OSG Scholar Application Workshops
Application Workshops for 2025 undergraduate programs will take place on January 28th, 2025 at 5 pm PST and February 5th, 2025 at 12 pm PST. Click here to learn more.
See the information below from previous years to get an idea of the type of information included in the summer opportunity application workshop and the graduate opportunities workshop:
- Application Workshop Session on 2023 Summer Opportunities (Recording)
- Application Workshop Session on 2022 Graduate-Level Opportunities (Recording)
For more information and requests for accommodations contact the Undergraduate Student Program Coordinator.
Application Workshop Purpose and Goals
The purpose of the OSG Application Workshops is for students to learn more about all Sea Grant opportunities (including mentoring and professional development), get advice and tips on application materials, and hear from recent scholars and fellows about their experiences in the program. For those interested, there will also be time to work on application materials in breakout groups with Oregon Sea Grant representatives and current scholars. In this second year of the workshop series, sessions are conducted virtually on Zoom.
Oregon Sea Grant Scholar Program’s Commitment to Inclusive Recruitment
The Oregon Sea Grant Scholars Program remains focused on broadening participation and diversity by restructuring our recruitment and review processes to be more equitable. We intend to be more inclusive of applicants from various cultural, ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds with unique lived experiences, skills, abilities and interests, including applicants who may have had fewer opportunities in the marine or coastal fields. In support of this effort, this page offers a sample of the available resources that may help navigate the application process for OSG and other fellowship and scholarship opportunities.
Tips for Application Components
Personal Statements
- Follow the directions and answer all the questions
- Share your passion. Why is this opportunity a great fit for you? Don't use canned language.
- Give real examples from your pas
- Be specific about your goals for the future and how this opportunity will help.
- Carefully review all of your written materials (grammar, typos!)
Letters of Recommendation
- Be strategic about who you ask (people who know you; 1 academic and 1 boss/mentor/coach/etc.)
- Ask, "Can you write me a strong letter?"
- Provide materials to letter writers
- Bullet points on the opportunity
- Bullet points on why you are a good fit
- Different info for different writers.
- Give your letter writers LOTS of lead time
- Send reminders - 2 weeks ahead and 2 days ahead
Sample Resumes and CVs (from OSU's Career Development Center)
Interviews
- Ask for the interview questions ahead of time
- Aski who will interview you (then Google them)
- Figure out the technology, practice it ahead of time
- Practice standard questions (elevator speech)
- Use professional demeanor - eye contact, no fidgeting
- Pay attention to time so you can answer questions completely
How your application is reviewed
We receive hundreds of applications. Here are some things about the review process.
- Three trained reviewers are assigned to each application
- The reviewers use a weighted scoring rubric
- Reviewers advocate for their best candidates
- The top 20 candidates interview two times via Zoom
- Sea Grant and the hosts agree on the best match. Then an offer is made.