FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. - Each year thousands of students apply for competitive national and international scholarships such as the Rhodes, Marshall, Gates Cambridge, and Fulbright. The competition for these awards is intense, and students look to scholarship advisors for support. Many universities have created an office or designated part of an office to assist these students, which has provided greater access for students who may not have applied previously or successfully. It has also increased the competition.

The 12 essays in “Beyond Winning: National Scholarship Competitions and the Student Experience,” edited by Suzanne McCray (University of Arkansas Press, $14.95, paper), are from the 2003 National Association of Fellowships Advisors Conference held at the University of Denver. Essays by the heads of the Rhodes, Marshall, Gates, and Truman Scholarship foundations provide a sense of the philosophy and direction of their programs. The essays provide information on new initiatives, insights into the history and significance of the programs, and insider tips for application and interview preparation.

Other essays focus on the advising and application process from successful advisors at various universities, how the United Kingdom’s higher educational system differs from that in the United States, and the key issue of ethics in the application process. All the essays demonstrate that the scholarship application experience itself is a valuable one that is more about learning and service than it is about winning.

Suzanne McCray is the associate dean of the Honors College at the University of Arkansas and also directs the Office of Post-Graduate Fellowships. She was the vice president of the National Association of Fellowships Advisors and is currently its president. This publication was made possible by the University of Arkansas Honors College.