Don’t want a job?
You don’t have to get one!
Don’t want a job but still want some dollahs?
Baby, you’re in luck.
Being an awesome liberal arts college, Middlebury students have the great opportunity to apply for FELLOWSHIPS.
Applying for a competitive fellowship is a time-consuming and rewarding process. Of course, winning the award is the objective, but even the process itself will help you refine your future objectives, prepare strong essays for other applications, and help you develop stronger connections to faculty.
Take it Step-by-Step!
1. Research Opportunities Early
Students are eligible to apply for different fellowships at different times in their undergraduate career. Some are specifically for sophomores, juniors, or seniors; others are open to a broader group, such as seniors and recent graduates. Eligibility requirements vary widely, too. Some are for specific disciplines, others require a history of financial need. Many, but not all, require a high GPA. Some support graduate study in a particular place; others offer opportunities for self-designed projects and travel. The point is, you need to find a good match between you and a specific opportunity. And give yourself plenty of time for the process–from start to finish, there is much to do, and you want to do it well.
2. Meet with the Fellowship Advisor
Talk with the fellowship advisor about your interest. She or he will be able to help you assess how competitive a candidate you are for a given opportuntity or may suggest other options for you. The advisor will also review the application process with you. Typically this involves securing letters of recommendation and writing (and rewriting) application essays.
3. Understand the Application Process
These differ for different fellowships. Most of the opportunities handled through the Fellowships & Scholarships Office do require nomination by Middlebury. That means you submit some application materials by an internal deadline (and typically that does not include letters of recommendation but only the names of the faculty who will write on your behalf). You may–or may not–be interviewed as part of that nomination process.
Other fellowships and scholarships you apply to directly. While our office may not be part of that application process, we would still appreciate knowing about your applications and the outcomes.
And what happens after you send off the application? That also depends. In some cases, finalists are selected and invited to interview. In other cases, such as the Fulbright, fellowship winners are selected solely on the basis of their application materials–which again explains why these need to be persuasive, captivating and flawless.
4. Request Letters of Recommendation Far in Advance of a Deadline
Applicants need at least some, if not all, letters from faculty they have worked with. Do not underestimate the importance of these letters. These letters are time-consuming and require an ability to assess your potential. A poor letter will sink your application. So how to ensure your have good, strong letters from your writers? Here are some tips:
Give your writers plenty of notice. Four to six weeks is courteous.
In addition to a resume and degree progress report, give them information about the scholarship and its selection criteria. Don’t assume they are familiar with it! And thank them for their help.
5. Write (and Rewrite) Those Essays
Get more info at go/fellowship.