Preparing Your Fellowship Applications

Fellowship applications often come in the form of an RFP, or Request for Proposal. When you find a fellowship for which you want to apply, keep the following questions in mind as you prepare your proposal:

• What are the eligibility criteria?
• When is the application due?
• How many fellowships are awarded each year?
• Do you need to apply through your graduate program or as an individual?
• What criteria will the selection committee use to evaluate the proposals?
• What information do you need to include as part of your proposal?

You will usually need to include the following items in your proposal:

• A biography
• Your Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores
• Transcripts
• Letters of recommendation
• An essay that discusses your qualifications, area of research, achievements, etc

Including all of the requested items shows that you can follow directions and focus on details.

Your goal in your application is to sell yourself to the selection committee, convincing its members that you are the right choice for this fellowship. Therefore, you need to focus on how your work will further the goals of the funder and that your area of research is something it wants to fund. Take some time to investigate the funder so you understand its goals and culture and can reflect its vision in your essay.