SELF Program Application Information

Eligibility

• The SELF Program strives to develop goal-oriented engineering and computing graduates who possess the business, interpersonal and entrepreneurial skills to guide the technology corporations of tomorrow.
  • Prospective students (incoming freshmen) must be eligible for admission to the KU School of Engineering.
  • Complete and submit all application materials by the final deadline of 11:59 p.m. CST December 1, 2023.  LATE APPLICATIONS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED.
  • Applicants give permission to the selection committee to review all application materials.
  • Applicants must be willing to participate in interviews and other assessment methods employed as part of the selection process on Friday, January 26, 2024.  These activities are scheduled to be held in person on the KU School of Engineering Campus in Lawrence. Detailed information will be included when invitations are sent, but candidates should plan to be available either remotely or in-person on Friday, January 26, 2024.
  • Applicants understand and accept the responsibilities as a SELF Fellow.
• In the student's application, the committee will look for evidence of:
  • Leadership activities, as evidenced through participation in school or community organizations,
  • Extracurricular achievements (student projects, volunteering, study abroad, athletics, internships, etc.) that speak to a student's potential to meet the vision of the SELF Program,
  • A defined and clear commitment to pursue a career in engineering,
  • The student's attributes and leadership experiences.

Applying

• Interested students are encouraged to apply via the University’s Application for Undergraduate Admissions, the Common App, or through the KU Applicant Status Portal.
• Applications are treated the same regardless of their origin. Applicants only need to submit their materials via one of the processes above.
• KU Application:
  • “SELF Program Supplement” will appear as an option on the left hand menu once you have entered your program as “School of Engineering” and your high school GPA (min. 3.0).
  • The KU Application asks eligible students “Would you like to be considered for the SELF Fellowship program?”
  • To apply, select “Yes” and then complete all sections and submit.
• Common App (Available August 1 2023):
  • Under “My Colleges”, select University of Kansas and click “Questions” on the left hand side
  • The last banner is “SELF Consideration” after you have selected “ School of Engineering” on the Academics banner.
  • Upload your responses to the essay prompts and your resume.
• SELF Application Direct link via  KU Applicant Status Portal
• If students choose not to apply at the same time they complete the Undergraduate Application for KU, they may still apply via the KU Applicant Status Portal.

• Note: The SELF Program and the University Honors Program (UHP) do not share the same essay response questions this year. If you are applying to both SELF and UHP, you will need to make sure to complete separate applications for the programs by the application deadline for each program.  SELF Program Application is due Dec. 1, 2023.

  Remember that when you write an essay response for an application, you should take care that your response is relevant to the program for which you are applying and reflective of why you should be considered as a candidate for the respective program. 

   

  You can learn more about the SELF program here:

  https://engr.ku.edu/self-engineering-leadership-fellows-program

Application Materials

There are three parts of the SELF application that you will submit below:  the Essay Response (500 words), the SELF Short-Answer Response (500 words), and a question pertaining to your current resume (500 words).  You do not need to upload a copy of your resume.

• Essay Response (500 words)
  • Please respond to the following essay question.  Your essay will be evaluated by the selection committee for demonstration of qualities needed to be a successful SELF Fellow including potential for leadership growth and connection to engineering and technology.  Your response should demonstrate intellectual curiosity and academic rigor, and should be well-organized and generally free of grammatical and spelling errors.  Limit your response to 500 words. 
    •  The mission of the Madison A. and Lila Self Engineering Leadership Program is to develop passionate engineering and computer science graduates who are strongly goal-oriented and who bring the business skills and vision needed to guide the technology-based corporations of tomorrow.  Explain your own mission and vision, and specifically how you envision embodying the characteristics sought by the SELF Program in your academic career and beyond.
• SELF Program Short Answer (500 words)
  • Please respond to the following question.
    • The SELF Program’s primary goal is to develop passionate future engineering leaders in business, industry, and entrepreneurship. Keeping that in mind, tell us why you are interested in becoming a SELF Fellow and what are one or two unique contributions you believe you might make to the SELF program over the course of your involvement.
• Resume and accomplishment short answer (500 words)
  • Please respond to the following question
    • Describe one or possibly two accomplishments, or activities that you participate in, that best highlight your readiness to become a SELF Fellow.  Explain how they do so.

Applications and essay answers must be submitted on or before December 1, 2023. Strong candidates will be invited to interviews with committee members on Friday, January 26, 2024. Following interviews, about 30 students will be chosen to take part in the SELF Program at the start of the fall semester. All applicants will be notified of their status by the end of February 2024. 

Mission Statement

The mission of the Madison A. and Lila Self Engineering Leadership Fellows Program (the “SELF Program”) is to develop passionate engineering and computer science graduates who are strongly goal-oriented and who bring the business skills and vision needed to guide the technology-based corporations of tomorrow. The SELF Program will recruit, select and financially support students at the University of Kansas and administer to them an ongoing four-year personal development program that leads to a continuing supply of exceptional graduates at the bachelor of science level. By active participation in the program, the students will expand and refine their leadership, managerial, business, interpersonal, entrepreneurial, communication and engineering skills through mentoring, coursework, seminars and leadership opportunities. Graduates from the SELF Program will possess the personal attributes needed to become effective leaders who are motivated to make a real difference during their careers. 

The SELF Program was made possible through a generous donation to the KU Endowment by Madison A. and Lila Self. The Selfs established the program with the intent that it makes a difference in the lives of students who will then rise to make a notable difference in the world. Madison "Al" Self was a 1943 KU chemical engineering graduate, successful businessman and recipient of the School of Engineering's Distinguished Engineering Service Award in 2000. The Selfs, native Kansans who met at KU, were long time and generous supporters of the university. Both passed away in 2013.