Article Archives

For Flinn Scholarship applicants, one of the last hurdles is often putting aside self-doubt. It's easy to read about the accomplishments of Flinn Scholars and assume there is no way to match up to them. One of our senior Flinn Scholars, Yichao Wang ('06), urges applicants to recognize how strong their own records actually are, then forget about them, and start concentrating on what's to come:

Dearest Future Flinn Scholar!

I'm guessing this letter finds you in the midst of a deluge of work and general madness. It's your senior year, and college apps, AP tests, homework and projects probably are looming big in your life, and you're probably wondering if you were not somehow delusional when you decided to open up and start an application process for a scholarship that asks you about fictitious documentaries and your shortcomings and has about 12,591,820,983 pages of information to fill out.

If you're anything like I was my senior year, you might be thinking at this point, “Oh my gosh—I don't know how to answer these questions—and I haven't done enough community service—and my school involvement's been crummy—and my GPA's not good enough—and I don't know what really sets me apart—and I don't know what I want to major in—and every other applicant seems so brilliant—and all the Flinn scholars seem to have written symphonies or economic theses for major journals or engineered water supply systems for rural communities in Peru or cured cancer and I haven't done any of that—and my hair is not nearly as gorgeous as that person on the Flinn home page OMG-there's-no-way-they'll-pick-me-in-a-million-years-ARGH”!

First—not everyone can have such cool hair, so don't feel bad. And second—I know when I applied for the Flinn, I thought I was way out of my league. The current scholars are all doing amazing things, and you're facing off against the best students of Arizona for this scholarship.

But that's because you are the best of Arizona. You might be shaking your head in doubt (or maybe nodding with self confidence—if so, hurrah for you!), but believe it, and trust the strength of your application and what you've done. From what I've experienced, the Foundation isn't so much looking for what you have done, but what you are going to do—they're looking for motivated, dedicated and hard-working young people. Your GPA and other “stats” are a factor, but more as indicators of that dedication and ambition than anything else. This process is really self-selecting—so select yourself.

Also, perhaps the best tip I can offer is: have fun. The essay prompts are an opportunity to give the selection committee a way to see you that's not just numbers. Don't try to write what you think they want to hear, write what you want to say—and don't be afraid to say something strange or off the beaten path. Show them that you know how to write, and be yourself, and enjoy the writing!

You don't have to have saved a South American village from drought or be majoring in chemical biological microbial engineering to be a Flinn Scholar. I'm a theatre and English major with a focus on theatre for youth. There are Scholars who are music majors, art majors, political science majors, as well as the “hard” sciences—it's a  huge spectrum! So be confident in what you love, and rock that application.

The scholarship is totally worth it; I can say without a doubt it has been one of the biggest blessings in my life, allowing me the resources and opportunity to explore and study what I want. The people I've met, the professional contacts I've made, the places I've gotten to travel, have all made it absolutely priceless. I can't wait to welcome you into that experience.

So buckle in, bake those brownies for your letters of rec writers, and we'll see you at the interviews. ;)

Best,
~M. Yichao Wang
Senior Flinn

Photo by Flickr user jeremywilburn

Blake Thomson ('09) thinks that students who have always dreamed of working three part-time jobs and eating only ramen noodles might not want to apply for the Flinn Scholarship. Here's his advice for everybody else.

Dear potential 2010 Flinn Scholar (yes YOU!),

My name is Blake Thomson, and one short year ago I was working on my Flinn scholarship application, just like you. I was tired of my mom telling me how lucky I would be if I were to receive the scholarship. I was sick of telling her that there was no chance I would receive such an amazing deal. I was frustrated by the idea of having to address such difficult essay prompts just to be turned away by such a prestigious scholarship committee. But I couldn’t stop thinking about the regret I’d feel if I didn’t give myself a chance.

And so, to appease my mom, my friends, my teachers, and most of all, myself, I applied for the Flinn. Of course, to protect my ego and to appear cool and collected, I put up a front of indifference every time someone mentioned the Flinn.  I can’t even count how many times I used the phrase “yeah it’d be cool but… we’ll see” during those ensuing months.

The period of time between my application submission and my selection as a Scholar is hazy, and I think I must’ve blacked out somewhere in there amidst the daunting interviews, the hesitant optimism and the many emails, because I’m not entirely sure how I was chosen to be a Flinn Scholar. But the point is, I got the scholarship.

Even though every time I brought up my application for the Flinn I’d add on to the end of my remark that “obviously it’s a science thing and I won’t get it, but it’s not a big deal.” Even though I kept stressing and searching and studying each college trying to find the right match for me, because I was certain I wasn’t going to have any “viable” in-state options. Even though, in my final interview for the Flinn, I told a decorated and revered former general that, in my opinion, war is never the answer (I think I stopped breathing for the remainder of the interview). Even though I cringed at the thought of going up against all these kids who I was certain were “better than me” for a scholarship that essentially ensures that I am going to have to work hard, dream big, and, to use a cliché, be somebody.

The Flinn is for anyone, not just the science-oriented. However, if you picture any of the following as essential college experiences that you would like to have, you might want to reconsider applying for the Flinn Scholarship:
•    Settling on driving to Nogales for a day-trip to satisfy your urges to “study abroad.”
•    Having to look at any purchase in terms of its food value (e.g. not buying a shirt because “it costs 24 packages of ramen.”)
•    Having to camp out in a lawn chair by the car of your college advisor in order to get in touch with him.
•    Putting that unpaid internship with a congressman on hold because your first priority is defending your title as “Most Reliable Fry-Maker” so you can get the much-needed bonus to pay your college tuition.

These are all things you will not have to deal with as a Flinn Scholar. However, oddly enough, if you are a bit eccentric and for whatever reason would really like to have these experiences, you could still have them as a Flinn Scholar if you so choose. And that’d make you an interesting individual, which means… you’d be a great candidate for the Flinn.

In short, there is no reason not to apply for the Flinn. Don’t second-guess yourself. Show the committee who you are, who you hope to be, and know that you have nothing to regret.

Thank you, and I hope you have a great senior year,

Blake Thomson (’09)

Photo by flickr user saket_vora

We're counting down the days--under a month to go, now, until the deadline to submit 2010 Flinn Scholarship applications.

About time to hand out a few hints, don't you think? Here's what Emma Kleiner ('09) has to say:

Dear Future Flinn Scholars,

Congratulations on starting the Flinn application process!  My name is Emma, and just one short year ago I was writing (and re-writing) the Flinn essays just like you.

To give you a tangible grasp of the difference that one year can make, tonight I am sitting here writing this letter with another Flinn Scholar.  I also just finished watching “Glee” with my roommate and two great friends that live next door.  Yes, I had some homework to do—but let’s overlook that right now.  There are so many fun college times ahead of you, so just keep that in mind through the whole college-application process—it’s all worth it in the end.  

Now on to addressing application anxieties more concretely:  I read your essay prompts and basically flipped.  They are so cool!  I’m totally jealous and wish I could apply all over again so that I could have the opportunity to write your essays.  Though I cannot speak for the Flinn Foundation, I do know that the selection committee wants to see your true personality shine in these essays.  Have fun and speak your true opinions!  I know that you may be a little worn out by all of your high-school obligations and college applications, but consistent effort in these next five weeks will really improve your essays and make them stand out.  Keep working diligently regardless of how overworked you may feel.  You all have the potential to write amazing and insightful essays. You simply have to allow yourself the time and energy to do that.

I know that many of you will have the chance to accept the Flinn.  Let me assure you that it is the best opportunity ever!  The first thing that I said to my family when I came home from Lost Canyon (the annual Flinn Scholars retreat to northern Arizona) is that I would not trade the Flinn for any Ivy League school.  The Flinn Family is not just a concept—it’s a reality.  I get along with all the Flinn Scholars and have a great time meeting everyone.  The older Flinns have helped me so much, and I look to them for guidance all the time.  

Last year, the idea of being part of the Flinn community inspired me to create special essays.  I hope this letter will inspire you to do the same.  The Flinn experience is worth the effort and time that you’ll invest in your application.  I have so much confidence in each of you.  I can’t wait to meet many of you at your future Flinn interviews!  

Good luck!
Emma Kleiner (’09)

Photo by Flickr user b-love

The New York Times fixation on Flinn Scholar weddings continues. This time, it's Parmi Suchdev ('94) getting hitched.

The long day began early in the morning as all of the scholars lethargically boarded the bus at 4:00 A.M. to depart Cluj-Napoca and head towards Budapest.

Imagine your most intimate experience with nature. Perhaps it involves the silence of a dark forest; maybe views of a shaft of light cascading between mountains; it may simply be hiking to the top of a great peak. Today’s hike, or should I say mountain climb, in Torockó was probably one of the most fantastic encounters with the natural world I have experienced in my lifetime.

At this point, we are halfway through our time in Romania and over halfway through the trip. We awoke today in Homorodszentpeter, an idyllic town of 200 (that's people, not families) nestled in the Transylvanian countryside.

Today the 2009 Flinn class put more emphasis on the Travel part of "traveling with a purpose."

A few of us went running after dinner and learned yet again how interesting a short-thirty minute run can be when in a completely foreign place. Along the way, we found a spinning glass globe that told us the local time in Arizona, a creek with the strangest and most mystifying chorus of frogs that we have ever heard, and an eerie but intruiguing path with a vanishing bridge and overly-friendly Saint Bernard.

After a quick lunch and some nice gelato, we headed towards the Pentecost Festival, which was taking place at Hero's Square. Calling it a festival doesn't portray how crowded and jubilant the atmosphere was.

The differences in the physical surroundings between the Roma village and the winery were great, but it was easy to move from one to the other because they seemed to have one key thing is common. From the Roma community, to the vintners of the winery, it was the element of family that carried through.

This morning we all met at our hotel, the Radio Inn, after spending the night with our homestays in Budapest. From Radio Inn, we took the metro to the IIE office for our first lecture of the day--an ethnic-relations discussion with Professor Ferenc Zsigo.

The day began at 8:58 am with a sprint to breakfast after I had pitted an exhausting but exciting night against my small travel alarm clock. Ten came and we were settled into the IIE office preparing for our first speaker of that morning, Károly Pintér.

Each year, the Selection Committee that interviews finalists for the Flinn Scholarship includes one past Flinn Scholar. That Scholar is then invited to present an address at the Recognition Dinner in May when the new class of Scholars is introduced and graduates of the program are congratulated for their achievements. This year, the Scholar on the Selection Committee was Siobhan O'Neill ('88). Here are Siobhan's remarks at the Recognition Dinner.

Shelly Lowe ('92) is trading in her responsibilities as dean of Yale's Native American Cultural Center for a new role: executive director of the Harvard University Native American Program.