Any form of higher education comes with its expenses, but as an undergraduate student enrolled at UNLV, you will likely already have met the conditions necessary. I had already resolved to keep my GPA higher than the required 2.0 to meet the eligibility, so why not apply?
In the Spring semester of my freshman year, my advisor sent an email encouraging me to apply. I had previously applied for a whole slew of scholarships and hadn’t been awarded a single one! These losses were devastating at the time, as we’re all aware of how costly a college education can be. To cover all of my bases, I applied for scholarships that hinged upon every aspect of my intersecting identities. Scholarships for students of color, female students, low income students, even applying for scholarship contests celebrities curate to draw in views. None of them panned out, and it did affect my confidence as a student, as the first inklings of imposter syndrome emerged.
Fortunately, the ASC Dean’s Award is not a regular scholarship. Whereas most other scholarships have numerous eligibility criteria and require you to compete with students all over the country, the ASC Dean’s Award Scholarship is specific to students in the Exploring or Major Pathways majors at UNLV. In an essay, you’re asked to reflect on your experiences as a student at UNLV and connect your present education to future opportunities.
Truthfully, I was not the highest achieving student before UNLV. My high school experience did not prepare me for independent work or extended hours of self-guided study. I knew that my grades weren’t enough to cover me through college, and it worried me. College came with many unforeseen financial hang ups that the ASC Dean’s Award Scholarship carried me through. It wasn’t just extra money in my semester refund check, it was housing, transportation, food when I didn’t have it, and the supplies I needed to be a better student.
I've recently declared my major as Anthropology and am no longer eligible to receive the scholarship, but I’m glad that I am able to move closer towards my post-graduate plans of law school. I aspire to be like the influential attorneys and lawyers making profound changes on a national level. There will be more scholarships in the future and, as a law school student, I can expect to repeat the process of being new and unsure of myself again. The award fueled my loyalty with UNLV - it was as if we had agreed on a partnership and they were honoring it.
The thing that I will miss the most about the scholarship, aside from receiving it, is the letter sent in the mail notifying recipients. Making the Dean’s List and enrolling full time were things I already expected of myself. Receiving this scholarship confirmed for me that I was being seen, and the validation I felt in that, encouraged me to aim beyond higher.
The Dean’s Award now accepting applications for the 2021-22 academic year.
The deadline to apply is June 4, 2021.
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Congratulations to our Graduating
Student Employees!
Thank you for helping us
help students succeed!
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Michelle Adams, Graduate Assistant
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Hayley Baker, Tutor/SI Leader
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Cristian Gonzalez-Perez, SAAS Tutor
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William Kreitler, Graduate Assistant
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Deisy Landeros, Graduate Assistant
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Elizabeth Martinez, Front Desk Leader
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Andrea Santillan, Front Desk
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Michael Spencer, Peer Mentor
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The entire ASC team wishes you all the best in your future endeavors! |
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Andrea Santillan
UNLV Class of 2021
B.A. in Psychology and Anthropology
Cum Laude
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Tell us about your college journey and what your next steps are after graduation.
I started at UNLV right after high school in Fall 2017. I am a Psychology and Anthropology major. I’m also part of the Honors College and graduated Cum Laude. After graduation, I plan on attending law school in 2022. I'm going to give myself time in between to keep studying for the LSAT and so I can work in a law office. I'm looking into a couple of different opportunities right now, just so that I can start getting some experience with a career path that interests me.
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Why did you choose to study Anthropology and Psychology?
I actually started my senior year of high school by taking AP Psychology. I already knew at the time that I wanted to go into law and that I could do any major that I wanted for my undergraduate degree. I chose Psychology because I felt like it would give me great insight into how people work and how they think, especially since I'm interested in law school. I want to be in court where you always have to think about what the jury or judges are thinking. I thought that Psychology would help a lot with that. I joined the Honors College and had the opportunity to take Cultural Anthropology with Dr. C. Todd White. I was really interested in Cultural Anthropology, specifically learning about different groups of people and different thinking, so I made it my minor first. Later on, I realized that I could either graduate one semester early or I could just extend my time the whole four years, so I decided to make it my major.
What would you say was your most challenging experience as a college student? How did you overcome that challenge?
I would say time management was the most challenging thing that I had to deal with since I became involved in so many things. At the end of my first year I joined the Mock Trial Team and I ended up becoming the team captain and president. I’m also in student government and I work at the front desk of the Academic Success Center, so there’s a lot of things that I’ve had to juggle throughout college. I think I definitely have a lot of help, especially with being a Hixson-Lied Success Scholar. My first two years, I met with Academic Success Coaches and they definitely gave me the tools I needed to know how to plan my schedule when I was picking classes and to give myself time in between to do my work. I also met with the Hixson-Lied Success Scholar staff, who helped me a lot too, because they would check up on me and keep me accountable. I think that having them, as people that I can always depend on, helped me a lot.
What was the highlight of your college experience?
I would say all the people that I met because of everything I’ve been a part of on campus. I’ve met a lot of people that have inspired me and have done a lot of amazing things and are so accomplished. Also, just being able to warrant those relationships with people that I wouldn’t have met otherwise, since it’s so hard to create meaningful relationships just by going to class and going home. I would say that the real meaningful experiences I’ve had with people was whenever I was involved in something. For example, for the Mock Trial Team, we got to travel to California and Arizona and all these places. I really cherish those memories of when we got to go to the beach or go out to eat or go shopping. That was definitely my favorite part.
As a graduating senior, what do you wish you had known as an incoming freshman?
I wish I knew that I wouldn’t be lonely forever - that it would be temporary. I remember feeling really lonely when I started college because I left high school having done so much and being involved in so many things and having my friends. When I got here, I felt like I was starting all over and I didn’t really know anyone. That changed with me joining organizations.
I wish I also knew that there were a lot of opportunities for me, like scholarships or programs. There’s also a lot of professional opportunities. All you really have to do is talk to people. There are so many opportunities if you just take advantage of them. I’ve found they’re easier to acquire than people think.
What are three important study skills that you have learned (or utilized) in your time at UNLV?
After being a peer mentor for the COLA 100E First-Year Seminar, I learned about the Pomodoro Technique. That’s helped me a lot, especially closer to finals, when I’ve felt burnt out. It’s helpful because it breaks the time down into more manageable pieces. I also found that having a separate journal or Word document, or however I was taking notes for when I was physically in class and the professor is lecturing. Then going home and keeping a separate journal that would look nicer, that I would color code and put graphs and lists and make it look more visually aesthetic, helped a lot. It forced me to group the information in a way that makes more sense to me, as well as the repetition. Finally, having study groups that I could depend on to not spend the whole time talking, but know we were going to actually get the work done. That helped a lot as well.
Along your college journey, who has given you the best advice? What was it?
I've had a lot of great mentors in my time at UNLV. Recently, the President of CSUN, Joshua Padilla, gave us advice that CSUN and nearly all undergraduate college in general is a testing ground. We don't have to take things so seriously, as in, it’s not worth the drama - it's not worth caring so much about a certain goal that you become tunnel vision with that goal. Basically, what we're going to remember later on are the positive experiences that we've had in our accomplishments. The little problems in the moments don't really matter in the long run.
Where do you imagine yourself in 10 years?
In ten years, I imagine myself as an attorney, most likely in immigration, although I do have an interest in civil and human rights. I just hope that I'm creating positive change for people, keeping families together, and helping disenfranchised people have the same opportunities as the rest of us.
When you look back on your time at UNLV, what will you remember the most?
This kind of goes back to the advice that I received, but it really will be the people that I met and the positive experiences that I've had. My accomplishments, like becoming the Associate Chief Justice on the Mock Trial Team and getting to swear in the new President and Vice President. I think I'll remember that more than the stressful nights I had when I was up until five in the morning, working on a case or something. I'll definitely remember the people I met on the team and the times that we went out for sushi or that we went to the beach. Positive experiences like that.
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ASC Summer 2021 Services
The ASC building is open during the following hours of operation:
Monday - Friday
8 AM - 5 PM
Representatives are available to answer questions at
702-895-3177 during normal business hours.
COVID-19 Updates:
In response to Nevada and UNLV guidance regarding the COVID-19 pandemic,
the ASC is following all guidelines.
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The Math Bridge Program is an online program designed to help students gain the skills and confidence needed for success in college-level mathematics with a goal of improving their placement scores, using ALEKS.
Eligibility:
Students with the following requirements may be eligible for the Math Bridge Program:
- Freshmen with 29 credits or less
- For Sessions 1 and 3: ACT math score below 22 or SAT math score below 530
- For Session 2: ACT math score below 23 or SAT math score below 550
- Would like to take a different 100-level math class for their major than the one they are currently enrolled or placed in
The Math Bridge Program is for admitted UNLV students who will attend UNLV. Students who have already participated in the Math Bridge Program are not eligible to enroll in the program. Eligibility is reviewed on a case-by-case basis. Please contact Bridge Programs with any eligibility questions. If you feel that you could benefit from this program but are unsure of your eligibility, please contact our Bridge Team.
Sessions Starting Soon!
Session 1: 6/1 - 7/2 (Non-STEM Majors; Covers Algebra & Geometry)
Session 2: 6/1 - 7/23 (STEM Majors; Covers Algebra, Geometry, & Trigonometry)
Session 3: 6/28 - 7/30 (Non-STEM Majors; Covers Algebra & Geometry)
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Take Advantage of Summer - Tips From ASC Peer Mentors
Over the summer, ASC Peer Mentors are providing some advice for both new and returning students. These are a few great activities and suggestions for making the most out of your time from May to August.
We're looking forward to seeing everyone back on campus in August!
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This summer, make sure you take some time for yourself! Get some sun before you return in the Fall. You deserve it!
-Raisa
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Summer break is a long time! So utilize it well by taking some time off and relaxing. Go visit that beach. Go on that hike you have been wanting to go on. Don't let summer pass without taking some time for yourself. It has been a long year and you certainly deserve a break.
-Andy
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Academic Activities
- Take summer courses
- Read
- Research future courses and faculty
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Social Activities
- Join a club or organization
- Make friends with new or incoming students
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Mental & Physical Activities
- Take breaks (road trips, hiking, painting)
- Yoga, meditation, exercise
-Syeda
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Grab a map and explore campus in July or August. This will give you a chance to get familiar with UNLV before classes start.
-Cass
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Make sure to look at your syllabi for classes a week before school starts and write important dates in your calendar.
-Izzy
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Be sure to follow the ASC on Social Media for additional tips! |
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DEADLINE 6/4/2021:
ASC Dean's Award Scholarship
The ASC provides the Dean's Award Scholarship for students in the Exploring major and Major Pathways program.
Eligibility Requirements:
- Be a continuing UNLV student with less than 60 earned credits
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Be declared in the Exploring major or Major Pathways program
- Have and maintain a cumulative UNLV GPA of 2.00 or higher each semester the scholarship is received
- Enroll in a minimum of 12 credits (full-time) for each semester the scholarship is received
- Complete an application and submit a 500-750 word essay in response to an essay prompt.
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Check With Your Colleges for Scholarship Opportunities!
Spring is the time when many applications for college scholarships become available. Be sure to visit your College's website as well as the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships website for additional scholarship opportunities.
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