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Application Resources

Guidance for applying to A&S scholarships: what to prepare in advance, how to write your personal statement, how to handle letters of recommendation, and what's required after you receive an award.

Ready to apply? Use the Dean's Office scholarship application portal. Eligibility and award details are on the main Scholarships page.

Go to Scholarships

Before You Apply

Do these three things first.

Step 1

Complete the FAFSA

Most A&S scholarships are need-based and require a current Student Aid Index (SAI). International students complete a UNM State Aid Application instead.

Step 2

Draft your personal statement

One page, 12-pt font, 1.5 spaced. Addressed to the Arts & Sciences Scholarship Committee. Specific prompts vary by award and appear in the portal.

Step 3

Secure a letter of recommendation

Required for some awards. Most College scholarships do not require one, but specific departmental awards may. Plan ahead and ask early.

Writing an effective personal statement.

The statement is the one document the Awards Committee reads to understand who you are. Be specific, be concise, and answer the prompts in the portal directly.

Formatting One page · 12-pt font · 1.5 line spacing · addressed to "Arts & Sciences Scholarship Committee" · signed (typed or e-signed)

Cover these points in the body of your statement:

Your anticipated graduation date
Your background: where you come from or where you grew up
What motivates you: key mentors or influences and why they matter
Your current academic goals
Your future career goals
Your general life goals
Your financial aid situation: support your case for receiving an award
The impact you want to make

Break the statement into multiple paragraphs. Long paragraphs are harder to read. Specific prompts for each scholarship appear inside the Qualtrics application.

Who can write a letter, and how it's submitted.

Letters of recommendation are only required for specific awards: check the instructions in your application. It's your responsibility to identify a faculty member to write your letter of recommendation. Be sure to give them enough time.

Acceptable letter writers:

Current or former UNM faculty (including Lecturers, Adjunct Faculty, and TAs)
Faculty from another higher education institution
Program coordinators, internship directors, high school teachers, or mentors, when submitted in addition to a faculty letter

How to submit:

Your letter writer should send your letter of recommendation directly to asawards@unm.edu by the application deadline. Letters are submitted separately from the application form you'll submit..

Pulling your Student Aid Index from LoboWeb

You will be asked to upload your financial aid report from LoboWeb to the application portal. The steps below walk through finding it.

Step-by-step: download your financial aid report

Log in to my.unm.edu and click Enter LoboWeb.
Select the Financial Aid tab at the top of the page.
Select My Financial Aid Dashboard.
Click Offer.
Select Aid Year 2027–2028 from the drop-down menu at the top right.
Confirm the report includes your SAI (Student Aid Index) and a list of other financial aid offers you may receive.
Save the report as a PDF. You will upload this file inside the Qualtrics application.

International students: State Aid Application

International students complete a UNM State Aid Application in place of the FAFSA. Submit it before the scholarship deadline. The application link includes additional details for international applicants.

Eligibility reminders

General eligibility for A&S Dean's Office scholarships:

Enrolled, full-time A&S undergraduate (some awards permit part-time)
Demonstrates financial need as defined by the UNM Scholarship Office
Maintains the minimum GPA stated by the specific award (some 2.0, some 3.0+)

Look for full academic year and summer scholarship eligbility information on the Scholarships page.

After you receive a donor-funded award

Send a typed thank-you letter within 2 weeks of your scholarship notification to prevent your award from being rescinded. Email it as a Word document to asthankyou@unm.edu. Include the full name of your scholarship and address the letter to "Dear Donor" or "To whom it may concern."

Full Instructions (PDF)

Putting it all together.

The scholarships application is a Qualtrics form. Prepare the required materials before you complete the form. Your letters of recommendation will be submitted separately--from your faculty recommender.

Upload your financial aid report (PDF) inside the Qualtrics application
Upload your personal statement inside the Qualtrics application
Confirm with your letter writer that they will email the letter directly to asawards@unm.edu by the deadline
Submit the Qualtrics application before the posted deadline (check the main Scholarships page for the current cycle)

Scholarships

Apply for academic year and summer A&S scholarships.

Browse awards

Bilinski Fellowship

Doctoral dissertation completion support for advanced graduate students.

Graduate funding

Questions about applying?

Contact A&S Scholarship Coordinator Alice Hollow Horn for help with eligibility, materials, or application steps.

Email asawards@unm.edu

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Direct all student inquires to asadvise@unm.edu or (505) 277-4621.