Home > Offices > Fellowships
WHEN TO BEGIN WHICH BY SCHOOL YEAR
- Juniors Start Application mid-February by Registering their interest.
- See tips
on writing an effective resume
- ADD an expanded section listing every “public” service and community involvement of any and all kinds.
(POST-)GRADUATE OR UNDERGRADUATE FELLOWSHIP
Graduate Fellowship
DOMESTIC & FOREIGN, OR FELLOWSHIPS ABROAD
Fellowship Abroad
WHERE IN THE WORLD TO USE
International Fellowship (156 foreign countries)
GPA AND RELATED MINIMUMS
Cumulative GPA and Related Minimum-Level Academic Requirements:
- Minimum GPA is 3.4, maybe 3.3 for Teaching in some countries. For other countries an even higher GPA is needed, e.g., U.K. (3.9).
- More important are the courses taken related to your major interest and as background preparation for your project proposal.
- Very strong in your favor is community involvement and contributions to society.
- Command of foreign language.
(Community involvement, contribution to society, leadership or initiative, all count as much as grade level. Fellowships = character, not intellectualism alone.)
CITIZENSHIP REQUIREMENTS
U.S. citizens only
AGE, SCHOOL-YEAR, OTHER RESTRICTIONS
Only graduating seniors in application year, or local area graduates, any age
DURATION OF FELLOWSHIP, AMOUNT OF AWARD
$25,000 (or less) is awarded for up to a year, generally 10 months.
CHANCE OF AWARD: ODDS FOR EACH COMPETITION
- Fulbright 20% average (from 3.7% in U.K. in 03-04 to “100%”
in Albania in 03-04) or 1 in 5.5
- There were 7300 apps in 2008 and 1500 awards = 20% chance.
- The Fulbright is an ideal gap year for those planning
to go on to graduate school.
- It is recommended that graduating applicants work also
with the Career Development Office so that fellowship applications
form part of an overall postgraduate planning strategy.
Contact them at x2570 or x2582.
COMPETITION CRITERIA IN JUDGING CANDIDATES
How the Foundations Evaluate and Rate Candidates,
What They Seek in Candidates & How You are Judged,
Plus Other Vital Criteria Considered by the Foundations
(PLEASE ALSO CONSULT THE NOTES IN THIS CATEGORY SECTION)
Fulbright’s campus rating form contains the following seven categories for applicant evaluation:
- Academic or professional qualifications (especially in relation to proposed project)
- Validity and feasibility of proposed project
- Language qualifications (with special reference to proposed project and to the requirements of the host country)
- Evidence of maturity, motivation, and adaptability to a different cultural environment (personal suitability)
- Knowledge of the host country
- Evaluation of impression candidate will make abroad as a citizen representing the United States
- General Comments (if a student is not given a high score, it is necessary to say why)
FORMAL APPLICATION YEAR & TIME OF YEAR
Formal Application Year: (Fall Term) Seniors
Early Fall Fellowships: (due mid-October)
J-TERM GRADUATE ELIGIBILITY
- Applications are open to seniors graduating the January following the October that applications are finally due.
- Winners are announced the following April.
- First use of fellowship will be around the beginning of the following fall term in the same calendar year as the announcement.
- Check website &/or email foundation for rule variations, changes before ruling yourself in or out.
LEVEL OF SMITH COLLEGE SPONSORSHIP
Required Level of Smith College Sponsorship: Rated Evaluation
REAPPLYING FOR FELLOWSHIPS
Can win only once. Can apply again only after not winning.
DEFERRING FELLOWSHIPS
Cannot be deferred. Forfeited if not accepted for year it is awarded.
