1. Tips for a Successful NSERC Scholarship Application
From a Chemistry Selection Committee Member
Adam Dyker
Department of Chemistry, UNB

2. Outline of Ranking Process
Each application is sorted into Quartiles for each of the selection criteria (Academic Excellence, Research Potential, Communication an Leadership Abilities)
Each criterion is scored out of 100 independently based on evaluation criteria listed in the instructions. The whole scoring range (0-100) is used as much as possible!
Final score comes from applying the appropriate weighting per criterion.
4 people from unb with no awards and gpa of 4.3, 4.2, 4.1, 4.0  the 4.3 gets 100% (30 points for “academic” towards final score) and the 4.0 gets at most 25% (7.5/30 for academic)

3. Indicators
Highlight significance of uncommon awards in personal statement

4. Indicators
Use space wisely, be explicit about merit and sign, use REFERENCES
Highlight YOUR role in experiments, and paper writing
Especially work relevant to proposed research – support feasibility
Highlight significance of uncommon awards in personal statement
Give examples to support any claims.

5. Indicators
Research contd.
Justify a long (or short) degree

6. Indicators Don’t hope your references will point these things out!
No award is too small.
Be explicit about your role
Make it concise and perfect. Proofread… then do it again

7. Tips
There are always more good candidates than awards – STAND OUT. Make your best case by explicitly addressing all criteria. Write with instructions and criteria in hand!
Choose good Referees but do not simply hope that they point out things that you don’t. Explain all relevant details yourself.
Show that you can produce a polished document.