<p>So, I've been looking into IIT for a while now and I know that there are two full scholarships that they give; Camras and Duchossois. </p>
<p>For anyone that has any information about either or any advice on getting in or differences between them, it would be greatly appreciated if you posted here. Especially if you are someone who has received either of these scholarships in previous years and is keen on sharing what they know and their experiences. </p>
<p>Thank you and good luck to us all!</p>
<p>I am a senior ChemE at IIT, and I’m a 2010 Camras Scholar recipient.</p>
<p>When you apply to IIT, you will automatically be considered for the Camras Scholarship. The top 5% or so of applicants (based on test scores, grades, extracurriculars, etc) are invited to Camras interview weekend in February. Of those 100-120 students, 20-30 are offered the scholarship, with numbers depending on the year.
I think the Duchossois has a separate application in addition to the regular IIT app. Fewer students are selected to interview for Duchossois, and even less are selected. I can’t speak much to the process because I don’t know any Duchossios scholars. </p>
<p>On campus, I’d say the Camras Scholars are more of a community than the Duchossois scholars because there are more of them. We have monthly meetings with speakers, social events, etc.</p>
<p>For getting selected, both are highly based on ACT/SAT scores and school grades for getting to interview weekend. After that, its more about how you present yourself in the interviews. Nothing technical, they just want to see that you can make conversation and that you will be a leader on campus. The “pillars” of Camras are service, research, and leadership, with leadership being the one they seem to stress in interviews. The whole purpose of the Camras program is to get bright, passionate students on campus who will lead their peers in academics AND outside of class.</p>
<p>Make sure to get your app in on time or early, because even though IIT has rolling admission, the scholarships do not. Also, I’m guessing you will be a freshman next fall but if not, you should also note that neither scholarship can be awarded to transfer students.</p>
<p>Let me know if you’ve got any other questions.</p>
<p>In contrast to the Camras scholarships, the Duchossois scholarship requires applicants to fill out a specific application in order to be considered. As the previous poster stated, only a few are offered per year and typically those who are selected for an interview also interview for the Camras scholarship. For the Fall 2013 class, we had 80 applicants and interviewed 15 students.</p>
<p>The Duchossois scholarship program is in it’s third year and is smaller than the Camras program which has been in existence for many years. One of its main features is that it is both a student and faculty program, with two endowed professorships. The professors act as mentors to the students throughout their time at IIT. It is quite a close knit group and it’s activities include a summer activity after the freshman year. In 2012 the professors and students traveled to Australia to participate in the biennial Engineering Leadership Conference. In 2013, the students along with one of the two faculty members traveled to Italy to take part in an archaeological dig near Pisa.</p>
<p>The Duchossois scholars have a hand in planning all the group activities and they participate in the interviews and the selection of the new scholars. This makes the program quite unique. As the program matures and the first class of scholars reaches their Senior year, I expect they will become much more visible as a group.</p>
<p>As a long-time faculty member at IIT and now one of the Duchossois professors, I have been involved in the Camras interviews and the Duchossois program since their beginnings. Both programs are excellent and bring outstanding students to IIT.</p>
<p>Thank you guys for replying! I will, hopefully, be applying for Duchossois.</p>
<p>Do you know if there are specific stats that admissions counselors are looking for in students? For example, I got a 34 on my ACT and a 4.15 GPA with consistent volunteering hours and extracurricular activities. Do you think I would be taken into consideration for either scholarship? </p>
<p>Thanks Again!
:)</p>
<p>For the Duchossois, you are considered if you apply for it. There are only a few applicants invited though. Most of the strong applicants are considered seriously for an invitation to apply for the Camras, however, I am not sure of the criteria that they user to make the decision.</p>
<p>My guess is that you would be invited to apply for the Camras on the basis of your test scores and GPA, however, I don’t know enough about your ECs. The Duchossois committee is looking for real leadership experience, not just a strong academic record so that is more subjective.</p>
<p>I agree with xraymancs. Those scores/GPA are similar to mine and others I know. They will almost definitely get you invited to Camras Interview Weekend, but after that its more based on leadership and ECs as you go through the interviews.</p>
<p>Hey! </p>
<p>Just an update, since I started this thread.
I was rejected from the Duchossois scholarship. :((
However, I was still invited to Scholarship weekend for Camras and I got it!</p>
<p>I am most probably going to IIT, I’m just waiting on a few decisions just to be extra-sure.</p>
<p>And thanks again for replying!
:)</p>
<p>Congratulations! There were only 2 Duchossois awards made this year so since we interviewed 15 students, it is a lower chance. However, since we preselect for leadership with the Duchossois interviews these interviewees do very well for Camras. Hope to see you on campus in the fall.</p>
<p>I just applied for the Duchossois scholarship, and in the email I received it mentioned that two letters of recommendation APART from the letters used in the Common App application are required- is this true? Did it say this anywhere in the application or on the website, because I assumed my letters for the regular application would be sufficient since I know both teachers discussed leadership and service fairly extensively, and now I don’t know if I’m eligible to be considered since I didn’t have unique letters… Do you know if this would just be a setback to my chances, or would it eliminate me from consideration?</p>
<p>Back in 2011 DS was invited to interview for Camras and he did have to supply 2 letters of recommendation beyond those for the common app.</p>
<p>If you applied for the Duchossois, the Admissions Office will have contacted you to complete the application materials. They want to make sure to include eveyone who applied.</p>
<p>Thank you, I just got that email, it looks like they accepted my letters. I appreciate the response!</p>