Advice for Undergraduate Students Considering Applying for Fellowship

The process of applying for fellowship opportunities will help you in several ways. First, it will help you to identify your academic interests and reflect on which of your life experiences have been most meaningful to you. You will identify themes and patterns that you might not have previously recognized. You will learn how to present yourself confidently during interviews and in other contexts. You will learn how to craft effective and persuasive essays, and you will have the opportunity to interact with faculty members and other leaders who participate in the process. All of these skills will help you to apply for graduate programs, interview for jobs, and develop leadership skills after graduation. So even if you are not ultimately awarded a fellowship, you will reap significant rewards from the process.

1. Begin Early. The process requires that you set aside several hours a week over the course of several months to plan, gather supporting material, write your application, and consult with your professors. Ideally you should identify a particular opportunity at least four to six months before the application deadline. These applications require a significant amount of work in the months and weeks leading up to the deadline, so make sure you’ll be able to commit fully to that process.

2. Do Your Research. Do you meet the qualifications outlined by the foundation? These might include: junior or senior status, intended graduate discipline, a minimum grade point average, a particular level of language proficiency or other prerequisites or experience, and in some cases a demonstrated interest in studying in a particular country or at a specific university. Each fellowship has very specific criteria that you will have to meet. You should also realize that meeting the minimum criteria outlined by the fellowship is not always sufficient to be chosen as a finalist or be awarded the small number of fellowships available nationally. Most highly competitive scholarships expect applicants to have maintained a grade point average of 3.7 or above, though there are exceptions.

3. Engage Your Interests. Thoroughly research the graduate programs you are most interested in to determine which would be the best fit for your interests. Make contact with specific faculty members or other researchers at the programs you are applying to in order to determine whether their research interests mesh with yours and whether they would be willing to work with you if you enrolled. This step is essential for many of the fellowships in England and for the Fulbright, DAAD and others.

4. Network. Establish positive relationships with two or three faculty members through activities outside the traditional classroom, such as through undergraduate apprenticeships, study abroad, writing workshops, creative works, or theses and other research and service projects. You will need highly enthusiastic recommendations to be a competitive candidate. Your academic references need to know you and your talents well to serve as effective advocates. You need to provide your professors with very specific information on the fellowships for which you are applying, request a letter a month in advance and follow up with them to make sure they complete the letters before the deadline. Make copies of the description of the fellowship, of your resume, and if possible, drafts of your personal statements to give each of the recommenders. They need to explain how your experience, background, and personal qualities will help you to achieve your goals during the fellowship period.

5. Join the Campus Chapter of National Honor Societies. If you are a junior or senior, you might be eligible for induction into the Golden Key Honor Society. If you are a first-year student or sophomore, you might qualify for the National Society of Collegiate Scholars (NSCS). Both these organizations offer leadership opportunities and scholarships. Additionally, you should check with your major department to see whether they have an honor society in your major that you might join. Such honor societies offer conferences, journals, and other initiatives that help you as you pursue graduate studies. Think about publishing your research in a journal in your field. Many honor societies or organizations in your disciple publish single authored or co-authored articles by undergrduates. There are also some journals published solely for undergraduates that welcome submissions from all universities.

6. Request Early. Request letters of recommendation by visiting faculty members in person several weeks before the application materials are due. They must tailor their letters to the particular fellowship to which you are applying. Provide them with detailed information on the fellowship and on your qualifications for it. Ask each of your faculty members if they will be able to write a strong letter on your behalf.

7. Expand Your Experiences. Become a well-rounded and well-informed person. Doing well in your courses is just the beginning of the scholarship process. An interest in more than one field is attractive to foundations. Become a regular reader of the New York Times, The Economist, or the Washington Post, as well as a periodical that is relevant to your major or interests. Become a leader (not just an officer) in a campus or community organization. Better yet, establish an initiative to address an unmet need on campus or in your community. Participate in a study abroad experience, internship, or co-op. Developing a proficiency in a second language will serve you well in your fellowship bid. Early on in your college career, you should apply for essay and creative writing contests or present your work at an academic conference, such as by presenting your findings at a poster session at undergraduate or other conferences. Take advantage of the complimentary tickets to concerts, dance and other performances by nationally or internationally known artists at the Center for the Arts that are available to Mason students. Most foundations expect candidates to be engaged with national and international issues, culturally informed, and conversant with trends in their academic disciplines.

8. Consult. Make an appointment with the Coordinator to discuss your interests, even if you are still unsure about which of these opportunities might help you to reach your academic goals. Most competitive fellowships require an institutional endorsement as well as letters of support from faculty members, which I can arrange.

9. Review, Rewrite, Reword. Your essays are vital to your application. They must be highly polished and organized around a strong narrative theme. How is your graduate program a natural extension of your academic and other interests? You must make a strong case for why you want to study in a particular program. If that program is abroad, why must you study at that particular location rather than at an American institution? If you are proposing a Fulbright Project, you must convey your goals in a particularly compelling way. The coordinator is happy to read and re-read your essays.

10. Personalize. Write a handwritten note to each of your faculty recommenders letting them know the outcome of the process, thanking them for their support, and informing them of your graduate or other postgraduate school plans. They have been supportive of you and are interested in what you will be doing.