For Mentors

Faculty, staff, and other mentors are our most important partners in helping students pursue nationally competitive scholarships and fellowships. Whether you recognize a promising student, write a letter of recommendation, invite ONSA to speak with your students, or serve on a scholarship selection committee, your support helps students discover opportunities that can profoundly shape their academic, professional, and personal lives.

The Office of National Scholarship Advisement works to identify promising candidates, guide them through the application process, and support mentors throughout every stage of that journey.

Below you'll find resources for referring students, supporting applicants, collaborating with ONSA, and staying connected throughout the year.

Refer a student

One of the most valuable ways you can support nationally competitive scholarships is simply by identifying promising students. You do not need to know which scholarship or fellowship may be the best fit. Our role is to help students identify appropriate opportunities, assess their competitiveness, and develop an application strategy.

We welcome referrals for students who demonstrate qualities such as…

Academic excellence
Intellectual curiosity
Leadership and initiative
Research or creative potential
Commitment to service or civic engagement
Ambition, resilience, and a willingness to pursue challenging opportunities

Students do not need to be at the “ready to apply” stage in order to benefit from meeting with ONSA. In fact, the earlier we connect with students, the more effectively we can help them prepare for future opportunities.

Recommend a student

Invite ONSA to your class or department

ONSA is happy to partner with faculty, departments, schools, research groups, programs, and student organizations to introduce students to nationally competitive scholarships and fellowships.

We can tailor presentations to a variety of audiences and topics, including…

An introduction to nationally competitive scholarships and fellowships
Opportunities within a particular discipline or field
Preparing for graduate study and postgraduate opportunities
Building a competitive academic, research, and leadership profile
Fellowship application strategies and timelines
Strategies for effective personal statement or grant writing
Preparing for high-stakes interviews

Whether you are looking for a brief classroom visit or a longer workshop, we are happy to develop a presentation that meets your students' needs.

Request a presentation

Write strong letters of recommendation

Letters of recommendation are among the most important components of many scholarship applications. Because each award seeks different qualities in its applicants, effective letters should be tailored to the specific scholarship whenever possible.

ONSA has developed memoranda of guidance to help faculty understand what selection committees are looking for and how to write detailed, persuasive letters that highlight a student's strengths. Faculty are also welcome to reach out to ONSA advisors for guidance on drafting letters for specific awards or audiences.

Memoranda of Guidance

Marshall and Rhodes Scholarships
Fulbright US Student Program
Truman Scholarship
Goldwater Scholarship
Udall Scholarship

View Letter of Recommendation Resources

Serve on scholarship selection committees

Many nationally competitive scholarships require a university nomination or endorsement process. Faculty volunteers play an essential role by reviewing applications, interviewing candidates, and helping identify the strongest nominees.

Committee service provides an opportunity to…

Support outstanding ASU students;
Learn more about nationally competitive scholarships;
Contribute to the university's endorsement process; and
Engage with colleagues from across disciplines.

If you are interested in serving on a scholarship selection committee, we would be delighted to hear from you.

Volunteer to serve

Stay connected

Stay informed about scholarship opportunities, campus nomination deadlines, workshops, faculty resources, and ONSA programming by subscribing to the ONSA Weekly Bulletin.

Subscribe to ONSA Weekly Bulletin

Faculty FAQ

ONSA provides advising for all ASU students. We serve undergraduate and graduate students, as well as alumni, on all campuses and in all fields of study.

For graduate students, ONSA partners with the ASU Graduate College to provide advising for nationally competitive scholarships and fellowships. Faculty are encouraged to refer graduate students who demonstrate exceptional academic achievement, research potential, leadership, or a commitment to public service.

We encourage you to refer students even if you're uncertain whether they are competitive for a particular scholarship or fellowship. You do not need to determine which awards may be a good fit or whether a student's credentials are "strong enough." Our advisors work with students to assess their interests, experiences, and goals, identify appropriate opportunities, and develop a plan for becoming more competitive over time.

If you'd like to discuss a student before making a referral, we're always happy to talk.

If you do refer a student, we'll invite them to meet with an ONSA advisor. During that meeting, we'll discuss the student's academic interests, extracurricular involvement, career aspirations, and potential scholarship opportunities. Depending on where they are in their academic journey, we may help them prepare for an upcoming application or develop a longer-term plan to strengthen their candidacy.

As early as possible. Many nationally competitive scholarships and fellowships are best approached as part of a student's long-term academic and professional development. Students do not need to be preparing an application to benefit from meeting with us. In fact, we often work with students over several years to help them become more competitive applicants.

ONSA specializes in advising students pursuing nationally competitive scholarships and fellowships. While many of these awards support graduate or professional study, we do not provide general advising for graduate or professional school admissions or admissions essays. Students seeking assistance with graduate or professional school applications should work with their academic unit or the appropriate campus advising office.

While many well-known awards require a university nomination or institutional endorsement, many nationally competitive scholarships and fellowships allow students to apply directly.

ONSA coordinates ASU's nomination and endorsement processes for awards that require them. Our Apply page provides an overview of both categories, along with information about the university processes for awards requiring nomination or endorsement. If you or your student are unsure how a particular scholarship works, we're always happy to help.

Yes. If a student approaches you for a letter of recommendation for a major nationally competitive scholarship or fellowship, please encourage them to connect with ONSA as early as possible. Working with ONSA before requesting letters of recommendation helps students better understand the award's selection criteria and expectations, develop stronger application materials, and provide recommenders with the context they need to write detailed, scholarship-specific letters.

On This Page:

Refer a student

Invite ONSA to your class or department

Write strong letters of recommendation

Memoranda of Guidance

Serve on scholarship selection committees

Stay connected

Faculty FAQ

Who is eligible to work with ONSA? Is it only for Barrett students?

What if I'm not sure a student is eligible or competitive for a specific award?

When should I refer a student to ONSA?

Can ONSA help students apply to graduate or professional school?

Can faculty nominate students directly for scholarships?

Should students contact ONSA before asking me for a letter of recommendation?