Fellowship Preparations Start during Summer

The summer months conjure images of vacation for some, but for many students, whether spending it on campus, studying abroad or in an internship or co-op across the country, summer is the time to plan for the fall and upcoming academic year.

For students at all levels — undergraduate, graduate or postdoctoral — summer is when they should contact the Fellowships Office for advisement on applying to many prestigious award programs.

“End-of-summer deadlines will be here soon, and we can help you find out which fellowships may be a good fit and provide feedback and support on your applications,” said Kathryn Meehan, director of the Fellowships Office. “Applications usually require several weeks of preparation, so we encourage students to make appointments early.”

Meehan can provide additional information, timelines and deadlines for students interested in a number of awards, including the following:

Sophomores and Juniors

For rising sophomores and juniors, these scholarships provide significant funding and enrichment opportunities for students interested in areas including research and public service.

• Goldwater Scholarship: For sophomores and juniors studying science, technology, engineering or math with a 3.9 GPA (recommended) and research experience. Tech nominates four students each year for this national competition.
• Truman Scholarship: For juniors with public service experience, a 3.9 GPA (recommended) and plans for a career in public service.
• Udall Scholarship: For sophomores and juniors who work with the environment, have a high GPA and plan for careers in an environmental area.

Seniors, Master’s Students, and Recent Graduates

The campus deadline for preliminary applications for the following nationally competitive scholarships is Aug. 1, with a final campus deadline of Aug. 29. Students should work with the Fellowships Office during the summer to prepare for this deadline.

• Rhodes Scholarship
• Marshall Scholarship
• Churchill Scholarship
• Gates Cambridge Scholarship
• Mitchell Scholarship

Also for Seniors and Graduate Students

• Fulbright Awards: Open to rising seniors and graduate students, offering one-year awards for research, graduate study or an English teaching assistantship in one of more than 140 countries.

• National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowships: Open to seniors, first-year graduate students and first-semester second-year graduate students in science, technology, engineering and math who are U.S. citizens. This three-year award is for those planning a research Ph.D. at a U.S. university. Deadline is in November. 

Postdocs and Postgraduate Opportunities

• Fulbright Postdoctoral Research Fellowships: Preference is for candidates who have received doctorates within three years of the application deadline or who will receive doctorates before the grant term begins. Eight awards are available for studies at seven research institutions in Israel. Deadline: August 1.

• National Academies Christine Mirzayan Science and Technology Policy Graduate Fellowships: Participants spend 12 weeks at the National Academies in Washington, D.C., learning about science and technology policy and the role that scientists and engineers play in advising the nation. Deadline is Sept. 5.

• AAAS Science and Technology Policy Fellowships: For recently graduated postdocs, mid-career professionals, faculty on sabbatical, or retired faculty. Must have a completed Ph.D. or master’s degree with three years of professional experience and U.S. citizenship. Deadline: Nov. 1.
• Presidential Management Fellowship Program: Open to master’s degree and doctoral students who complete degree during coming year. International students are eligible to apply. Deadline is in November.
• Marshall Sherfield Postdoctoral Fellowship: One or two years of postdoctoral research at any U.K. university or institute. Deadline is Nov. 10.