This page outlines general guidelines and policies for application submission through ONSF.
Applicants to U-M Nominated programs should refer to their ONSF Canvas site for the most up-to-date information regarding applications, forms, and policies.
If you have any questions about the policies below, please do not hesitate to contact ONSF at onsf.info@umich.edu.
Before Submitting an Application
ONSF Canvas Course Enrollment
ONSF Canvas courses offer an in-depth look at applying to U-M Nominated scholarships and fellowships. The information on these sites is available to U-M applicants only.
Current applicants (i.e. students who are in the process of applying for a program) receive announcements, updates, and advising through Canvas. If you’re enrolled in an ONSF Canvas course, please make sure your notifications are turned on.
When should a student enroll in Canvas?
Prospective applicants can enroll in any Canvas course at any time! Once enrolled, you can complete the self-guided materials to gain a better understanding of your intended program(s).
ONSF uses Canvas to communicate with applicants throughout an application cycle, so be sure to enroll to stay up-to-date on announcements and resources. ONSF strongly suggests that you join the relevant Canvas course once you've made the decision to apply to a U-M nominated scholarship or fellowship. It is the key way to stay informed.
Questions about ONSF Canvas sites or modules can be directed to onsf.info@umich.edu.
ONSF Student Waiver ("FERPA Waiver")
Required for all students submitting application materials or letters of recommendation to ONSF, students must decide to waive or not waive their FERPA rights.
In accordance with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (20 U.S.C. § 1232g) (FERPA), students have the right to read letters of recommendation sent to an institution upon request unless the student has waived access to the letters. By waiving access, this means that the University has no obligation under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) to provide a copy of the letter to the student. Recommenders may choose to do so on their own if they wish but students who have waived access have no legal right to view letters of recommendation. If you have questions about this policy, please consult the ONSF & FERPA page on our website or reach out to onsf.info@umich.edu.
When should a student submit their FERPA form?
All of our nominated scholarships are run under the same U-M application management system. The section at the bottom of an application is where students add information for their recommenders and will also choose to waive their right or not. Basically, students submit their FERPA form at the bottom of their application. Once a student makes their FERPA choice, it will be recorded and sent to the recommender. In addition to serving as a FERPA waiver, it also allows ONSF to store letters of recommendation on U-M technology.
After completing the FERPA waiver, students should click "send" to the right of their recommender's name. This should send an automated email reply to the recommender, which includes an online submission link where the recommender can upload their letter to a student's application (see "Letters of Recommendation" below for more details). If recommenders have difficulty uploading, they can email a PDF of the letter to onsf.info@umich.edu directly and ONSF will upload it on their behalf.
Consider this form the first step when applying to a nominated ONSF-supported scholarship or fellowship.
Application Components & Forms
Transcripts
Many scholarship and fellowship programs require students to submit transcripts as part of the application package. Typically, unofficial transcripts are sufficient for the U-M nomination process and often for the initial phases of the national competition. However, students should be aware they may need to produce official transcripts if they receive a U-M nomination to a scholarship or fellowship and should read instructions from individual foundation websites carefully.
Check the specific requirements on a scholarship or fellowship's website to find out if an "Unofficial Transcript" or "Official Transcript" is needed.
U-M offers electronic official transcripts via Wolverine Access
- To send an official U-M transcript to ONSF, simply check the "Send to third-party" option and enter "onsf.info@umich.edu" as the recipient. ONSF will then download the official transcript and add it to your application.
Transfer Students & Transcripts:
Any student who was a degree-seeking student at another university, including 2- and 4-year schools or colleges, is considered a Transfer Student to the University of Michigan.
- Transfer students should plan to submit transcripts from their previous institutions when applying to a program that requires unofficial or official transcripts. Each institution is different, and some will only agree to send transcripts via mail or postal service, so plan ahead! Check with your previous school for transcript ordering guidelines.
When are transcripts optional for an application?
- NOT typically needed for non-degree-seeking courses taken while still in high school.
- NOT typically needed for study abroad courses unless they are relevant to the scholarship to which you're applying.
- Transcripts ARE typically required for summer courses taken at another 2- or 4-year institution while enrolled as a degree-seeking student at U-M.
Consult onsf.info@umich.edu with questions.
Letters of Recommendation
How does ONSF accept letters of recommendation?
All nominated scholarship applications are housed under the same U-M application management system.
When you enter the information for your recommenders in an application, an email will be sent to them requesting they complete a letter of recommendation for this application. Your email message is pre-populated to say that you waive your FERPA rights to read these letters from your references, using the following statement:
This student waived their right of access to or inspection of this letter of recommendation. This means that the University of Michigan has no obligation under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) to provide a copy of your letter to the student. You may choose to do so on your own if you wish but students who have waived access have no legal right to view letters of recommendation.
If you do not waive your rights, you will be able to edit your statement as directed in the application.
More information for letter writers:
Usually, letter writers interact with ONSF when a student is applying for U-M Nomination to a scholarship or fellowship. In this case, ONSF is the first stop for application materials and letters of recommendation, hence the online U-M application system.
- Once a letter is submitted, ONSF employees are the only people with access until the application materials are shared with the appropriate U-M Scholarship/Fellowship Selection Committee or packaged and sent to the corresponding national scholarship or fellowship foundation as a completed application.
- Occasionally, small edits are suggested or required (e.g. changing "U-M STEM RCA" to "Goldwater Scholarship"), in these instances ONSF will contact the recommenders for permission before any changes are made.
If an applicant is selected as a U-M nominee to the national competition, letter writers may be asked to resubmit their letters to the application management system used by that scholarship/fellowship foundation. In some cases, ONSF is able to upload these letters directly on behalf of the letter writer as part of the university’s nomination. As with all questions of this type, the applicant should refer to the Canvas site for their specific scholarship or fellowship.
Questions about letters of recommendation can be directed to onsf.info@umich.edu.
Class Ranking Request Form
National scholarship foundations such as Rhodes, Marshall, and Mitchell look at many different parts of your academic record, including your Class Ranking at U-M. Class Rankings help national foundations contextualize what a GPA means at different colleges and universities, along with information provided by your recommenders.
- Not all scholarship or fellowship applications require this form. Check the specific Canvas course for details!
In order to add your Class Ranking to your application, a signed release form needs to be completed by the applicant and sent to the U-M Office of the Registrar at ro.transcript.order.questions@umich.edu with the subject line: Class Rank Request. This request form can be found on ONSF Canvas courses.
Please note that the Office of the Registrar may choose to reject any request that includes a digital signature, a signature in ink other than black or blue, an email sent from a non-UMICH email address, or a form that is otherwise incomplete.
How long does it take to submit this form?
The processing time is seven business days for the Office of the Registrar to receive your request and send the documentation to onsf.info@umich.edu to be included in your application file.
We recommend you submit this request to the Office of the Registrar as soon as possible to avoid any late submissions and please be sure to copy onsf.info@umich.edu.
If you are applying to multiple scholarships, you only need to submit one request but you should include all relevant scholarship names on the form.
Where can I find the Class Ranking Form?
A copy of the Class Ranking Form along with detailed instructions can be found on the Canvas course for the nominated scholarship you're applying for (where applicable).
Submitting an Application
U-M Nominated Programs
Applicants for programs such as the Rhodes Scholarship, Udall Scholarship, or Truman Scholarship are applying to ONSF for nomination to a specific foundation's opportunity.
ONSF houses all nominated scholarships under one U-M application management system. Nominated students will then receive further instructions on how to apply to the specific foundation before the national deadline.
There are two ways a student can apply to a program that requires U-M Nomination:
- Some foundations require prospective applicants to register to access their online applications.
- Others ask that the University of Michigan carry out an internal nomination process before submitting nominees to the foundation.
As always, be sure to read the specific program page and requirements carefully and join the Canvas course for your program(s) for the most recent information. Email onsf.info@umich.edu if you have any questions about how to apply.
Non-Nominated Programs
Non-Nominated Awards do not need additional input from U-M. In this circumstance, you can directly apply without U-M nomination, but ONSF can provide advising support for these opportunities.
Students who wish to apply for programs that do not require U-M nomination should follow the instructions on the individual program or foundation page.
Please email ONSF at onsf.info@umich.edu if you have questions or concerns about applying to a scholarship or fellowship found on this website that does not require U-M nomination.
ONSF Deadlines & Late Submission Policies
All applicants for ONSF-supported programs must follow the deadline(s) as stated on the application's Canvas course. Deadlines do not change often, but when they do applicants will be notified via Canvas. Remember to pay attention to the U-M Nomination Deadline as stated on ONSF application guidelines as these deadlines occur earlier than national deadlines.
ONSF Application Submissions Policy
As a general rule, ONSF does not accept late application submissions. Exceptions will be made only in cases of extreme hardship or proven technical challenges. Appeals to this policy should be directed to onsf.info@umich.edu.
ONSF recommends you submit application materials at least one business day prior to ensure delivery. All applicants should receive an automated email receipt of submission after applying.
Late Letters of Recommendation Policy
In the event that an application is incomplete due to the non-submission of a letter of recommendation or other third-party submissions (e.g. Class Ranking Form), the applicant will not be penalized. When appropriate, such as in the case of a passed deadline, ONSF may correspond directly with a recommender to resolve the issue.
Please note that an incomplete application, while accepted for consideration, may still impact the ability of the Selection Committee to review all applicants and deliver an invitation for interviews or a final decision.
ONSF strives to regularly communicate with applicants throughout an application cycle - if you have any concerns about a late letter, late submission, incomplete materials, etc., please email us as soon as you become aware of the situation!
