Important Updates

On behalf of the UC Davis community, we hope this message finds you and your loved ones safe amid the ongoing Los Angeles wildfires. Emotional support or resource assistance is available at UC Davis Mental Health, and for short-term financial hardships, reach out to the Financial Crisis Response Team. Our thoughts are with you during this difficult time, and UC Davis remains committed to supporting you in every way possible.

  • OFFICE CLOSURE: Financial Aid and Scholarships will be closed for Martin Luther King, Jr. Day on Monday, January 20, 2025. 

Study Abroad Fourth Year

Fourth Year

In the last year of your undergraduate career, you probably have a strong sense of where you want your education to take you. There are a host of prestigious scholarships available to seniors and recent alum who are looking at graduate school, including:

If you are applying for Rhodes, Marshall, George J. Mitchell, Fulbright, and/or Gates Cambridge, you will start your application at the end of your third year. You must also apply for admission to the relative University in early fall.

Study abroad student standing in front of the Step Pyramid of Djoser at Saqqara

Stay focused! You want to make sure your grades stay competitive. You will also want to consider:

  • Writing an honors thesis, if you're in an honors program.
  • Publishing research
  • Continuing community involvement at a leadership level.
  • Preparing for interviews by reviewing tips and attending an interview skills workshop.
  • Completing on-campus interviews for prestigious scholarships (if applicable).
  • Participating in mock interviews and finalist interviews (if selected).
  • Contacting the prestigious scholarship advisor once you have been notified of your candidacy status.

If you decide that graduate school is not the path for you right now, you can also look into Peace Corps, AmeriCorps, or other programs of that nature. While our office does not provide support for these programs, they are a great way to build experience post-graduation.