What distinguishes a winning University Scholar proposal?

How is a University Scholar project different from a regular independent study project or honors thesis?  Here are some points to keep in mind as you develop your university scholar proposal. Winning University Scholar proposals…

• Showcase students’ passion for their fields. Think about what excites you about the plan of study and the project you have selected and convey this excitement in your proposal.
• Demonstrate students’ ownership of their work. University Scholar projects reflect students’ initiative, independent thinking and creativity. While you are expected to receive advice and help from their faculty mentors, your proposal should show your own contributions to the research idea.
• Show that their plans are realistic. Make sure you provide sufficient evidence that your have selected a project that is not only intellectually challenging but also feasible to complete in the appropriate time frame.  
• Reflect comprehension of the relevant literature. Make sure you demonstrate your knowledge of the relevant literature by citing scholarly work in your proposal and bibliography.
• Show how the University Scholar project and plan of study extend the level of learning beyond what could be done as a regular student. You should show how, by taking graduate courses and courses in other disciplines, your plan of study can deepen and enhance your knowledge of your chosen field.
• Demonstrate students’ intellectual interests beyond the narrow field of their disciplines. While it is not necessary for you to select projects or plans of study that involve more than one discipline, many University Scholars do pursue multi- or interdisciplinary work.
• Demonstrate how the University Scholar work fits into your goals and plans.  Winning proposals underscore the benefits students will derive from their projects and how the additional flexibility will help them achieve their goals.