Guidelines for Plan II Honors Thesis Grant Applications

Spring 2012 Thesis Grant Application:

Application opens: October 1, 2011.  Deadline: November 1, 2011

Generally, thesis grants are awarded to students working on two-semester theses, and they are generally given in the fall for the current academic year. Students interested in doing preliminary work on their theses during the summer may, however, wish to apply for a Plan II Travel Grant.

When requesting a thesis grant please be specific, concrete, and as detailed as possible. You need to give us a clear idea what you are going to do and how the money will contribute to the success of your project in a measurable way. If you need to go to a specific library in France, for example, please let us know which books are there that you cannot find here, which library holds them, and what difference to your project they will make. If you need money to produce a video or follow through with a laboratory project, give us a clear indication of costs. If you are traveling to various places to conduct interviews, let us understand why you cannot simply interview people over the phone.

Moreover, you need to be clear about what you can actually accomplish. If you are thinking of going to a specific library to consult a collection, for example, you need to consider what you can reasonably expect to get done in the time you have. Our aim is simply to help you succeed in the project. Your application should show us how we can do that.

NOTE:  A statement of support (no more than a short paragraph is necessary) from your thesis supervisor is required with your Plan II Thesis Grant Application.  The statement is intended to verify that your supervisor believes your proposed research/travel plans are necessary to complete your thesis project.  DO NOT ask your supervisor for a paper letter of recommendation.  See "HOW TO APPLY" below. 

Senior Thesis supervisor statements must be received by the application deadline.

WHEN TO APPLY:  Students should apply when enrolled in the first semester of the Plan II Honors or departmental honors thesis course.  

Applications for support of attendance at conferences in your thesis area will be considered at any time, but preferably two months in advance.  For conference travel or strudy abroad support, use the Plan II Travel Grant Application.

NOTE:  Thesis Grants are not intended to cover the entire cost of your proposed travel or project. Only one type of grant will be awarded per student, per travel program or project.

AMOUNT:  Awards typically range from $250 to $1,500.

In most cases, Plan II will pay only part of the costs of your research. You must therefore seek funds from other sources as well, but your Plan II application must show all of your expenses for your project.

HOW TO APPLY:  Apply using the College of Liberal Arts Online Scholarship Portal. 

• If you have not used the system before, you will have to complete a one-time profile.  Then you will see a list of scholarships for which you are eligible to apply.
• Look for the scholarship titled, "Plan II Thesis Grant - Spring 2011."
• The application will state that a recommendation is required and ask for a recommender's email address.  Enter your senior thesis supervisor's email address and inform them about the required statement of support mentioned above.  DO NOT request a paper letter of recommendation.  The statements are to be sumitted online and must be received by the application deadline.