Important Updates

  • In observance of Cesar Chavez Day, Financial Aid and Scholarships will be closed on Friday, March 29, 2024. 
  • The priority filing date for the 2024-25 FAFSA and CADAA has been extended to May 2, 2024. Visit Apply for Financial Aid for details.
  • The Department of Education has announced they will send information from the 2024-25 FAFSA to schools in mid-March. This may result in a delay in financial aid packaging and offers for the 2024-25 academic year. While awaiting your financial aid offer, we encourage you to utilize the UC Davis Financial Aid Estimator to estimate your potential aid.

Third Year

As a third-year, things should start getting exciting. You have the freedom to focus more specifically on your chosen field of study as well as continue to pursue other areas of interest. Now is the time to start looking for opportunities to increase your leadership skills and hands-on learning that will help you stand out as an applicant. Challenge yourself by:

Atrin Toussi, 2015 Goldwater winner with microscope

Atrin Toussi, 2015 Goldwater winner

  • Meeting with your faculty advisor to discuss writing an honors thesis if you're in an honors program.
  • Attending regional, national, or international conferences in your field.
  • Presenting your research through the Undergraduate Research Center, other conferences, or through publications.
  • Exploring the AmgenBeckmanNSF REU, and PUF programs to support your research.
  • Pursuing internships. If you have a passion for public service, explore opportunities to study and intern for a quarter in Washington DC through the UC Washington Program or in Sacramento through the UC Center Sacramento.
  • Scheduling an appointment with the prestigious scholarship advisor to discuss fourth-year scholarships.  Fourth-year applications require extensive work at the end of the third year and throughout the summer.
  • Identifying faculty and other key individuals to write letters of reference considering how each reference writer will portray your skills and experience relative to the aims of each scholarship.

Prestigious scholarships you can apply for:

Planning for next year:

At the end of your third year, you should be thinking about whether your next step is graduate school or beginning your career. If you decide that graduate school is the right path for you and you're considering applying to RhodesMarshallGeorge J. MitchellFulbrightSchwarzmanKnight-Hennessy, Yenching, Paul and Daisy Soros, Churchill, Kanders Churchill, Gates Cambridge, you will need to begin your application at the end of the third year. Many of the fourth-year applications require extensive work and it's important to be mindful of those requirements.  After you decide which opportunity is right for you, make an appointment with the prestigious scholarship advisor to discuss your application.