The SNORT® scholarship is back this year with a new application process and new benefits that will set this year’s winners up for a future career in cybersecurity (hopefully with Cisco Talos).
We will start accepting applications starting April 1, through the end of the month. After that, our hand-picked panel will select two winners to award a $10,000 scholarship.
To be eligible for the scholarship, you must have or be eligible to receive your high school diploma or an equivalent in 2021 as of the date Cisco receives your application. Each applicant must provide reasonable evidence to Cisco that you are seeking a degree in computer science, information technology, computer networking, cybersecurity or a similarly related field of study from a school located in the U.S. or a U.S. territory.
To apply for the scholarship, you must answer a series of short essay questions, which will be our main basis for how we select the winners.
The selection process is different from years past. Our panel will review all submissions and score the responses on the following 15-point scale:
- Originality (Score 1-5): Points will be assigned based on the assessment of original, fresh thoughts and concepts including anecdotes or examples of how security or a related field has shaped the personal and/or professional life of the applicant.
- Knowledge of Snort (Score 1-5): Points will be assigned on how well the applicant understands Snort and its use.
- Overall Submission Quality (Score 1-5): Points will be assigned on the overall quality of the submission. Factors include, but are not be limited to, perceived effort and sincerity level.
The panel of judges will score each submission, and then we will select a winner based on the top cumulative score. In the event of a tie, the judges will select the winner based on their responses’ originality.
We hope these applications will also introduce aspiring researchers and IT professionals to Cisco’s job pool and establish early communication between applicants and potential future job opportunities.
Stay tuned for more information on the scholarship on April 1, where we will officially open submissions. Please follow Snort on Twitter and check the Snort blog for that link when it becomes available. If you have any questions, please refer to the Snort Scholarship page on Snort.org.