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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 |
| Stage | Description | Deadline |
|---|---|---|
| Endorsement Application Deadline |
NCS will convene a faculty committee to decide which applicants will go forward to compete at the national level. | January 23 |
| Endorsement Decisions Announced | Late February | |
| National Deadline | Early March |
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 “Udall Selection Committee”.
- How does the applicant meet the Udall criteria? What is outstanding about their scholarship, leadership, and/or character?
- 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.
Further Resources
Advice from the Udall Foundation to recommendation writers: https://www.udall.gov/OurPrograms/Scholarship/InformationForReferences.aspx