Steps to Getting Started With a Fellowship
Interested in pursuing a nationally competitive fellowship? Here are a few ways to get started.
- Read the "Why apply" section below.
- Review nationally competitive fellowships and familiarize yourself with those that are of most interest to you. Many are listed on our website and search on-line for nationally competitive fellowships in your area of interest.
- Complete the First Meeting Form. This will trigger an email invitation to meet with the Â鶹ÊÓƵ Fellowships Advisor. Alternatively, contact the advisor directly.
- Meet with the Fellowships Advisor because it can help:
- identify which opportunities fit your goals and experiences best
- outline your next steps and a potential timeline
- provide guidance on the application process
- you reflect on and revise your answers to application questions
- prepare for fellowship interviews
- by offering perspectives from past scholarship applicants or awardees
Why apply?
The process of applying for a nationally competitive fellowship can be as transformative as the outcome. A competitive application requires cycles of reflection, focus and revision. You will be asked to dig deep. This time competes with classes, cocurricular activities and limited personal time. So why apply?
Earning any fellowship is a long shot, but someone will win, so why not you? Â鶹ÊÓƵ students have an impressive record of winning national and international scholarships over the years, and there is no reason you should not add yourself to the list.
Regardless of whether you earn the award, you will emerge from the process with a stronger sense of who you are and a clearer vision of what you want to do. All student applicants report that the application process was one of the most important activities they participated in at Â鶹ÊÓƵ. They say they grew enormously as individuals and found ways to express their unique voice. They also learned how to assemble a compelling professional portfolio, which they used for other applications.
How so? They learned how to evaluate where they were currently. They considered potential destinations. Then, they articulated how the fellowship could bridge aspects of their experiences, actions and skills with that life goal. They also articulated how they and the foundation would benefit from their contributions. All employers want applicants who can do this.
The Â鶹ÊÓƵ Fellowships Office will guide you through the application process so that it becomes a meaningful experience. We will support and encourage the development of a competitive application – this is a process that you will repeat many times in your life, so learning it now is ideal.
Frequently asked questions
Money granted by national and international foundations that can help you:
- Offset tuition at Â鶹ÊÓƵ; usually STEM-related
- Further language studies; usually immersive abroad experiences
- Gain a job, post-Â鶹ÊÓƵ, teaching English or conducting research abroad
- Finance graduate school
It depends on what the foundation offering the money chooses to call it. Both designations indicate that you have been selected for financial support because of the high caliber of your academic and co-curricular achievements.
There are awards available for most majors, experiences, areas of interest and career objectives, but some will specify preferences. Many fellowships require that you be a U.S. citizen or green card holder.
There are awards available for most majors and areas of study, but some will specify preferences or exclusions, so check.
There are awards available for many career objectives. Some awards specify preferred career objectives. There are fewer awards directly related to medicine, law or business, but national awards can be a stepping-stone toward these professions.
Most opportunities are not limited or screened. However, many foundations do require an endorsement or nomination letter. The Fellowships Director writes these letters. As such, it is important to get to know the Director, so they are fully aware of your experiences and goals. They will read your application, give you feedback and help you reflect on experiences and goals. Because applications are tightly word-limited, the Director’s letter can highlight or elaborate on essential components of who you are or what you want to do.
Only a few foundations, like Goldwater, limit the number of applicants. In this case, there is a nomination process for the four applicants that are allowed at each school. Pre-applications are reviewed by a Â鶹ÊÓƵ committee; they decide which four people to nominate.
That depends on the scholarship or fellowship. Goldwater Scholars (STEM) often have a 3.85 or higher while some language scholarships or Fulbright winners have a 3.4 or higher. In most cases, co- and extra-curricular activities, research, internships, study away, volunteerism, and paid or unpaid work are more important, especially if you have taken initiative or been a leader in these roles. They provide evidence that you can do what you propose – more so than grades alone.
It is never too early to start. Most applications require essays that must undergo cycles of reflection and revision. You also will gather letters of recommendation, transcripts, resume/biographical information and language evaluations (if applicable). Successful applications take at least one month or more of concerted effort. The rewards are worth the effort.
Foundations are strict about deadlines. Tell your references that the deadline is 24-48 hours earlier than the posted deadline. Emergencies happen and people push deadlines, but foundations do not allow leeway.
Tell your references about campus deadlines; these are earlier than the national deadline. Thus, always give your references plenty of time. Talk to them about your application, goals and experiences.
Some foundations like Fulbright require references to answer questions rather than submit a letter.
Be familiar with what each reference is asked to address. Pick the people who are best prepared to provide evidence for the specific prompt. Sometimes that is not a professor, but a lab instructor, boss, volunteer supervisor, etc.
The essays are the most time-consuming part of the application because they are the most important. Create rough drafts, revise, revise, and revise again!
Work on drafts with the Fellowships Director, Writing Center, professors and constructive friends and family. Readers help you identify where you need be specific or dig deeper.
Read the questions carefully. The application committee spent a lot of time formulating each question. Speak directly to all parts of the prompt.
Showing with evidence will make your essays stand out. It takes time to craft those stories concisely.
For select applications, yes. Generally, interviews occur only if you have made it past the first round. The Fellowships Office and Careers will assist you in preparation for semi-finalist interviews.