Tips for Scholarship Applicants

• West Coast/Mendocino workshop: March 9, 2020
• East Coast/Iroquois Springs workshop: April 15, 2020

We encourage dancers, singers, and instrumentalists to apply whether they are new to Balkan music and dance (and our workshops) or veterans; whether they have Balkan roots or not; and whether they are professionals or amateurs. Above all, we are looking for people who will help us spread the joy of Balkan music and dance! However, the application process can be intimidating. The Scholarship Committee has put together the following tips to guide you, because ultimately, we’re all rooting for your success!

1. Scholarships are awarded on the basis of written applications. CDs, websites, music samples, and the like are not reviewed during the decision process. However, we are well aware that writing isn’t everyone’s forte. Before you get frustrated, we encourage you to ask a friend for assistance! Cook a buddy dinner or treat them to coffee while they help you craft an application that truly reflects your talents, goals, and personality. Obviously, don’t have someone write the whole thing for you, but don’t suffer in silence if writing is really hard for you or if English is a second language. We get it!
2. Don’t use your phone to submit applications. Unless you want to represent yourself with short and disjointed answers riddled with poor punctuation and the heavy-handed influence of autocorrect, just don’t do it. This is one of those instances where using an actual computer will go miles toward your success.
3. Use the rubric. We’ve published the exact criteria that you’ll be judged on under the “Scholarship Details” tab on our website. Use this insider knowledge to shape your responses. It’s really easy to tell who has read the website thoroughly and who hasn’t. This tells us a little bit about an applicant’s levels of focus, grit, and discipline. Everything on our website is for your benefit, so use it!
4. Try for every scholarship that applies to you. In other words, you may apply for more than one scholarship at a time. For example, an East Coast singer should apply for a Dick Crum/Kef Scholarship, the Stefni Agin Scholarship, AND the Susan K. Anderson Scholarship. An East Coast dancer should apply for a Dick Crum/Kef Scholarship, the Cooper Scholarship, AND the Susan K. Anderson Scholarship. Similarly, East Coast gajda players should apply for a Dick Crum/Kef Scholarship, the Vassil Bebelekov Scholarship, AND the Susan K. Anderson Scholarship. Make sense? Throw your hat into the ring as many times as you can.
5. Never give up! This is a competitive process, and it is very common for applicants to apply more than once before receiving their first scholarship. But scholarships aren’t the only way to get to camp. If we can’t give you a scholarship this year, please apply for a work exchange position by emailing your coast’s Site Manager! It’s a great way to integrate into the community, and while you may have to battle a little FOMO, there’s so much to do at our workshops every hour of every day that we guarantee you’ll get your fill of music, dance, and laughter.

You don’t have to be an award-winning writer to do well in our application process. We’re looking for folks who give a thorough and honest effort, because that’s the kind of attitude that will maximize your experience at our workshops. You need to be willing to step out of your comfort zone, take the time to process and practice, and zero in on the details to learn in the midst of the intense and playful environment our camps offer. Ernest effort is always well received, so do your best, and the Scholarship Committee will look forward to reviewing your application.