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Approximate Chance of Award: The Odds for Each Competition
- Beinecke: 22% or 1 in 4½ chance for the one Smith nominee
- Boren: 24% or 1 in 4 chance
- Daad: low odds, good chance. Ask Don Andrew: dandrew@email.smith.edu.
- Fulbright: 18% average (from 3.7% in U.K. in 03-04 to "100%" in Albania in 03-04) or 1 in 5.5
- Gates: 8.4% chance in 2002 or 1 in 12. About 500 applicants, 130 interviews and 42 awards in 2002–2003
- Luce: +/- 11% or 1 in 9 chance for the up to two Smith nominees
- Marshall: 4% or 1 in 25
- Mitchell: 5% or 1 in 20 (245 apps in 03 for 12 spots from 20 finalists = 4.89%)
- Rhodes: 3.25% or 1 in 25
- Truman: +/- 11% or 1 in 9 chance for the up to four Smith nominees
- Udall: 17% or 1 in 6 chance for the up to six Smith nominees
With fellowships requiring Smith nomination, there is first a competition on campus to be nominated. With only one nomination, the Beinecke is the hardest but the odds vary from year to year. For the Luce and Truman, nomination chances are usually 50% or more once accepted as eligible to enter program. With up to six nominees, Udall nomination has been a virtual certainty for all qualified candidates.
From Easiest to Toughest to Clinch
- Daad: low odds, good chance. Ask Don Andrew: dandrew@email.smith.edu.
- Boren: 24% or 1 in 4
- Beinecke: 22% or 1 in 4½ chance for the one Smith nominee
- Fulbright: 18% average (from 3.7% in U.K. in 03-04 to "100%" in Albania in 03-04) or 1 in 5.5
- Udall: 17% or 1 in 6 chance for the six (or maybe more) Smith nominees
- Luce: 11% or 1 in 9 chance for the up to two Smith nominees
- Truman: 11% or 1 in 9 chance for the up to four Smith nominees
- Gates: 8.4% or 1 in 12
- Marshall: 4% or 1 in 25
- Mitchell: 4% or 1 in 25
- Rhodes: 3.25% or 1 in 25
It is prudent for seniors applying for high-odds fellowships (Gates, Luce, Marshall, Mitchell, Rhodes) seriously to consider also applying for the Fulbright which, even though easier to win, carries immense prestige through its high name recognition.
The Fulbright is an ideal gap year for those planning to go on to graduate school and can in fact be used as a springboard to top universities and the high-odds fellowships the following year.
Much material prepared for one fellowship application can usually be modified to fit another.
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.
The fellowships liaison at the CDO is Jane Sommer jsommer@smith.edu 585-2582.
It is suggested that sophomores and juniors applying for fellowships also work with the CDO in order to have alternate vision strategies in place that may include applying for more fellowships!
Much Material Prepared For One Fellowship Application Can Often Be Modified To Fit Another.
