

Thank you for taking the time to write a letter of recommendation for a nationally competitive scholarship application. Yours is a valuable contribution to this formative process and we appreciate your advocacy on behalf of the applicant.
Please be aware, it is a matter of NCS policy that applicants must waive their right to see your letter of recommendation. We also cannot accept letters authored by applicants; the endorsement must be from the letter-signer.
At any time in the process, from brainstorming the first draft to finalizing your letter, we are delighted to help. Please contact ncs-ousf@duke.edu if you would like to discuss further or for questions or concerns.
Criteria |
|
Endorsement Required? | Yes. This is a multi-stage process. |
Number of Recommendation Letters | 3 total: Two academic letters, one identified as “Preferred” and one leadership letter (this may also be an academic, but must speak directly to leadership) |
Stage | Description | Deadline |
---|---|---|
Endorsement Application Deadline |
NCS will convene a faculty committee to decide which applicant will go forward to compete at the national level. | January 17 |
Endorsement Decisions Announced | Late January | |
National Deadline | February 8 |
FAQs
Submit your letter by email to ncs-ousf@duke.edu. It should be a signed PDF on letterhead. If your applicant is endorsed, Duke will submit your letter to the national committee on your behalf.
Please address your letter to the “Beinecke Selection Committee”.
- How does the applicant meet the Beinecke criteria? What is outstanding about their scholarship and/or character?
- How does their graduate study plan fit into their future ambitions?
- What examples can you share that illustrate your strong endorsement for the candidate?
- How does this applicant compare to other people you have taught/supervised?
Applicants are instructed to let you know as soon as they learn the decision of the campus endorsement committee. Endorsements are usually made by NCS before the end of January.