The Cobell Scholarship funds Native students who pursue post-secondary education. Read this guide to learn how to get it!
Considering higher education? You may feel overwhelmed or confused by its costs. The Cobell Scholarship is one of many opportunities for applicants to earn funding for their academic pursuits.
What exactly is this scholarship? Who is it for? How do you earn it? Read on for answers to these questions and tips for the application process!
Elouise Cobell’s scholarship is an annual, non-renewable scholarship resulting from the Cobell v. Salazar case.
Indigenous Education, Inc. (IEI) administers it to full-time, degree-seeking students who are enrolled members of a U.S. Federally Recognized Tribe.
When applicants are evaluated, it is first by merit and then by financial need.
Elouise Cobell was born on the Blackfeet Reservation in 1945. As her family was impoverished, her aunt and uncle requested money from the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) to cover medical care. They eventually received funding, but it came too late; the delay resulted in Cobell’s uncle’s death.
Source: YWCA USA
Cobell studied Accounting at Great Falls Commercial College, then Business at the University of Montana. After interning at Blackfeet Reservation’s BIA office, she became the Treasurer of the Blackfoot Nation. She assisted in founding the Blackfeet National Bank.
In 1996, Elouise Cobell and the Native American Rights Fund filed a class-action lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Interior, alleging the BIA had been mismanaging Indian Trust Funds. In 2009, the Cobell v. Salazar case reached a $3.4 billion settlement. $60 million was allotted for a scholarship fund, resulting in this scholarship.
The amount of the scholarship funding varies. Scholarships can be up to $6,000 for undergraduate students and $12,500 for graduate students.
According to Indigenous Education, Inc., applicants must meet the following eligibility requirements for the scholarship program:
While there are no GPA requirements to apply for the scholarship, IEI has recommendations to keep in mind when applying for this grant for Indigenous students, including:
If your GPA is lower than recommended, you are still encouraged to apply; just include any extenuating circumstances and how you plan to improve your performance in school.
According to IEI, the application is a 6-step process:
This process may seem a little convoluted, but it’s no more complicated than filling out an online college application or the FAFSA.
You need to create an account on the Online Application and Student Information System (OASIS), fill out the eligibility section, and answer the supplementary questions.
The questions are supplementary because this is not the only scholarship you can access through OASIS. The system will also match you with other scholarships you may be eligible for!
The scholarship requires a relatively in-depth application process, which can seem complicated at first. However, keeping in mind the rich history of this scholarship for Native American college students and what you can potentially gain from it makes it worthwhile to apply if you are eligible.
First, you’ll write a 500-word reflection on Elouise Cobell and/or the Cobell v. Salazar Settlement. Discuss how this has or will influence your “academic pursuits, leadership choices, and engagement in the community.”
After this, you’ll answer questions in the following categories:
Respond to the following prompts about higher education.
These answers will give the selection committee a sense of your academic achievements and how a scholarship will help you continue to thrive.
Respond to the following prompts about leadership:
These answers demonstrate your potential to become a community leader after your education.
Responses to the following questions on community engagement:
These answers will display your character and your commitment to the community around you.
Include a short, clean joke or humorous story so the person reviewing your application can get to know you.
You’ll need an undergraduate reference. Ask one person who is not a relative to testify about your character and promise as a Cobell Scholar.
Finally, there is a section for additional comments. You have an opportunity for you to explain any extenuating circumstances, gaps in education, etc. If something affected your application or your education and is not listed anywhere else in your application, this is the place to put it.
Unless otherwise specified, each response should be under 250 words.
All applications to this scholarship will go through a review. Following the review, merit-based offers will be awarded to hundreds of applicants who will move to the finalist stage in early May each year. Many things will happen during this stage:
In some instances, the Finalist will need to assist the organization in contacting these offices. Finalists can easily update school choices or contact information by logging in or contacting their offices for assistance during the verification process.
It is moderately difficult to get a Cobell Scholarship. In the most recent application cycle, 30% of applicants were awarded the scholarship. Although there’s no GPA requirement, IEI recommends a GPA of at least 2.0 to 3.5, depending on the degree you’re pursuing.
Now that you know the details, you’re probably wondering how to maximize your chances of winning it. Here are some general tips from U.S. News & World Report to keep in mind when filling out your responses on the scholarship application:
The most important thing to keep in mind when writing your responses to every question on the scholarship application is to be yourself. The person reviewing your application cares about who you are as a person and how you can uniquely carry on the legacy of Elouise Cobell.
Most of the short answer prompts for the scholarship ask you to recount some experience, which allows you to tell a story. Stories allow the person reviewing your application to become more familiar with your voice, habits, and experiences than a straightforward answer. For example, saying you are passionate is much less powerful and tangible than telling a story about when you showed you were passionate about something.
If you try to write what you think the person reviewing your application will want to hear, you’re not showing them the real you. Writing your responses for this scholarship application shouldn’t have to be a set of mind games.
Don’t try to write as the ideal candidate. The people reviewing the scholarship applications want to see applicants who carry on the legacy of Elouise Cobell in diverse ways. Be yourself!
It can be tempting to stray from the prompt or go over the word count because you feel you have more to say. However, it’s vital to remain within the word count for all the short-answer questions (250-word maximum, unless otherwise specified) and answer the prompt.
The people who made this application came up with these questions because those topics (community, leadership, legacy, etc.) are essential to them. They want to see the different ways you value and demonstrate those things.
Here are some more tips from our team:
Because this is a lengthy application, it’s crucial to start as early as possible and give yourself as much time to fill out each answer genuinely and thoughtfully. Plus, when filling out an online application, giving yourself enough time to allow for potential technical difficulties is always a good idea.
For this coming summer, the application deadline for the scholarship is May 4th, or until the available funds are exhausted.
You must understand Elouise Cobell, her legacy, her role in the Cobell v. Salazar case, and her impact on the world. Research the topic thoroughly before you begin writing your answers.
Make sure to be specific. What specific aspect of Elouise Cobell’s leadership inspires you? What does it inspire you to do? What example of her leadership appealed to you the most? Before you begin writing, research her life and spend some time in reflection.
It’s worth it to take some time to prepare yourself before you begin your application. Ensure you have all important information, a list of your extracurricular activities, GPA and/or transcript, etc. Having this all in one place will make the application process significantly easier.
When you spend a lot of time working on something, it can be hard to know if it reflects who you are. Allowing your friends and family to review your answers is a good idea to ensure your voice comes through and the content reflects who you are.
Still curious about the scholarship? We’ve got the answers you need.
According to the IEI, about 30% of applicants received a scholarship in this recent application cycle. This is not an exact rule, but it shows this scholarship is competitive.
Applications are scored based on general strength, written response content, and writing skills. The selection committee also considers the diversity of tribes, academic backgrounds, and academic pursuits.
The scholarship application opens on September 1st for this recent academic year, and it’s a good idea to start once it opens. The application is usually open for three months, and you’ll want to use all the available time to finish your application and perfect your written responses.
A group of indigenous “higher education professionals” located around the country in various positions and disciplines reviews the scholarship applications.
When you first submit your application, all information is self-reported. You won’t need to submit any documentation confirming your eligibility until you are a finalist.
If you are selected as a Cobell Scholar finalist, even though it’s a good sign, it does not mean you are guaranteed funding. It means you have scored high enough on your application to move on to the next stage, which will require you to send in documentation to confirm your eligibility. You will be contacted and told how to do this if selected as a finalist.
The Cobell Scholarship is a fantastic opportunity with a rich history. For eligible applicants, it offers applicants the chance to carry the legacy of a woman who demonstrated courage, persistence, leadership, and a deep commitment to her community.
Though the application may seem confusing at first glance, you can do it! As long as you remember to do your research, stay organized, start early, and be yourself, you’ll be setting yourself up for success.
If you'd like some support for your Cobell Scholarship application, our expert admissions officers are here to help! They've helped countless students land scholarships and get into their dream schools. Don't just take our word for it—check out what one of our students, Isabel, had to say:
