Chelsea Laine Wells Fiction Writing Scholarship

The Chelsea Wells Fiction Writing Scholarship application is available online. Only complete scholarship applications submitted by the deadline will be reviewed by the scholarship committee. Scholarship applicants must also have a completed Admissions file received by the Office of Undergraduate Admissions by the same deadline.

IMPORTANT NOTE: It is not necessary to have been accepted to Columbia to apply for this scholarship.

Please follow all directions carefully. Students must submit the following materials to make a complete Chelsea Wells Fiction Writing Scholarship application - there are four parts to the application:

Submit a 500-word essay in which you tell the committee about your artistic/professional goals and why you believe that the training you will receive in the Fiction Writing Department will help you achieve those goals.

Please note: Your essay must be saved as a PDF, and then uploaded to the "Add Media" section of the online application. Please include your name on the upper right-hand corner of the essay. Many text editors give you the ability to "Save as PDF" format, or you can do this through the Print window on a Mac. If you use a PC without PDF software, there are free programs you can download, such as Bullzip. 

Submit a list that describes any additional materials or information that supports your application, such as standardized test scores; awards you have won; involvement in extracurricular activities, groups, or clubs; service to your community; accomplishments in classes outside of school in your intended area of study; etc.

One letter of recommendation is required. The letter must be completed by an instructor or guidance counselor who is best qualified to comment on your creative achievements. You may elect to use a letter that has been submitted with your Undergraduate Admissions application.

Submit 5-8 pages of fiction writing. Your sample can be essays, plays, or prose, such as a short story, scene, or chapter from a novel. Subject material may be either realistic or dream-like, or a combination of the two. Pages should be double-spaced and in 12-point Courier font. Please include your name in the upper right-hand corner of the first page.

Please note: Your work sample muse be saved as a PDF (10MB maximum), and then uploaded to the "Add Media" section of the online application. Many text editors give you the ability to "Save as PDF" format, or you can do this through the Print window on a Mac. If you use a PC without PDF software, there are free programs you can download, such as Bullzip.

This scholarship was created by Mrs. Lynne Warner, sister-in-law of VP Eric Winston (Office of Institutional Advancement), after being deeply moved by the 2007 Salutatorian speech given by Chelsea Laine Wells at Columbia College Chicago's commencement.

Chelsea graduated from Columbia as a Fiction Writing major. During her time at Columbia, she won two major national awards for her fiction and creative nonfiction. Following graduation, Chelsea was also nominated for a Pushcart Prize.

• Application must be submitted by January 15, 2013 (11:59 pm) for review by the committee
• Maximum award amount of this one-year scholarship is $1000, awarded half in Fall 2013 and half in Spring 2014
• The award is applied toward tuition costs
• Recipient must be enrolled as a full-time student during the 2013-14 academic year
• Recipient must be enrolled as a Fiction Writing major during the 2013-14 academic year
• Recipient will be asked to submit a short biography describing his/her background and life goals that will be shared with donors; portions of the essay may also be used for publication
• The rules and regulations governing other sources of financial aid (federal, state, institutional and other grants, gifts, or loans) will apply
• Columbia College Chicago reserves the right to withhold the award in any year in which, at the sole discretion of the scholarship committee, suitable candidates cannot be found among applicants