Undergraduate Fellowship Office

1. Undergraduate Fellowship Office Introduction to National Scholarships & Fellowships

2. What are scholarships & fellowships? • Competitive, national awards which fund educational costs, usually academic study or study abroad • Sponsored by non-profit or government organizations • Terms are used interchangeably

3. Who applies for these awards? Most applicants will have: • Strong academic record • Research experience • Leadership/outreach • Purposeful future plans • Students who fit the criteria of the award • Must be eligible and competitive

4. When would I pursue a fellowship? What year? • Fall of senior year for many graduate awards • Some open to sophomores & juniors • Few to freshmen (CLS, Gilman) • Not figured by credits; time to graduation When? • Plan ahead! • Campus deadlines can be up to 6 mo. out

5. Where do I apply? Depends on the award: • Direct apply • Campus nomination/endorsement • Campus deadline • Selection committee • Nomination package • Either way, seek help from your Fellowship Office!

6. What is in the application? • Essays: • personal statement, • research/project proposals • previous research • specific prompts/topics • Resume-type information • Transcripts (all) • Letters of recommendation (2-8)

7. Why would I apply for a fellowship? • Funding for academic study or study abroad • Other programming by sponsor • Influence on future path • Process of applying can be worth more than the award • Clarify and reflect on goals • Develop writing skills • Connect with faculty • Impetus for future planning (grad school)

8. Major: Economics & Political Science Hometown: Athens, GA Snapshot: Surili Sheth • Finalist for the Rhodes Scholarship in 2010 • Also applied for the Truman Scholarship, Marshall Scholarship, Fulbright, & Carnegie Junior Fellowship • Spent 2 years in India working at MIT’s Poverty Action Lab “Even though I didn’t end up winning, the self-reflection and writing that I did with you and the interview practice prepared me to apply to grad schools. It was an honor to be nominated for all of them and a seriously enriching experience for me. Finally, I wanted to say that though I didn’t believe that applying for something and not winning it would really be a positive experience, the Rhodes finalist weekend was genuinely one of the coolest experiences I’ve had. I really believe that everything worked out for the best in the end. ”

9. Awards for Undergraduate Study Funds Undergraduate Costs • Udall Scholarship: environmental careers • Goldwater Scholarship: STEM research careers • Pickering Scholarship: foreign service • Hollings Scholarship: atmospheric & related sciences Funds Programs Abroad • Critical Language Scholarship: language program abroad • Boren NSEP Scholarship: language study abroad • Gilman Scholarship: study abroad, must receive Pell Grant • DAAD Scholarships: study in Germany • Rotary (on hold): one academic year abroad

10. Major: Environmental Science Hometown: Cincinnati Snapshot: Samy Sekar • 2010 Udall Scholar • 2011 Truman Finalist • Applied for Udall in 2011 Recently received a B.S./M.S. and conducted soil science research in India “Regardless of the outcome, I am a better student for the preparation and organization I have done for the application and interview.”

11. Awards for Post-Graduation Funds Graduate Study in U.S. • NSF Graduate Research Fellowship: STEM & social sciences • Truman Scholarship: public service careers (apply as Junior) • Beinecke Scholarship: arts, humanities, social sciences (apply as Junior) • Soros Fellowship: for new Americans • NDSEG Fellowship: STEM fields Funds Graduate Study Abroad • Rhodes Scholarship: University of Oxford • Marshall Scholarship: anywhere in the UK • Mitchell Scholarship: one year in Ireland • Churchill Scholarship: one year at Cambridge • Gates Cambridge: University of Cambridge Funds Other Opportunities • Fulbright: study, research, or teaching English abroad • Carnegie Junior Fellowship: serve as research assistant in D.C.

12. Snapshot: Tyler Merz Major: Engineering Physics Hometown: Fairfield • DAAD RISE Internship, 2008 • Applied for OSU Goldwater nomination, 2009 • NSF REU Cornell Univ., 2009 • Goldwater Scholar, 2010 • Churchill Scholar, 2011 • NSF Graduate Research Fellow, 2011 Currently pursuing a PhD in Applied Physics at Stanford “The application process has certainly helped me refine my goals and take a critical look at my future plans. These have resulted in my being able to pursue incredible opportunities and hopefully have a positive impact, in some way, on the world.”

13. Major: Geography Hometown: Gahanna Snapshot: Hudson McFann • 2008 Udall Honorable Mention • 2009 Udall Honorable Mention • 2009 Beinecke Scholar • 2010 Fulbright recipient to Canada • 2011 NSF Graduate Research Fellow Currently in graduate school in geography at NYU. “It is the final day to submit Fulbright and I am feeling so calm and positive about the whole process . The countless edits, meeting sessions, emails, and mock interviews were really helpful in singling out my strengths and weaknesses. I have learned so much more about writing and editing than I ever have in a class.”

14. Snapshot: Jessica Hanzlik Major: Physics & French Hometown: Pickerington • Applied for OSU Goldwater nomination, 2007 • Applied for Marshall Scholarship, 2008 • Rhodes Scholar, 2008 • NSF Graduate Research Fellow, 2008 Currently working for Teach for America in Chicago with plans to enter the field of educational policy.

15. Questions? Undergraduate Fellowship Office Dana Kuchem, Fellowship Manager Erin Odor, Fellowship Coordinator Samara Rafert, Writing Coordinator fellowships@osu.edu http://fellowships.osu.edu 45 W. 11th Avenue (614) 247-8020