Seven practical steps to follow when applying for various academic endeavors

From time to time, a scholar’s career is interrupted by completing applications for teaching awards, fellowships, research, and other grants. I refer to these as academic endeavors. My experience, engagement, and successful analysis or processes involved in several of these efforts suggest that there are some common features and associated steps tied to these applications. To be successful, these must be met.

Step one: be sure to create an online account or personal web portal. Applying online for these efforts has now become standard. It is through these web portals or online accounts that you can check your current status and upload and respond to the sections and requirements for the venture you are applying for.

Second step: Use the web portal to find and apply for the correct category of scholarship, grant or award for which you wish to apply. Categories and descriptors are clearly highlighted and strategically placed on these portals or websites. The location ensures that they are easily identified by a candidate, participant or potential applicant such as yourself.

Step three: Please read carefully the sections and instructions provided for the effort you are applying for. In some cases, there may also be full section examples for you to read and model your own application. If this does not exist on the portal or website, with a diligent search on the Internet, examples can be found. It is very important to be involved in this process of searching and obtaining examples. Doing so helps guide your thinking and helps you structure your response according to what is required, which will ultimately lead to success.

Step four– Pay close attention to things like word limits and other special requirements, such as the need to clearly demonstrate your knowledge and understanding of a particular discipline or clearly describe the impact your proposed research may or has had on others or show how Your education, training, employment, roles, and experience contributed to your professional development as a teacher, mentor, learning facilitator, and/or academic leader.

Step five: take care to complete all required sections of your application and correct them. An application that needs proofreading reflects a poor image of you as a professional and makes the evaluator’s job a less than enjoyable experience.

Step Six: most academic applications require one or two references. Referees must be well chosen, that is, they can comment sensibly on their work and, in doing so, contribute to its success. You will either send them a summary of what is required or the web portal will automate this request and link your referees to the appropriate section of your web portal. Send timely reminders to your referees.

step seven: Sometimes, depending on the nature and type of effort being requested, there is a cost involved. This will have to be paid for. The fees you pay can be based on your status, i.e. Independent Scholar or Institution Employed Scholar.

If you want to be successful in applying for your next academic endeavor, I recommend following these steps. Good luck!