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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.