Vilas Scholarship

Scholarship Sponsored by St. Lawrence University

If you're planning a liberal‑arts education with an eye toward a career in business, the Vilas Scholarship is worth your attention. Below I’ve organized the details so they’re easy to follow — what the scholarship is, who it’s for, how to apply, and how recipients are chosen.

Overview
- Purpose: The Vilas Scholarship supports domestic students pursuing a St. Lawrence University liberal‑arts education as preparation for a business career. It provides financial help and connects scholars into the St. Lawrence alumni network across many business fields.
- Note: You do not have to major in Business in the Liberal Arts to be eligible; the scholarship simply encourages and supports students interested in business.

A bit of history
- Established in 1976 by the Bodman Foundation of New York City to honor Homer A. Vilas, Class of 1913. Vilas was a Wall Street financier, corporate director, and generous supporter of his alma mater and other nonprofits.

Who can apply
- Domestic first‑year applicants to St. Lawrence University only. International students should check the International Admissions site for other merit scholarship opportunities.

How to apply — deadlines and required essay
- Regular Decision applicants: submit the Vilas Scholarship essay with your complete Common Application or St. Lawrence Application by February 1.
- Early Decision / Early Action applicants: submit the Vilas Scholarship essay at the same time you submit your application.
- Where to submit: use the scholarship link on the St. Lawrence scholarship page (the essay is submitted with your application materials).

Essay prompt and requirements
You must choose one of these two tracks and respond accordingly:
Option 1 — Invest $1,000,000 in an existing (for‑profit) business:
- Describe the business.
- Explain why you would invest in it.
- Explain how your investment would benefit the community and/or industry.

Option 2 — Use $1,000,000 to start your own business:
- Outline your business plan.
- Explain why you want to start this business.
- Describe how it will differ from similar businesses.
- Explain how it will benefit the community and/or industry.

Length: at least 250 words (about a half‑page single‑spaced or a full page double‑spaced). Essays shorter than 250 words will not be considered.

Selection process and timeline
- Six applicants are chosen as semi‑finalists. Those six are invited to New York City as guests of the University (late February or early March) to interview with an alumni and trustee selection committee.
- Semi‑finalist notifications: those six students are contacted in mid‑February. Applicants who are not selected as semi‑finalists will not be contacted.
- Final decision: final scholarship outcomes are communicated in the admission letter sent in March. Typically two or three finalists are named Vilas Scholars.

A quick piece of advice (from a teacher)
- Treat the essay as both a demonstration of business thinking and of clear writing. Be specific about the business, realistic about impact, and concise in your explanations — those qualities stand out in a short essay.

If you need help drafting or revising the essay, ask a teacher or counselor to read it with you — a second pair of eyes helps catch unclear reasoning and tighten your argument.