Applying for the Aauw Career Development Grants Program requires careful attention to detail, especially regarding the necessary application documents. Ensuring you submit all required materials correctly is crucial for a successful application. Beyond the narrative application, AAUW mandates specific supporting documents to assess your qualifications comprehensively. This guide outlines the essential documents you need to prepare for your application to the AAUW Career Development Grants Program.
Letters of Recommendation: Highlighting Your Potential
Your application must include two letters of recommendation. These letters should come from individuals who can speak to your qualifications, work ethic, professional capabilities, and academic background. Ideal recommenders include advisors, professors, or colleagues who know you well and can provide insightful perspectives on your potential for career advancement.
It’s important to note that AAUW has specific guidelines for recommendation letters. They do not accept recommendations from dossier services like Parment or Interfolio. Furthermore, standardized or form-letter recommendations are discouraged. Personalized letters that genuinely reflect your strengths and suitability for the grant program are far more impactful.
Proof of Degree: Verifying Academic Foundation
To confirm your eligibility, you must provide proof of your bachelor’s degree. A copy of your bachelor’s degree diploma or certificate, earned on or before June 30, 2017, is required. This document serves as verification that you meet the fundamental academic criteria for the AAUW Career Development Grants Program.
Transcripts: Detailing Your Academic History
Submitting official transcripts is another critical step in the application process. You need to provide copies of official transcripts that confirm the conferral of your bachelor’s degree. These transcripts should clearly display your full name, the name of the institution, the degree you received, a list of courses taken, and the grades you earned.
For applicants who have transfer credits, transcripts must also include details of coursework and grades from transfer courses. If your transcripts only reflect transfer courses without grades, you will need to submit a separate transcript from the original institution where those courses were taken.
In cases where an institution doesn’t provide transcripts or a detailed list of coursework and grades, or if the degree did not require coursework, you must obtain an official institutional letter. This letter should confirm the absence of transcripts or coursework records and verify your degree completion date.
For applicants with academic records in a foreign language, certified English translations are mandatory for all submitted materials. These translations must bear a certification mark or official signature confirming their accuracy and completeness.
Finally, if your current name differs from the name on your application documents, you must provide an explanation. This could be a marriage certificate, a court-issued name change document, or another official document that clarifies the name discrepancy.
Applicants bear the responsibility for submitting all required documents. Incomplete applications may be reviewed and considered at AAUW’s discretion, but ensuring your application is complete and accurate significantly strengthens your chances of success in the AAUW Career Development Grants Program.
