National Merit Scholarship

Rising cost of education is acting as a barrier for students who want to pursue college education and build up their career after high school. Even meritorious students are facing challenges in coping with high fees and other expenses while opting for a course, college or university of their choice. They are the future leaders and to ensure that their merit does not go waste, a number of merit based scholarships are available. One of these scholarships is the National Merit Scholarship which is available for high school juniors who wish to further pursue college education. National Merit Scholarship Program, administered by a not-for-profit, privately funded organization National Merit Scholarship Corporation, was started in 1955. But getting this scholarship is not easy as it involves a series of steps. Any college bound student must appear for the preliminary SAT, also called National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (NMSQT), which acts as a screening test. It is attempted by more than million juniors from high school out of which top 50000 students are given recognition and their schools are notified. They are given a chance to choose two colleges they would like to pursue and NMSC sends their scores to the respective colleges. Then these students are notified by the colleges whether they have qualified as a ‘semi finalist’ or are ‘commended’. Commended students cannot compete for National Merit Scholarship but receive Letters of Commendation for their promising outstanding academics. Some of these students qualify for Special Scholarships which are sponsored by businesses and corporate. Around 16000 semifinalists are notified out of the top 50000 scorers out of which around 15000 reach the final stage. Based on their academics, skills, performance, talent, accomplishments, abilities and essay written by the person, around 8200 final merit winners are chosen from the group of finalists. Merit winners get $2500 each at the freshman year of their college and it adds weight to their college admissions. Colleges boast of having a number of ‘National Merit Scholars’ enrolled with them. Many colleges also award large or full scholarships to National Merit Scholars to attract them to their college. They are awarded on state representation basis and do not consider the financial condition of the family. The benefits are not only for winners, being a semi finalist or a finalist is also an appreciable position and carries lot of weight. It is a best way to gain recognition for college admissions and become eligible for different college and corporate sponsored merit based scholarships. Though becoming a National Merit Scholar involves a stringent process, it is attempted by millions of high school students as more than the modest monetary scholarship it gives recognition to the students. Read MOre...

PhD Walmart Scholarship Studentship in the Department of Haematology

Study Subject: Functional characterization of novel regulators of haematopoiesis and platelet function in Danio rerio
Employer: University of Cambridge
Level: PhD
Scholarship Description: Functional characterization of novel regulators of haematopoiesis and platelet function in Danio rerio A PhD position is available jointly supervised by Dr Ana Cvejic and Professor Willem H Ouwehand who have an international track record in megakaryocyte and platelet biology and genomics. Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) provide a new and powerful approach to identify novel regulators of haematopoiesis and platelet function. Walmart Scholarship In a next step we want to explore the mechanisms by which common sequence variation exerts its effect on haematopoiesis. This PhD Walmart Scholarship project will initially apply high-throughput screening methods in Danio rerio to determine the function of novel genes, identified by GWAS, in haematopoiesis. Further studies will focus on novel genes encoding proteins that are important regulators of transcription. The Walmart Scholarship successful applicant will be trained in performing experiments with Danio rerio applying a variety of molecular biology and next generation sequencing techniques, state-of-the-art imaging systems, in situ hybridisation and immunohistochemistry and will mainly work in the Zebrafish genetics group of Dr Derek Stemple at the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute.
We are seeking applications from ambitious and highly motivated individuals looking to work in an interdisciplinary environment with education, experience or interest in haematopoiesis. Applicants should have a first or upper second-class degree in biology, biochemistry or related subjects. Familiarity with molecular biology techniques would be advantageous. This 4-year studentship will cover University composition fees, College fees and a £16,500 stipend for UK/EEA applicants.

Scholarship Application Deadline: 15 April 2012

Further Scholarship Information and Application