Northridge Scholarship Program Pre-Application Information

The Northridge Scholarship Program is for undergraduate students and includes:

GE Honors Rising Scholar Award
University Scholarship
Presidential Scholarship

The University Scholarship is intended for, but not restricted to, underclassmen who are interested in pursuing campus activities, leadership opportunities, or opportunities for academic development.

The Presidential Scholarship is intended for upperclassmen who are pursuing or interested in pursuing a research project or community-based project under the guidance of a faculty mentor in the upcoming academic year.

The Presidential and University Scholarships are merit-based awards and do not require demonstrated financial need. You can submit applications for both the University and Presidential Scholarships. However, note that competitive applicants will only be offered one scholarship award.

Below is information for each scholarship opportunity. Please review the details for the scholarship you're interested in and complete the required survey at the bottom of the section. You must submit a separate survey for each scholarship you apply for. Don't forget to click the Submit button to finalize your survey!

GE Honors Rising Scholar Award

First-time freshmen who apply to the GE Honors Program and meet the scholarship criteria can apply for the GE Honors Rising Scholar Award.

Award Details:

$5,000 scholarship for 10 first-time freshmen in the GE Honors Program.
Renewable for a second year if GPA, program participation, and enrollment requirements are met.

Eligibility Requirements:

Admitted to CSUN as a first-time freshman.
Applied and accepted into the GE Honors Program by April 30.
High school GPA of 3.75 or higher.
Submitted FAFSA or CADAA by March 3, 2025 priority deadline.

Renewal Conditions:

Maintain a 3.5 CSUN GPA.
Full-time enrollment each term.
Complete 4 GE Honors courses by the end of the second year.

Admission to the GE Honors Program does not guarantee the scholarship. Awardees are chosen through a separate competitive process, and financial need is considered.

Apply for the GE Honors Program by visiting the GE Honors Program Application and Admission Requirements webpage.

University Scholarship

The University Scholarship encourages the scholarly development and engagement of continuing CSUN students. Recipients must be full-time undergraduates during their award year.

University Scholars receive funding to explore their fields of interest through internships, extracurricular activities, community engagement, and more. They also have the opportunity to develop mentoring relationships with faculty members. Ideally, scholars will use this awarded year to prepare for the Presidential Scholarship competition.

Scholarship Benefits

Award: $7,500
Textbook Discount: 25% at Matador Bookstore
Priority Registration: Helps secure preferred classes and professors
Renewal Opportunity: Apply for a one-time renewal by detailing a new or expanded project

Eligibility Criteria

Full-time undergraduate students (12+ units) for Fall 2025 & Spring 2026
Must complete at least 24 CSUN units by Spring 2025
Minimum GPA of 3.25, maintained during the award year
Participate in at least 3 scholarly activities per term
Attend the Advancement to Graduate Education (AGE) Conference
Open to international students
Ineligible: Second-degree, graduate, credential students, Tseng College enrollees, or Fall graduates

Application Process

Submit Application: Apply online via myMatadorScholarships (complete the General Application first).
Recommendation Letter: Request a letter from a CSUN faculty member via the scholarship portal.
Degree Progress Report (DPR): Submit through myMatadorScholarships.
Academic Plan: Signed by your academic advisor.
Essay Responses: Highlight strengths, experiences, and goals.

Scholarship Essay
Essays are crucial to the application, focusing on your goals, scholarly development, and plans for the award year. Essays should:

Be clear, specific, and well-structured
Provide detailed examples
Avoid generalizations
Be carefully proofread

Essay Prompts:

Describe your academic and career goals, and how CSUN will guide your future.
Discuss your scholarly development and activities (on or off campus).
Explain the scholarly activities you plan to pursue with the University Scholarship (e.g., internships, research, leadership roles).

Tips for Essays

Stick to the prompt and answer all parts.
Use vivid examples to illustrate your experiences.
Leave time for revisions and proofreading

Letters of Recommendation

Letters should come from CSUN faculty who can speak to your academic strengths, goals, and involvement.
Professors, advisors, and mentors are good options; family or friends are not.
Provide your recommender with a resume or CV to help them write a strong letter.

Responsibilities
University Scholars are expected to:

Engage in scholarly activities like internships, research, or community projects
Develop a mentor/mentee relationship with a faculty member
Submit a progress report at the end of Fall
Maintain a 3.25 GPA each semester
Attend the Northridge Scholars Program Reception (TBD)
Attend the Advancement to Graduate Studies (AGE) Conference (required)
Participate in at least 3 scholarly activities per term

Survey

University Scholars applicants must either submit the Pre-Application Survey by clicking the “Required Survey” button below or attend one of the three Zoom Sessions listed.

December 4, 2024 – 3:00 PM
https://csun.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZcrc-mvrDgrGd3cTq3K4i212fdHDcmYs0sv

January 21, 2025 – 3:00 PM
https://csun.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZckceuuqzMiGtD4GxcQ1XqXix_h-rLetaRZ

February 4, 2025 – 3:00 PM
https://csun.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZIkde-rrDgsG9Eyk2DputhDAQ6T2-JLRDls

Presidential Scholarship

The NSP Presidential Scholarship offers CSUN undergraduates the chance to work with faculty mentors on original projects. Students receive funding to conduct research, creative, or applied projects that advance their field or benefit the CSUN community. Projects must be the student's own work, though they can be related to their mentor’s research.

Scholars must develop, complete, and present their projects at the Annual Presidential Scholarship Exhibit in Spring.

Scholarship Details

Duration: Yearlong commitment to academic growth
Eligible Students: Upperclassmen with ties to the CSUN community and research interest in a particular field

Scholarship Benefits:

$10,000 scholarship
25% textbook discount at Matador Bookstore
Priority registration for classes
Reception and networking with administrators and fellow scholars
Opportunity to apply for a one-time renewal for a new or expanded project

Eligibility Criteria

Full-time undergraduate students (12+ units) for Fall 2024 & Spring 2025
Continuing students: Must have 60 units completed by Spring of the application year
Transfer students: Must have 24 CSUN units and 60 total by Spring
3.50 GPA (minimum) to apply and maintain during the award year
Must present your project at CSUNPosium or a professional conference in Spring 2025
No financial need required; open to international students
Attend the Advancement to Graduate Education (AGE) Conference
Ineligible: Second-degree, graduate, credential students, Tseng College enrollees, or Fall graduates

Application Process
Apply online through myMatadorScholarships, completing both the General Application and the Presidential Scholarship application.

You’ll need to submit:

A project proposal essay
Faculty mentor statement
Degree Progress Report (DPR)
Signed academic plan
A Gantt chart to outline your project timeline

Faculty Mentor
Your faculty mentor should be a full-time CSUN faculty member who has time to guide you throughout the project. They will need to support your original project, not their ongoing research. Faculty must attend the research exhibit and provide guidance for the completion of the project.

Scholarship Essay (Proposal)
Your project proposal should clearly explain your research, creative, or applied project, why it’s important, the methods you’ll use, expected outcomes, and benefits to your field or community. Be specific and ensure your project can be completed within a year.

Tips for Faculty Mentor Selection

Choose a professor whose research interests align with your project.
Prepare a resume or CV to share with your mentor.
Be sure the faculty member can commit to supporting you throughout the year.

Responsibilities

If awarded the scholarship, you must:

Work with your faculty mentor throughout the year
Maintain a 3.50 GPA each semester
Submit a progress report at the end of Fall semester
Attend the Advancement to Graduate Education (AGE) Conference
Present your project in Spring at the exhibit and CSUNPosium or another conference

Gantt Chart
A Gantt chart will help you manage your project timeline, showing tasks and deadlines. You’ll be evaluated on whether your chart demonstrates that your project can be realistically completed within the year.

Faculty Mentor Guidelines
Mentors should be prepared to commit to guiding the student throughout the year, helping with project goals and milestones. They’ll need to meet regularly with the student and offer feedback to ensure the project’s success.

Project Example
"My project will provide free individual singing lessons to local elementary and secondary students in the San Fernando Valley." – Will Brooks, 2017-2018 Presidential Scholar

Survey
Presidential Scholars applicants must either submit the Pre-Application Survey by clicking the “Required Survey” button below or attend one of the three Zoom Sessions listed.

December 4, 2024 – 3:00 PM
https://csun.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZcrc-mvrDgrGd3cTq3K4i212fdHDcmYs0sv

January 21, 2025 – 3:00 PM
https://csun.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZckceuuqzMiGtD4GxcQ1XqXix_h-rLetaRZ

February 4, 2025 – 3:00 PM
https://csun.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZIkde-rrDgsG9Eyk2DputhDAQ6T2-JLRDls