from inviduals who know you exceptionally well - not just as academics or researchers, but also as holistic, human beings engaging with issues bigger than yourself. If you choose to ask one for your Stanford letter writers to also submit to the Knight-Hennessy, they should still write a distinct letter specific to the Scholars program. The letters should be sent separately via campus mail or email to Nichole Fazio, nfazio@uchicago.edu by the stated campus deadline. NB: You should not request letters from graduate students, preceptors, post-docs, career or academic advisors. Please have your letters sent on letterhead, signed, and addressed "To the scholarship selection committee".
Complete campus endorsement applications must be submitted on June 3rd, 2019, if you are a current undergraduate in the College. Applications submitted after this date will not be considered.
Applicants are strongly encouraged to consult with CCRF's Knight-Hennessy advisors regarding the campus application and required written work in advance of the stated campus deadline. Those staff include: Sandra Zupan, Arthur Salvo, and Nichole Fazio. You can set up appointments with any of those three individuals via our "Contact Us" page or Appointment Manager (same system you use to set up appointments with your Academic Advisor).