There is no universally agreed on distinction between fellowship and scholarship; the terms are often used interchangeably. We refer to ourselves as the “fellowships program” to distinguish us from colleagues who help students to identify financial aid and scholarships for college. Fellowships often refer to postgraduate experiences and take many forms. Most are fixed-term experiences (9 months to 2 years), international or domestic, for research, study, service, teaching, or independent projects; some involve completing postgraduate degrees; most provide a stipend for living expenses and insurance. Planning is required: applications are due up to a year in advance. Applications typically involve essays and letters of recommendation; they may involve interviews. Specific criteria—including citizenship and GPA requirements—vary widely. Meet with a fellowship adviser to find exciting options for which you feel you would be a good fit.

Some scholarship options include funded summer experiences; first-year students and sophomores are often eligible to apply to those. (They include the Fulbright U.K. Summer Institutes and the Critical Language Scholarship.) Applying for these awards can provide valuable experience for future opportunities.

Examine your goals, and consider what experiences would be valuable. Then investigate which fellowships speak to your interests. Some fellowships require high GPAs; others do not. Some fellowships require foreign language skills; others do not. Many fellowships value leadership, commitment to service, research experience, and having a bold and exciting vision for your future that would be bolstered by the fellowship experience. You are often a good fit for fellowships if you are excited by the possibilities, are willing to commit the time and energy into crafting a compelling application for any awards where you meet the eligibility requirements, and are excited about learning about yourself in the process. We can help you to navigate the process.

Students from all concentrations have received competitive fellowships. What matters most is that you choose the concentration that most interests you—and that you excel in your coursework and research. Get to know your faculty and other mentors well. Develop a global perspective. Spend your time wisely: engage deeply with a small number of co-curricular or community activities, advancing to a leadership role or two. Know—and live—your values. Learn your strengths, but seek to develop your weakness. Be intentional, not instrumental or strategic. In short, take advantage of what a Princeton education has to offer and you will be on your way to a positive future, regardless of the path you take after graduation.

Options do exist! You may apply for any of the Princeton-specific opportunities for seniors: Dale, Labouisse, ReachOut, and Sachs. Nationally competitive opportunities include Knight-Hennessy, Rhodes, Schwarzman, and Yenching Academy. You may be eligible for the Gaither Junior Fellowship. If you are a permanent resident, you may also consider the Hertz, NSF, and Soros. Citizens of most countries may apply for the Gates Cambridge Scholarship. Consult the applications for specific information on eligibility, and consider reaching out to someone at a university in your home country to get information about other opportunities.

Absolutely. Fellowships are investments in your future, so having a vision for your future is helpful in crafting a compelling application. But that vision may be one of many possibilities. Nothing you write in a fellowship application is set in stone, but you do have to believe in the pathway you present for your future.  One benefit of applying for fellowships is that the process of articulating your goals through personal statements and project proposals can be helpful in identifying a possible vision for your future.

Yes! Note, first, that some fellowships are specifically for graduate or professional school. Second, doing something else—research, service, teaching, other study—before enrolling in graduate or professional school is a good way of learning about the world and acquiring skills or experiences (languages, research skills, cultural awareness, increased empathy) that may be helpful in your subsequent graduate studies or future career. Third, taking a year or two between undergraduate and graduate school is increasingly common. Gaining applied experience for a year or more can be energizing, focusing, and revelatory. Finally, many U.S. graduate programs will allow you to postpone your matriculation date by a year or two should you receive a fellowship: all you normally need to do is to ask. (That means you may go ahead and apply for graduate school as a senior but not necessarily start your graduate program the fall after graduating from Princeton.)

Your schedule—particularly during the summer before your senior year and into senior fall—may determine your approach. Remember, you can ultimately attend only one graduate program: so apply only to programs where you would be happy. The same goes for fellowships: you can usually pursue only one fellowship at a time after graduation, and, unlike graduate school, most awards are not deferrable. So apply only for opportunities you would accept. In some cases, you’ll find that the work you put into a personal statement or a project proposal is transferrable to another application, particularly if two fellowships are similar. Applying for fellowships does require a lot of time: a lot of thinking, a lot of drafting, a lot of revising. Be reasonable with yourself. Remember, graduate schools are not going anywhere: you can always apply in the future. Many fellowships, as well, allow you to apply as an alumnus—and you might even have a stronger application if you wait a year or more.

Fellowships have different requirements, but you would be wise to begin planning applications due in the fall of your senior year during the spring of your junior year. That’s also the time to attend information sessions about many fellowships. Some awards have early fall deadlines, so summer is a key time to be productive. If you plan ahead, you will be prepared to meet deadlines without rushing.

Not at all. Princeton’s experience has been that alumni have similar experiences as graduating seniors in applying for postgraduate awards. In some cases, taking a year to work or pursue graduate study can help you define your objectives more clearly, and ultimately improve your applications.

Absolutely. Fellowship advisers are able to answer specific questions, review essays, and write institutional endorsements for alumni. We are happy to connect with you via email, phone, or Skype; you may schedule such appointments via WASE.

Fellowship advisers’ schedules are available on WASE. If you cannot find a time that works for you or if our calendars are full, feel free to email [email protected] to set up an appointment or call us at (609) 258-1988 during business hours.

It depends. Fellowships naturally fall into clusters, meaning that certain fellowship applications (e.g., the Rhodes and Sachs Worcester) are relatively similar and do not require that you completely reinvent the wheel for each application. (Note we do not suggest that you “recycle” your written application materials. Rather, we’re referring to applying to multiple awards that align with a similar vision for your future.) Ultimately, you’ll want to apply only for the number of awards for which you can genuinely craft strong and compelling applications by the deadlines.

The most effective letters of recommendation come from those individuals who know you well and can attest to your achievements, capabilities, and potential. These individuals should understand your motivations and goals for applying to the particular fellowships you have selected; make sure to share them. Take cues from the specific fellowship opportunities as to people who can best support your application. Sometimes the fellowships identify that a certain number of letters should come from individuals who know you in an academic, leadership, or service capacity. You do not want all of your recommenders to say the same thing. Remember, it is important to ask for letters of recommendation well in advance. When asking a recommender to write a letter for you for the first time, a minimum of one month prior to the deadline is most considerate. 

Yes. Applicants confirm that they found the process very valuable, no matter what the outcome. Competitive applications can never be written overnight. The process requires a lot of reflection and visionary work; the thinking is followed by drafting and redrafting and revising and polishing. You should find yourself excited about your future and your future goals.

Hopefully, you will have learned something about yourself and your goals in the process, so the application process is beneficial whatever the outcome. Many applicants are successful on second—or even third—tries. Fellowship advisers can often offer comments and suggestions for improving your applications.