It’s hard not to get excited when you think about free travel. Still, to write an application for a summit scholarship that stands out, we recommend going one step further than expressing your enthusiasm about the idea of climbing Kilimanjaro, Mount Baker, or Kosciuszko for free. When reviewing Summit Scholarship applications, we look for individuals who align with the mission of the Summit Scholarship Foundation. We consider the transformative potential that expeditions can have for scholarship recipients. And last but not least, we are looking for candidates with demonstrated financial need.
Selecting Summit Scholarship recipients is an imperfect art. We (i.e., members of the Summit Scholarship Foundation Board of Directors) do everything we can to minimize bias and make the process fair. That’s why we first screen all applications blindly, removing names and demographic identifiers. That said, we know that each year there are far more qualified applicants than there are available scholarships.
So here’s what you can do to make your application as powerful as possible:
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Read about the AWE Summit Scholarship Foundation. learn about mission The motivation behind the Summit Scholarship Program. Please share with us how that mission connects to your own life and experiences.
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Don’t apply it randomly to as many expeditions as possible. This does not increase your chances of receiving a scholarship. Instead, explore the different scholarships available and choose the one (or two, or three) that really sparks your imagination. of Australian Alpine Academy very different from Aconcagua – Show that you understand what each adventure means. Stories highlighting how specific scholarship opportunities can advance your goals (and even give back to your community) will help you on this journey in achieving your big mountain dreams. It helps you understand the potential for change.
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We’re not asking you to share your bank statements, but if there’s a particular reason you’re having trouble paying for your expedition out-of-pocket, please let us know. Are you still in school? Single mother? Have there been any major changes in your life recently? Please note that limited funds alone does not make for a strong application. In some cases, we select Summit Scholarship recipients who demonstrate exceptional alignment with the Foundation’s mission, even if they do not demonstrate exceptional financial need.
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If you wish, download the application questions linked on each scholarship landing page and work on your answers offline. Pay attention to the word count and the intent behind each question. Brevity and specificity go a long way.
Other things you should know about the application process:
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The Summit Scholarship process is not a popularity contest. It doesn’t hurt if you don’t have a lot of followers on social media. In fact, your initial application doesn’t even ask for your social media handles.
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If you are applying to the Summit Scholarship Program for multiple years, please let us know. Some past Summit Scholarship recipients applied multiple times before receiving their scholarship. Consider this information to your advantage if a tiebreaker is required during final selection.
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Summit Scholarships aim to break down barriers. Most of our scholarships do not require any climbing experience. Some scholarships don’t even require backpacking experience. We primarily ask you to share a little about your outdoor and endurance background (and value However, this evaluation is not taken into account during the early stages of university application review (this is an overlay that occurs at the end).
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There is no magic formula and each year there are far more qualified applicants than available scholarships. Last year, we awarded scholarships to seven women out of over 600 applicants. This means that, statistically, the application process for the Summit Scholarship is more selective than for admission to Harvard University.
If you’re hesitant about applying, here’s what you should also know: Regardless of whether you receive a scholarship or not, by submitting an application you are actively helping the Summit Scholarship Foundation create more scholarships in the future. Here’s why: The more applications we receive, the more obvious the need for these scholarships becomes, the more excited our sponsors are to commit funding to support our programs, and the more scholarships we can offer. That’s not all. By writing applications, trying something big (and talking about it!), you’re inspiring so many other women to dream of spaces they never thought possible. It will be. That’s how empowerment happens.
So – what are you waiting for? If you are still not sure whether you should do it for yourself, do it for your friend, daughter, sister, colleague. Please do it for all of us.