APPLICATIONS NOW CLOSED, RE-OPENS IN AUG/SEP
Scholarship Awarding University:
Type of degree:
Bachelor’s
Scholarship Deadline:
Applications for this scholarship will close on the 1st of December, 2024.
Scholarship Summary:
Simmons University (a female-only institution) offers the Distinguished Scholar Award to incoming students (domestic and international) which is the most prestigious award offered at Simmons, and acknowledges excellence through focus on study abroad, scholarly research, and intellectual curiosity.
Scholarship Applicant Criteria:
Students applying for the Distinguished Scholar Award must meet the following criteria;
i. Apply as a freshman for the fall semester by December 1
ii. Standardized test score of 28 or higher (on the ACT test), 1300 or higher (on the SAT test).
iii. Non-native English speakers must submit an English proficiency test (TOEFL/IELTS, TOEFL essentials, SAT/ACT scores, or Duolingo English Test)
iv. GPA of 3.50 or higher, unweighted
v. A record of taking honors, advanced placement (AP) and international baccalaureate (IB) courses, as available in their high school systems
vi. Community Involvement: Applicants should showcase a history of active engagement in their community through volunteer work, leadership roles, or other forms.
vii. Passion for the Field: Applicants should demonstrate a passion for their chosen field of study. This passion should be evident in their academic achievements, extracurricular activities, and resume.
Students who meet the criteria above are often also interested in the Honors Program at Simmons.
Value of Scholarship:
The Distinguished Scholar Award is a full scholarship and covers full tuition, mandatory fees (except health insurance), room & board for four years, and supersedes any previous merit scholarship.
Scholarship Application Guide:
To apply;
i. The application consists of a formal essay in response to the prompt below, as well as a resume including activities and involvements. Students should submit their essay through the Common Application or in PDF or Word Doc via email (ugadm@simmons.edu) with the subject line "Simmons Distinguished Scholar Award application" by December 1.
- Each page of the document should include the student's full name and date of birth.
- Please note: it is the student's responsibility to submit a working file in the proper format (PDF or Word) as Simmons will not convert or accept incompatible files (i.e. Google Docs, Pages, etc.)
Essay prompts
Formal Essay (of no more than 300-500 words): Write an essay in which you describe your leadership style, giving specific examples to show what kinds of experiences have crafted you as a leader, and what kind of leader you think you will become at Simmons.
ii. Applicants must complete and submit both their scholarship application and their admission application to the University by December 1.
Formal Essay (of no more than 300-500 words): Write an essay in which you describe your leadership style, giving specific examples to show what kinds of experiences have crafted you as a leader, and what kind of leader you think you will become at Simmons.
ii. Applicants must complete and submit both their scholarship application and their admission application to the University by December 1.
iii. Finalists for scholarship consideration will be notified by the end of January and will be required to complete an interview in February.
iv. Recipients will be notified by March 1.
Scholarship Website:
Scholarship Website:
Find further information on this scholarship opportunity at the Simmon’s University Distinguished Scholar Award Page.