2025 Application Open!
The DUS Scholarship recognizes outstanding DUS students beyond the first year who have engaged meaningfully in exploring their academic options. Several DUS students will be selected for awards, each of which, along with recognition, will receive a minimum $1,000.00 scholarship.
Who should apply?
Eligibility for the awards is based on the following criteria:
- Current undergraduate enrollment at Penn State.
- Previous enrollment in DUS for at least two semesters.
- Second-year or higher standing, with at least 28 credits completed at Penn State.
- Commendable academic achievement as evidenced by your transcript. (you do not need to submit a transcript)
- Engagement in meaningful academic exploration based on your application. (see below)
How to apply?
To apply, provide concise but thoughtful and comprehensive statements addressing all the three items below. Each statement may be no longer than 500 words.
- Exploration is a process. Tell us how you engaged in major and interest exploration while in DUS. In other words, what was your process? What was successful? What would you do differently? From your experience, what advice would you give to a first-year exploratory student?
- Provide a brief summary of your significant co-curricular activities (e.g., clubs, athletics, internships, part-time jobs, volunteer experiences, caregiving responsibilities, etc.) you have been involved with since you started college. Share what meaning or impact one of your most significant experiences had on you and/or others.
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Think about a general education class that you took and connect the knowledge and/or skills from that class to either your major(s) of interest or an experience that you've had outside of the classroom.
Submit your application (as a Word document) from you Penn State e-mail account to Emily Herr at ely107@psu.edu by Sunday, November 9, 2025.
Applications are reviewed anonymously; please do not include your name or any other identifying information on or within your statement submissions. Submissions must be received from your Penn State email account. No late applications will be accepted.
What’s next?
The DUS Awards Committee looks forward to reading your application and learning more about you. You will be notified of award decisions by December 19, 2025.
If you have any questions, please email Brian Petrosky (bjp157@psu.edu) or Emily Herr (ely107@psu.edu).
Congratulations to the 2024 DUS Award winners:
- Ramin Khan, University Park - Joyce Buck Award
- Kyler Ito, Behrend
- Wendy Huang, Berks
- Cecelia Figueroa, University Park
- Maya Ross, University Park
Read more about how these five students earned DUS Scholarships for academic exploration in Penn State News.