General

  • Read other Applications that have been funded to get a “feel” for what has worked in the past
  • Have peers and professors look over your application prior to submission

Part III – Letter of Support from Faculty Advisor

  • Ensure that your application contains all the necessary letters of support

Part V – Research Plan Description

  • Use citations from reliable and applicable resources
  • Illustrate your grasp of the material
  • Place your research in context – give it a past, present, and future
  • Explain who will benefit from your research
  • Ensure that your research is “just right,” that the issue is not too complicated or simplistic to be worthwhile
  • Keep it simple – pare down what you are asking for
  • Convince readers that you are capable of the actions that you’ll need to perform, either in the research description or with past experiences or both
  • Clearly justify what you are asking for
  • Show your enthusiasm

Part VIII – Budget

  • Double check that your budget is accurate

Appendix A – Curriculum Vitae/ Resume/ Statement of Experience

  • Include a listing of applicable coursework on your listing of experiences

Appendix C – Letters of Access

  • Obtain letters of access (if applicable) for things like laboratories, museum or library holdings, etc.