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Center forCareer and Professional Advising

Getting Started

Curious about fellowships? Check out the slides below to learn what fellowships are and why you might want to consider one as part of your academic or career plans, specific programs that might be related to your interests, and steps for beginning the process of exploring and applying to fellowships.

The What, Why, and How to Apply  
The What, Why, and How to Apply  

  Getting Started

Application processes vary widely across fellowship opportunities. We encourage you to begin the application process as early as possible–at least several months before the deadline!

  • Reflect on your background and experiences. What are your interests and how did they develop? Where do you see your academic, career, and life journeys leading you? What are the major themes to your life story? Keep a journal or Word document and jot down your thoughts on these questions. Use these additional suggested prompts as a guide in your ongoing reflection process.
  • Browse this list of fellowship opportunities and visit program websites to familiarize yourself with different fellowships. In addition to reviewing the eligibility criteria, application components, and timeline, think about how the program can facilitate your academic, professional, and/or personal growth and development. What makes you a good candidate for a particular fellowship?
  • Schedule a fellowship advising meeting with the Director of Fellowships to discuss your interests, identify relevant fellowship opportunities, and review the application process. You can schedule a meeting at any time, even if you’re not quite sure what fellowships might be a good fit!
  • Start thinking about potential recommenders. Who are the professors, advisors, mentors, or supervisors who know you well and can write you a strong letter? Talk to them about your interest in applying to fellowships. When the time comes, be prepared to provide them with your resume and a draft of your personal statement at least 3-4 weeks prior to the deadline.

  The Application Process

Most fellowship programs have an open application process, which means you can apply directly to the program on your own. There are some programs, however, which require an institutional nomination or endorsement, which means you must apply through Haverford.

If you’re interested in a fellowship that requires institutional nomination or endorsement, you should meet with the Director of Fellowships as early in the process as possible as there are usually two deadlines: 1) an internal deadline set by Haverford and 2) an official deadline set by the fellowship program.

You must submit a complete application, which often includes recommendation letters, by the internal deadline in order to be considered for these fellowships. The reason for this is so Haverford can conduct an internal review process to select and endorse nominees for the national competition. (Note: If you are selected as a nominee, you will have an opportunity to revise your application before the official program deadline.)