-Does it affect chances of admission?
-Is it mostly aimed at minorities? If I’m white is it worth it to apply?
-(Rodriguez) If I do apply, should I gear my first two answers towards values she has, or just answer the questions however
I had the same questions, as I’ve applied RD. The fact that they specifically search for character and that the scholarships are due so early after applying would lead me to believe they would affect admission, but I’m unsure as they could easily be handled by separate departments within the university. I was sent a pamphlet about the Ervin Scholars and the cover had a photo taken at a reunion, featuring many of the recipients. It definitely wasn’t what you’d call a “mixed bag.” I ended up not applying to Rodriguez or Ervin due to this as well as the fact that bridging social gaps is outside my area of interest/expertise.
For you last question, I would answer the questions however you best feel would convey your character. I would keep the answers relevant to the scholarship’s criteria, but do so in a way that still remains true to yourself and to your own writing voice. Genuineness and authenticity are key characters of any individual, so no matter what you write about I would stay true to those two values.
It is my understanding that taking the time to fill out scholarship applications falls under demonstrated interest, and is therefore a plus. Obviously if you are chosen for a scholarship, you have also been admitted to the University.
When I had my admissions interview, the counselor interviewing me was one of the people in charge of reviewing the Rodriguez applications. She mentioned favoring those who did their research- aka, I think any reference to outside research on Annika would be a positive. Yes, the Ervin and Rodriguez are geared toward those minorities, but that’s not to say a person not of those races could not receive a scholarship given that they have demonstrated significant contribution to diversity.