MeFi scholarships

January 27, 2005 4:55 PM

This AskMe thread on work and school and aid reminded me: time to bring back MeFi scholarships?
posted by amberglow to MetaFilter-Related at 4:55 PM (31 comments total)

from 2001

and a previous request in 2003
posted by amberglow at 5:20 PM on January 27, 2005

I'd send some money in. School got me off the mountains.
posted by sled at 5:31 PM on January 27, 2005

Yeah, I'd like to do that this spring. I'd be willing to pony up a grand for it.
posted by mathowie (staff) at 6:11 PM on January 27, 2005

If there were an obvious way to do it, I'd be willing to send a check for twenty bucks. But I can't do it any other way than with a check.
posted by interrobang at 6:17 PM on January 27, 2005

cool--let's do it. matt puts in 1000 and we all donate if we can. maybe multiple winners?
posted by amberglow at 6:28 PM on January 27, 2005

Yes! I remember that and am so glad that you reminded us all, amberglow, you darling mensch. And kudos to you, Matt, for offering such a generous start.

(and interrobang sweetie, if the check option isn't feasible, I'll be your paypal pal.)
posted by melissa may at 6:28 PM on January 27, 2005

It's a deal, melissa may.
posted by interrobang at 6:35 PM on January 27, 2005

Gonna make it for undergrads only? Us grad students are even poorer than they are. Better looking, too.
posted by Hildago at 6:43 PM on January 27, 2005

All right, I'm in for ... $1000. Assuming this car-restoration thing takes off.

If not, $100.

By March 22, right Matt?
posted by mr_crash_davis at 6:53 PM on January 27, 2005

Sweet. I can scrape together $20.
What are the criteria and who makes the decision? Same as last time(s)?
posted by Coffeemate at 7:30 PM on January 27, 2005

Count me in for $500. Matt, email me when you need the funds.
posted by F Mackenzie at 7:34 PM on January 27, 2005

Hildago is totally right. While scholarships have increased greatly, it's almost all at the undergrad level. This is a great thing overall, I think, but it's come at the expense of higher level scholarships. Speaking as a former poor-and-desperate grad student, I don't think it should be extended only to undergrads. (for whatever my opinion is worth)

That being said, I'd be more than happy to contribute some small amount. (The "desperate" part isn't quite over, actually, so I still have quite a bit of sympathy/empathy).
posted by absalom at 7:35 PM on January 27, 2005

Count me in. Not sure what I can contribute, but I'm sure I can scrape together something when the announcement's made.
posted by AlexReynolds at 8:25 PM on January 27, 2005

I'm in for a $500 contribution.

And can the cutoff be membership as of January 26th (at the latest; earlier is fine with me)?
posted by WestCoaster at 9:30 PM on January 27, 2005

We could do something like last time, where we split the cash to three undergrads. For grads, maybe just one person?

Last time the essay question was used to sort of make everyone do at least something aside from throw their name in a hat. The question was:

Pick one previous thread you participated in. What was the position of your argument in relation to the issues raised? Why did you post, and how did you feel your post influenced the rest of the discussion?

I don't know if that would fly a second time. How about we ask something about how their major relates to the problems they see the world or something (and tie it back into metafilter somehow)?

Anyone got any ideas on that?
posted by mathowie (staff) at 9:46 PM on January 27, 2005

Stick it on the sidebar on the front page, for starters.
posted by interrobang at 10:27 PM on January 27, 2005

My major is nice and useless, so I won't enter. I will, however, toss in some cash.
posted by stray at 11:27 PM on January 27, 2005

How about we ask something about how their major relates to the problems they see the world or something

Just tossing out a thought...

How about widening it to something like "Why is the subject of your major important"? Something deliberately nebulous, anyhow. Whereby the quality of the essay is judged not on the the strength of the argument, but originality and perception instead.

Perhaps it's hard for some of us to understand someone's motivation for studying an ancient language, for example. So the challenge is to communicate the unapparent benefits of that study. Tell us something about it that makes it seem interesting, worthwhile, or even just attention grabbing, perhaps, to a wider audience? On the other hand, the benefit of studying medicine, say, seem pretty obvious to the wider community, so the challenge there would be to communicate some aspect of that discipline that might be unapparent to a non-student of that subject. In either extreme, the goal is to make the audience think about the subject in some way they might not have before. Hopefully this would make the competition as inclusive as possible.

Count me in for a donation when the time comes, as well, anyhow...
posted by normy at 11:58 PM on January 27, 2005

That's a great one, normy. Spot on.
posted by mathowie (staff) at 12:56 AM on January 28, 2005

Would happily pony up a few quid.

Matt, do you plan to open the competition to all student MeFi members ?
posted by biffa at 3:21 AM on January 28, 2005

And can the cutoff be membership as of January 26th (at the latest; earlier is fine with me)?

Good idea--once word gets out, there may be people joining just to enter.

I love normy's topic. And can't we decide how many 1k scholarships to give away depending on how much we donate? I bet we can give away 5 at least.
posted by amberglow at 5:21 AM on January 28, 2005

I'm in too. I also think normy nailed the essay question.

I'm inclined to let non-members apply---this could be an interesting way fo outreach, no? Bring in people who perhaps have never heard of mefi before? It makes sense, in my opinion, to use this as a community building opportunity, as well as funding a (couple?) worthy students. Are graduate students allowed too?
posted by bonehead at 6:03 AM on January 28, 2005

I'm not a grad student any more, but I know there are a lot of grads out there who could really use funding. Maybe include at least one award for a grad?
posted by adrianhon at 6:36 AM on January 28, 2005

I'm in.
posted by jessamyn at 7:20 AM on January 28, 2005

I would be willing to pony up some cash, and will also be entering the competition. This is a great idea, I also like matt's concept but im an international trade student so perhaps im a bit biased.
posted by sourbrew at 7:24 AM on January 28, 2005

I'm with amberglow on closing entries. Much prefer it as something done within our community. Don't really see it would be effective as a community builder.
posted by biffa at 7:36 AM on January 28, 2005

How do I apply for a scholarship??? This is great news...
posted by spaghetti at 8:04 AM on January 28, 2005

I'll donate. Are we just Paypalling Matt, or will there be a formal "Contribute Here" button at some point?
posted by headspace at 8:09 AM on January 28, 2005

I'll donate. I'm about to graduate law school in May, and I can't think of a nicer way to celebrate. Thanks to amberglow for the suggestion and to mathowie for the generosity!
posted by equipoise at 11:51 AM on January 28, 2005

I'm in. Can anyone think of an appropriate present/prize to help with school?

On preview: /me removes soliloquy favoring undergrads over grads.
Grad school is a labor of love, undergrad is a necessity.

posted by metaculpa at 4:22 PM on January 28, 2005

I'd actually read essays about normy's topic. Also (naturally), I'm a fan of the idea of including at least some grad students in the mix. (I think those would be more interesting applications, anyway. It takes a certain sort to dedicate one's life to the study of medieval latin.
posted by absalom at 1:29 PM on January 29, 2005