Guide to Fellowships in the
U.K. and Ireland
2012
Interested in pursuing advanced graduate study in the U.K. or contents Ireland? Do you dream of doing cutting edge biology with the Cambridge The awards and who wins them 2 scientists working in Darwin’s footsteps? Of building bridges between America and its British allies? Of digging your way through The application process 9 the Anti-Slavery Society’s Collections in Oxford’s Bodleian Library? Of playwriting at Trinity College Dublin’s Oscar Wilde Centre? Writing a personal essay 11 Today, there are many fellowships available that can help make Writing a project proposal doing graduate work in the U.K. or Ireland possible. In this 12 brochure, you’ll find out all the information you need to figure out Recommendations what fellowships and programs might be a good fit for you and how 16 to make your way through the application process. Compiling a C.V. 17 It goes without saying that these awards are highly competitive and there are no guarantees that you’ll win one. Quite the opposite, in General tips for applications 18 fact. The process is relatively long and requires introspection, self- examination, out-of-the-classroom thinking and lots work on your
The Fellowship Office 19 part. Though it can be an arduous process, a vast majority of students who do end up applying for a fellowship have found it to be intellectually and emotionally satisfying.
We hope you will consider throwing your hat in the ring this year.
The Awards
THE RHODES The Marshall The Churchill The Gates Cambridge The Craig Cambridge The Mitchell The Fulbright
What Is It? Who Wins? Application Materials The Rhodes Scholarship is the Each year, 32 U. S. citizens win the oldest and perhaps most well- Rhodes, taking up degree courses • Personal Statement (1,000 Words) known of the UK fellowships. The at Oxford. The four criteria by • Activities List (2 Pages) Scholarships were established in which prospective Rhodes • 5-8 Recommendation Letters (At 1903, at the behest of Cecil Scholars are selected are character, Least 5 Academic) • Rhodes, an industrialist and initiative, civic-mindedness and Transcripts imperialist, who “dreamed of ability to make a significant improving the world” by bringing difference in the world. Important Dates & To-Do’s together scholars at Oxford to April 5: Info Session study. Improved by their While good grades are important, education and exposure to one Brown’s Rhodes winners have April 11: “Getting Started” Workshop another, these scholars would been those students who have been April - June: Research Oxford, Get return to their communities, ready able to make significant cases for Faculty Advice, Request Letters to fight the world’s fight. themselves as “change-makers.” June - July: Prepare Application, Submit While there used to be an The Rhodes is a graduate Drafts for Feedback “athletic” component, the scholarship for two years of August 3: Campus Deadline committee has expanded the postgraduate study at the September: Feedback & Workshops criterion to include such activities University of Oxford. Rhodes as “hiking.” The selection Early October: Official Deadline Scholars may study any full-time committees are seeking candidates postgraduate course offered by the Early November: Mock Interviews who are truly outstanding, in mind University, whether a taught November 16 & 17: Interviews and person, and promise to be Master’s program or research effective, long-term world leaders. degree, University and College fees December: Awards Announced The Rhodes Scholarships, in short, are paid by the Rhodes Trust. are investments in individuals Resources Scholars also receive a monthly rather than in project proposals. maintenance stipend to cover http://www.rhodesscholar.org/ accommodation and living Brown Nomination Required. expenses. 2 Brown University Guide to Fellowships in the UK and Ireland
The Awards The Rhodes
THE MARSHALL The Churchill The Gates Cambridge The Craig Cambridge The Mitchell The Fulbright
Application Materials What Is It? Who Wins?
• Personal Essay (1,000 Words) Each year up to 40 Scholarships The Marshall Scholarships were • Short Essays, including future are awarded. Marshall selectors founded by an Act of Parliament plans look for distinction of intellect and in 1953. They serve both as a living • Statement of Program character as evidenced by memorial to US Secretary of State • 4 Recommendation Letters (3 significant achievements, scholarly George C Marshall, the creator of Academic) and otherwise. The Marshall seeks the Marshall Plan, and as a • Transcripts students who can make deep and testament to the gratitude of the meaningful contribution to their Important Dates & To-Do’s British to the American people. own society. Unlike the Rhodes, The Marshall enables intellectually the Marshall places more emphasis April 5: Info Session distinguished young Americans, on the presentation of a specific April 11: “Getting Started” Workshop their country's future leaders, to and realistic academic program. April - June: Research Programs, Get study in the UK in order to help Candidates indicate two preferred Faculty Advice, Request Letters Scholars gain an understanding universities they would like to and appreciation of contemporary attend. June - July: Prepare Application, Britain and to motivate Scholars to Submit Drafts for Feedback The Marshall Scholarship is open act as ambassadors between the only to United States citizens who August 3: Campus Deadline USA and the UK. The award is (at the time they take up their also designed to promote the September: Feedback & Workshops Scholarship) hold a first degree personal and academic fulfillment from an accredited four-year Early October: Official Deadline of each Scholar. To this end, college or university in the United scholarships provide winners with Early November: Mock Interviews States with a minimum GPA of two fully funded years of study, 3.7. Students must be willing to November 5-15: Finalist Interviews with a possible third-year serve as ambassadors between the extension, at any university in the UK and US. December: Awards Announced United Kingdom and applicable to nearly any field of study. Brown Nomination Required. Resources
http://www.marshallscholarship.org
3 Brown University Guide to Fellowships in the UK and Ireland
The Awards The Rhodes The Marshall
THE CHURCHILL The Gates Cambridge The Craig Cambridge The Mitchell The Fulbright
What Is It? Who Wins? Application Materials The Churchill Scholarship offers At least 14 scholars are selected • Application to Cambridge American citizens of exceptional nationwide each year. The Churchill University ability and outstanding achievement is an award exclusively for those in • Personal Statement in engineering, mathematics, or the the sciences, engineering, or • Research Plan sciences to pursue graduate work at mathematics. Churchill Scholars are • Future Plans Cambridge. One of the newer ready to contribute to the • 3 Recommendation Letters colleges at Cambridge, Churchill advancement of knowledge in these • Transcripts College was built as the national and fields by pursuing original, creative Commonwealth tribute to Sir work at an advanced level as Important Dates & To-Do’s Winston, who in the years after the demonstrated by awards, prizes, May - August: Research Cambridge World War II championed science research, and letters of Programs, Get Faculty & and technology as central to the recommendation. While applicants Fellowship Advice, Request prosperity and security of liberal should demonstrate outstanding Letters democracies. The first award was personal qualities, they need not be granted in 1963. Churchill Scholars “well-rounded” but can possess August - October: Prepare Application, have become leaders in a wide range “interesting ‘jagged edges’.” Submit Drafts for Feedback of fields, from finance to Applicants must be U.S. citizens and October: Cambridge Deadline pharmaceuticals, working in a senior or a recently graduated university laboratories as well as October 22: Campus Deadline student. Upon taking up industry. scholarship, winners must be October - November: Feedback &
between the ages of 19 and 26, hold Workshops The Scholarship provides support a bachelor's degree and may not for a one-year degree, namely the November 13: Official Deadline have attained a doctorate. There is Masters of Philosophy, Masters of no minimum GPA, but Scholars January: Awards Announced Advanced Study in Mathematics, usually have a GPA between 3.7 and etc. at Cambridge University. The 3.9 or above. Resources Scholarship also covers all You must apply separately for entry University and College fees and http://www.winstonchurchillfoundat into Cambridge University. provides for living expenses as well ion.org/ as a small travel grant. Brown Nomination Required.
4 Brown University Guide to Fellowships in the UK and Ireland
The Awards The Rhodes The Marshall The Churchill
THE GATES CAMBRIDGE The Craig Cambridge The Mitchell The Fulbright
What Is It? Who Wins? Application Materials
Each year, 90 new scholarships are • Application to Cambridge The Gates Cambridge Scholarships awarded, with 40 typically going to University are highly competitive full-cost US citizens and 50 to citizens of all • Personal Statement scholarships awarded to outstanding other countries (except the UK). • Short Essays applicants from outside the UK to The Scholarships are awarded on • 3 Letters of Reference (2 pursue a postgraduate degree in any the following criteria: Academic) subject at the University of • Transcripts • intellectual ability Cambridge. In many ways similar • leadership capacity to the Rhodes and Marshall • a person's desire to use their Important Dates & To-Do’s Scholarships, as all three emphasize knowledge to contribute to May - August: Research Cambridge intellectual ability, leadership and society throughout the world Programs, Get Faculty & civic-mindedness, the Gates by providing service to their Fellowship Advice, Request Cambridge differs in that it provides communities and applying Letters funding for postgraduate study at their talents and knowledge to August - October: Prepare Application, the University for the duration of the improve the lives of others • a good fit between the abilities Submit Drafts for Feedback degree. The award includes all and aspirations of the tuition costs, a maintenance October: Cambridge Deadline applicant and what the allowance and return airfare. October 15: Gates National Deadline University of Cambridge can The Scholarship was founded in offer in its graduate program. February: Finalist Mock Interviews 2001 with a $210 million gift by The Scholars are expected to become February: Finalist Interviews Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, leaders in their fields and give back March: Awards Announced whose major philanthropic foci are: to society in ways that they are best
health, equity, technology, and placed to do so. Resources learning. The aim of the Gates Just as with the Churchill Cambridge Scholarship to build a Scholarship, interested students must global network of future leaders apply separately for and earn entry http://www.gatesscholar.org/ into Cambridge University. committed to improving the lives of others.
5 Brown University Guide to Fellowships in the UK and Ireland
The Awards The Rhodes The Marshall The Churchill The Gates Cambridge
THE CRAIG CAMBRIDGE The Mitchell The Fulbright
What Is It? Who Wins? Application Materials
• Application to Cambridge The Craig Cambridge Each year, one of these awards University Fellowship is an internal is given. The successful • Personal Statement Brown University Fellowship. It candidate will demonstrate • Program Statement was established by Charles academic distinction, • A Complete C.V. Craig ‘72, who studied at particularly in his or her field of • 3 Letters of Reference (2 Selwyn College, University of study, service to Brown and the Academic) • Cambridge after graduating surrounding community, Transcripts from Brown. The Craig leadership, and character. He or Important Dates & To-Do’s Cambridge Fellowship provides she will have a compelling an opportunity for one reason for wanting to study at May - August: Research Cambridge graduating senior or recent Cambridge and be an excellent Programs, Get Faculty & graduate to pursue a Masters match for the program of study Fellowship Advice, Request Degree (M.Phil) in any field at for which he or she is applying Letters the University of Cambridge as at Cambridge. August - October: Prepare Application, a resident of Selwyn College. Just as with the Churchill and Submit Drafts for Feedback The scholarship covers tuition, Gates Scholarships, interested October: Cambridge Deadline matriculation and laboratory students must apply separately November 11: Campus Deadline costs, travel, and room and for and earn entry into board at Selwyn College, Cambridge University, listing March: Awards Announced Cambridge. Selwyn College as their first choice of residential college on Resources their University of Cambridge http://www.brown.edu/academics/co application. llege/fellowships/fellowships_at_bro wn/detail/craig_cambridge
6 Brown University Guide to Fellowships in the UK and Ireland
The Awards The Rhodes The Marshall The Churchill The Gates Cambridge The Craig Cambridge THE MITCHELL The Fulbright
What Is It? Who Wins? Application Materials
• The Mitchell Scholarship is Each year, up to twelve Mitchell Personal Statement • Program Statement named after former US Senator Scholars between the ages of 18 • 5 Letters of Reference (At Least 3 and 30 are chosen for the George Mitchell, the current envoy Academic) to the Middle East and the man Mitchell. Candidates must be • Transcripts whose diplomatic work was U.S. citizens. This is an award pivotal to the Northern Ireland for graduating seniors, as well Important Dates & To-Do’s peace process. In honoring as recent alumni. While there is Mitchell, the award is designed to no minimum GPA, candidates April 19: Information Session introduce and connect generations should be poised to make an May - August: Research Irish of future American leaders to the impact in their field of study. Programs, Get Faculty & island of Ireland, while Fellowship Advice, Request A sustained commitment to Letters recognizing and fostering serve community and country, June - August: Prepare Application, intellectual achievement, along with the characteristics of Submit Drafts for Feedback leadership, and a commitment to intellectual distinction, community and public service. leadership, integrity, excellence, August 17: Campus Deadline The award provides for one year of and fairness are the qualities September: Feedback & Workshops postgraduate study in any sought in Mitchell Scholars. October: National Deadline discipline offered by institutions of Brown Nomination Required. higher learning in Ireland and November: Finalist Mock Interviews
Northern Ireland. November: Finalist Interviews
In addition to tuition, the Mitchell December: Awards announced Scholarship provides for accommodations, a $12,000 Resources living expenses stipend, and an http://www.us-irelandalliance.org/ international travel stipend.
7 Brown University Guide to Fellowships in the UK and Ireland
The Awards The Rhodes The Marshall The Churchill The Gates Cambridge The Craig Cambridge The Mitchell
THE FULBRIGHT
What Is It? Who Wins? Application Materials
• Project Proposal (2 pages) The Fulbright Scholarship was There will be approximately 40 UK • Personal Statement (1 page) established the United States Fulbrights in all-disciplines offered in • Department of State in 1946 “to the 2013/2014 cycle to US citizens. Short Essay Questions increase mutual understanding There will be 3 Irish Fulbrights, one • Other Information between the people of the United full grant, one taught masters, and • 3 Recommendation Letters (At States and the people of other one Irish language award. Least 2 Academic) countries." A Fulbright Award is, • Transcripts The Fulbright Awards Program is therefore, much more than a looking not only for candidates with financial grant. Scholars should Important Dates & To-Do’s intellectual ability, but also those with expect to serve as ambassadors of ambassadorial skills, evidence of April 12: Fulbright Festival the United States and be ready, cultural sensitivity, a genuine desire April 18 & May 2: Getting Started willing, and able to have a to learn about their host country and Workshops transformative cultural and to share American culture. academic experience. It is named April-June: Research Universities & Candidates should also possess wide- after Senator J. William Fulbright of Programs, Get Faculty & ranging interests, leadership Arkansas, who was the longest Fellowship Advice, Request potential, and a desire to further the serving chairman of the Senate Letters Fulbright Program and give back to Foreign Relations Committee. their home country upon returning. June-August: Prepare Application, Submit The Fulbright Scholarship for You must be a US citizen resident Drafts for Feedback Study in the UK provides funds for anywhere except the UK, and hold or August 27: Campus Deadline expect to receive a Bachelor's degree the first year of Master's or PhD September: Feedback & Workshops study in any subject, at any before departure to the UK. October 15: National Deadline accredited UK university, or to Candidates apply to the university March - May: Finalists Announced conduct a period of independent and/or program they wish to attend research with a UK institution. directly. The Fulbright is contingent Resources upon acceptance there. The Fulbright Scholarship for Study in Ireland provides funds for Brown Review Required. http://us.fulbrightonline.org/home.html the first year of Master's or PhD study at any accredited Irish university. 8 Brown University Guide to Fellowships in the UK and Ireland
The most important thing to do The Dean’s Fellowship web site, too,
when figuring out which fellowship offers a wealth of information for
is right for you involves identifying you to consider. Remember, Brown
your interests, talents, and future is rich in resources of staff and
plans. Rather than thinking simply faculty who are here to help you
about winning an award, consider: prepare the strongest possible
• What do I want to study? And applications. for which course of study am I best prepared? You should have a good sense of what fellowships you want to apply • Who is doing interesting work in my field and where are they for towards the end of your junior doing it? year. Many applications are due in • What do I want to be doing in The Application August before the start of your ten, fifteen or twenty years? senior year, so you will need the Process • What place and program can best help me achieve these long- summer between junior and senior term goals? year to work on your materials. In this section, we will take you When you’ve sorted through these through what you can expect to By the end of the spring semester questions, finding the right happen during the application or early in the summer, you should fellowship for your life and goals, as process, in general, while also giving be in touch with Dean Dunleavy. well as the process of applying for it you an overview of the materials you Once you are on our radar, we can is much easier. can expect to provide for most provide you with feedback, specifics If you haven’t already, you should fellowship applications. about workshops and deadlines, and attend the Fellowship Fair and/or The first step in any application help you with any questions that information sessions about the process is deciding what fellowship, Rhodes and Marshall and/or you are interested in pursuing. Fulbright. At these events, you will Hopefully, the overviews you’ve just be able to speak directly to an read have given you some insight informed party about the respective into what each award offers, who awards. Consult, too, with usually wins, as well as important professors and mentors with whom information to keep in mind about you’ve worked closely for advice. the applications. Dean Linda Dunleavy of the
Fellowship Office can also offer you advice about the fellowships and
9 programs. Brown University Guide to Fellowships in the UK and Ireland
tight schedule. After attending an might arise. Utilize Brown’s Resources: information session, reading about Attend an Information Session Having picked one or a few the fellowships and programs in the Talk to your Professors fellowships to pursue, it is now time U.K. and/or Ireland online, and
for APPLICATION SUMMER. To Visit the Fellowships Office talking with your advisors,
do well in the hunt for one of these Use Our Online Resources professors, and mentors in April and
competitive awards, expect to spend Attend a Workshop May, the application process kicks a good chunk of time drafting, into high gear. revising and compiling your Equipped with a good sense of what materials. This isn’t to say that you is the best fit for you, in May or early will spend every waking moment on June, you’ll select a fellowship or these projects, but the process of fellowships for which you want to preparing a compelling case for apply. yourself – and this is what you are
doing – convincing others that you In May or June, you should also
are the perfect candidate for X,Y, or begin identifying and contacting the
Z fellowship takes time, real time. people you would like to serve as
Without exception, all of Brown’s your recommenders. The more lee
recent award winners have time you can give them the better.
committed to the process in this way. Because of the summer deadlines, it is important to ask your referees at So what will you be working on least 2 or 3 weeks before the end of during the summer? Though the spring semester. It is a good idea applications differ—and you must do to schedule a meeting with each the legwork to know what exactly The items are: referee to discuss your plans for the each fellowship requires and when • A Personal Essay fellowship and talk about the things are due—there are a number • An Activities List of some kind possibility of them writing on your of items that typically make their way • A Program Proposal or behalf. into all of these fellowship packets. Statement • Letters of Recommendation Having selected a fellowship or • We will list them here and go into Transcripts fellowships, download and read the • The Application Itself more detail about what each item applications, making note of what
entails more thoroughly later on in In order to complete these pieces, materials each application requires.
our guide. you will need to stick to a relatively Typically the applications become
available for download in the
10 Brown University Guide to Fellowships in the UK and Ireland
summer; if the current application is longer, more difficult writing of the so get that taken care of when you
not available, look at the previous personal and program statements can.
year’s. earlier in June. Having submitted In August, submit your application those for feedback, you should June is the time for you to draft the materials for many of these awards to prepare any short answers that the essays for each application including the Brown Committee. applications require. The Gates and the personal statement, the program During September, if your Marshall, for example, include a proposal, and short essays required. application has moved forward number of short essays. Once you have completed drafts of through Brown’s Internal Evaluation these essays, submit them to the A number of awards are contingent you should revise and polish your Fellowship Proctor or Dean upon acceptance into one of the UK application materials using feedback Dunleavy for feedback. The Dean’s or Irish universities. At this time, it is from the committee and Dean Office encourages you to submit critical that you begin the separate Dunleavy. The Fellowship Office will drafts of essays, ask questions, and applications to Cambridge for the host workshops and provide advice request advice and information. Churchill, Gates, and Craig, as well as for those whose applications have Trusted mentors in and outside of any applications to UK or Irish advanced. If you are on campus, you your field of study can also serve as universities for the Fulbright. should plan on attending at least one valuable sounding boards. During July, it is time to revise, of these sessions. Past applicants have
It can be useful to identify people revise, and revise some more. found these small seminars
with whom you would be interested Incorporate the feedback you have enormously useful venues for
in working in the UK and Ireland, received into your essays. thinking about their essays. and now would be a good time to As July moves along, follow-up with In October, sign, seal, and send your learn about and contact those your recommenders to tell them completed fellowship materials, as people. As we will discuss in the about any changes you’ve made to well as any separate University section on Letters of your application and to remind them application materials you might have. Recommendation, though you need about any approaching deadlines. By late October/early November, not have a polished essay or research Fellowship foundations will notify proposal in hand, it is a good idea This is a good time, too, for taking the candidates they will interview. At that you have a relatively clear sense care of the nitty-gritty details of your Brown, these applicants will be given of your project/person prior to application, like preparing your mock interviews. Real interviews will contacting referees or overseas activities list and/or C.V. and follow in mid-late November. contacts. ordering any copies of your transcript that you need. Many applications Typically, fellowship award winners We encourage you to work on the also require a passport photo, are announced in December.
11 Brown University Guide to Fellowships in the UK and Ireland
Applying for Multiple Fellowships
CLUSTERING SCHEDULING YOUR WORK
If you have identified a program at Because the core materials for so many of the applications are similar, it makes
you like at a particular institution, we sense to apply for multiple awards. If you’re going to be applying for multiple
encourage you to create a cluster of awards, we recommend that you work on them in the following order. This order
applications. In other words, apply is based both on the application deadlines and the type and volume of work
for all of the U.K. fellowships that involved. support the study you want to do. 1. Marshall: Because the Marshall application requires the most writing, we Maximize your opportunities to recommend that any student whose portfolio of fellowship applications succeed! includes the Marshall work on that application first. If you would like to study at Oxford, 2. Rhodes: The Rhodes is similar to the Marshall but without the program for example, apply for the Rhodes, proposal. The challenge here is fitting the program proposal into the Marshall, and Fulbright. 1,000 word personal statement and in the process losing some of the If you have identified a program at words in the personal statement you may have prepared for the Marshall Cambridge, apply for the Marshall, application. The Activities List is a demanding project as well. Keep in Gates, Churchill (if you are a math, mind that you also need to set up 8 letters of recommendation for the science, or engineering student), Rhodes, twice as many as for the Marshall. Craig, and Fulbright. 3. Mitchell: This application has an early deadline and requires 5 letters of If you want to study at Queen’s recommendation. University in Belfast, apply for the 4. Fulbright: Similar to the Rhodes and Marshall though the project Marshall, the Mitchell, and the proposal essay is longer and the personal statement is shorter. Fulbright to the U.K.
5. Churchill, Craig, and Gates: These applications all require that
candidates apply to the University of Cambridge separately.
12 Brown University Guide to Fellowships in the UK and Ireland
the selection criteria, you will want
to emphasize different things about thinking about what it means “to be
your person in each one. The personal.” Use your answers to these questions to begin Rhodes, for example, tends to constructing a story about you, emphasize leadership and active future fellowship award winner: involvement in the significant issues Who you are, what you care about, The of our day; an award like the where you come from, where you Marshall shades a bit more towards Personal are going, and most importantly candidates who demonstrate their why the people reading your essay intellectual and academic depth and Essay should want to meet you in person development. (and give you this award). The word essay comes from the Having thought about what the French word “to try” or “to selection committees are seeking, it attempt.” A personal essay, then, is is critical now to begin asking an attempt to put a picture of questions of yourself. Before you yourself into words. No small task, it begin writing an essay take some is not surprising that producing a time to consider and answer the compelling paper version of following questions in prose detail: themselves strikes many applicants • What’s your experience growing as the most difficult part of the up been? How has that shaped application process. While there is who you are and what you care no secret way to produce a good about?
personal essay, there are a number • How did you first become One easy, if silly sounding, thing to interested in what you’re of things that you can strive to do is to imagine yourself as a interested in? character in a novel. How does a emulate in order to make your essay • Describe a moment when you successful writer, like Jane Austen, successful and a number of pitfalls demonstrated bravery? When let readers know that a character has to avoid. you failed? character? Typically, a good author • A good first step when approaching In what moment did you feel will put a character through some most powerful, scared, this essay is to consider the sort of trial or scenario, one that that intrigued, inspired? Why? fellowship for which you are allows readers to see the best (and • Where do you see yourself in applying. Read the essay question! worst) of that fictional person. Use ten, fifteen, fifty years? What attributes, in particular, is this events and actions to give readers a By answering these questions, you award emphasizing? While the sense of who you are through how will be doing two important things: awards are similar, depending on you behave. In a novel, too, you’ll one, getting started writing and two, 13 Brown University Guide to Fellowships in the UK and Ireland
expect to see descriptive detail about reading your essay know this common personal essay mistake: a character’s life, portraits of where already – they’ve been there and namely, writing a narrative C.V., i.e., they live, what they look like, how earned it. You only have a limited “I did this and this and this and they’re dressed, what they eat, what amount of space in your essay. this.” You have a very limited they say and how they sound. By amount of space within the Remember, tone is important. providing us with this descriptive application to make a big When writing about your academic detail, authors enable us to see impression. Rather than replicating work in your personal essay, assume where characters are coming from information that the committee will an educated audience, if not one not just physically but also already have seen elsewhere, pick a entirely fluent in your field. When intellectually and emotionally. moment or two out of your discussing your politics, toe the line Hence the old adage: show, don’t experience that provide insight into between needlessly inflammatory tell. who you are and what you value. and obsequiously fawning and non- Your essay shouldn’t come out of committal. You won’t know what left field and seem unrelated to your your readers politics are, but assume ambitions or proposed course of that they’ve come to their study, but each portion of your conclusions rationally and in good application should tell the selection faith.
committee something distinct. Don’t let your ego get in the way of
As you write, there are a few other your success. In order to compete important things to keep in mind. for an award, you must be willing First and foremost? Be honest. On a and able to write and revise your practical level, don’t lie, don’t essay many times. Solicit criticisms exaggerate. On a metaphysical level, from people you trust and respect don’t be flip. Try to communicate and incorporate their feedback.
The advantages of this narrative some form of the truth about what Come to the workshops the approach are many. First and you want, how you think, and for an Fellowship Office offers, and work foremost, showing, rather than essay like the Rhodes, how you are with the Fellowship Proctor one-on- telling, enables you to present a going to “fight the world’s fight.” It one for more granular advice on formidable case that you deserve to is obvious when people are your essay. win an award without explicitly pandering; more importantly, it is Finally, successful personal essays stating, “I deserve this award.” It is bad for your soul. are as individual as the people who important to take on the pose of Similarly, you should try to avoid craft them, but if you need some humility if you cannot actually writing about how great Oxford is models, there are a number of possess it. and how terrific the fellowship you winning essays available for you to Another advantage of this method is are applying for is. The people look at in the Fellowship Office. that it forces you to avoid the most
14 Brown University Guide to Fellowships in the UK and Ireland
The Project Statement/ Proposal
Most UK fellowships want you to professors, advisors and your fellow research anywhere, why send you identify a program or course of study students about what related to study specifically in that that will help you move forward in research areas seem most department at that UK University? your academic work and overall life promising, read the professional plan. In addition to naming a Your proposal will answer the journals of your particular
program and a potential mentor in following questions in clear discipline and get a sense of
that program, you should be able to succinct prose: “what’s happening.” say something specific about the kind Next, the task is making a • What is the focus of my of focus your work would take convincing case for why you, in work in this program? there. This can be in the form of an particular, must do this research, in • anticipated thesis topic, mentors, the Why is it interesting? • this particular place, with these types of seminars you would take, Why you? particular people. This means and/or the guiding question that will • Who cares? detailing your previous experience– shape your work within the Let's discuss what each of these be it writing a thesis, doing program. items means. First, the focus of laboratory work, conducting your research and why it’s It is important when writing a anthropological studies – in the interesting. Because you have spent persuasive program statement that field. Try to narrate your approximately 4 years studying a you thoroughly research the intellectual experience in such a particular field, you should have a university and programs to which way that your undertaking seems sense of the problems and question you are applying. Knowing what like a natural progression of the assets each department possess, who with which you hope to most work you have done so far. The is doing what research, and how you seriously engage. If you’re unsure expectation is not that you will be an can take advantage of all the school of how you want to move forward accomplished and polished scholar, offers will make your proposal more in graduate study, speak with your
compelling. If you could do your 15 Brown University Guide to Fellowships in the UK and Ireland
but that you will be on your way to future plans. Describe how you like the Rhodes, Marshall, and Gates,
becoming one. envision your work in this program how you envision your work in this
enhancing your plan to make a program leading to your ability to Your program proposal should difference in the field you are make a positive impact on the include a brief discussion of the pursuing and, particularly for the contributions pursuing this program world. awards that emphasize leadership, will have on your development and
Letters of Recommendation
Your letters of recommendation are from those who know you and your academic ones, from professors
one of the most significant pieces of abilities well and can speak, from rather than Teaching Assistants. If
your application. They are also one direct experience with you, about you’ve gained the attention of an
of the aspects of your proposal over your successes and potential. If one important person in your field, all
which you can exercise the least of the most important activities is the better for you.
control, as you are not writing them. your work to improve disabilities In order for a recommender to write
That said, there are any number of services at Brown, a letter from a good recommendation, they are
things you can do to ensure that your Brown's Director of Student and going to need help, in the form of
letters do good work on your behalf. Employee Accessibility Services time and information, from you. (SEAS) is important. Think of your The most important aspect of getting When you know that you are going application as a unified whole in a good recommendation is finding to be applying for a fellowship, which all parts work together; your the right people to write them for schedule an appointment with your letters should support and amplify you. Right does not mean that your potential refereee and ask them if other parts of the application. That they would support your candidacy. recommendations need to come said, it is always useful to have The earlier, the better. from a Nobel Laureate, however. recommendations, particularly Your recommendations should be
16 Brown University Guide to Fellowships in the UK and Ireland
If they agree, give your referees them • A description of the fellowship with the materials they need. Provide and your specific project or
the following materials to your program within it. Ideally, your
referees: letters of recommendation speak
• The recommendation form to your suitability for the itself. In most cases, referees fellowship. Referees need to understand the nature of the may write the letter on their own letterhead, but they might also award to write strong letters of support. need to include the form. If someone is writing multiple • A copy of your fellowship essay. letters for you, make sure you If your referees can read the emphasize that each fellowship essays and perhaps even discuss needs to have its own letter them with you, their letters will specific to the application and be more forceful and germane. addressed to that foundation or You might also take this The C.V. appropriate committee at Brown. opportunity to ask for their or • The deadline. feedback on your essays. • Résumé • To whom the letter(s) should be The resume and/or activities list addressed (individual or you plan to submit as part of Though it has many names – committee, relevant titles, your application. Curriculum Vitae, resume, activities
address). • Reminders of any relevant work list -- this portion of your
• Specific information about you did with your referees or application serves one essential where the letter needs to be sent. under their direction, including function, to provide a quick If the letter needs to be first sent papers, presentations, and overview of you and your research projects. to our office and later submitted accomplishments for those who read
on-line, provide the referees with Be in touch with your recommenders it. Some applications may ask for
all the relevant information. You should any of your plans change and more depth than others, so again, be can find the specific forms for to remind them of approaching prepared to read directions and the Rhodes, Marshall, and deadlines. adjust your materials accordingly. Fulbright referees on the
Fellowships @ Brown website. For the most part, resumes should include the following:
• Your name and contact
information.
17 Brown University Guide to Fellowships in the UK and Ireland
• Your education, State the sentences (normally frowned upon) responsibilities. highest degree you have earned, in order to get your points across • Your “other” extracurricular the institution where the degree quickly and clearly. Rather than activities, including service was granted, date of writing, “Organizers asked me to commitments, art-making, (anticipated) graduation, the participate in the AIDS Walk so that athletic accomplishments. Be level of degree and field), any I could fundraise money for HIV sure to include relevant minors, and your GPA. awareness” you would write information about the “Fundraised $400 for HIV Awareness • Your academic achievements, organizations with whom you in AIDS Walk.” Use action verbs and including any awards you have worked, the dates and duration the active voice! won and descriptions of any of activities, as well as a short research projects (including Though you want to keep things description. conference papers and concise, be sure to spell out unusual When writing a resume or C.V., publications) or unfamiliar acronyms. As you readability and concision often move through your resume, make • Your work experience, including trump proper English. One typical sure too, that you are using the name and address of jobs, the practice is called “gapping.” consistent phrasing when describing dates of employment, your title “Gapping” is the use of incomplete your work, so that readers can easily and a description of your follow the thread of your experience.
General Tips
As we close out our booklet on schedule. • Enjoy yourself. While applying
applying for fellowships to the UK for these fellowships can be hard • Ask for help and Ireland, let us part with some work, it will also be a rare • Revise and re-draft as necessary general advice about the process and opportunity to think about what
preparing the application. Here’s a • Proofread! Your application you value and which direction
few tips to take with you: should be well polished and you want your life to go in. professional looking. • Get started early and stick to
18 Brown University Guide to Fellowships in the UK and Ireland
The Fellowship Office
Our final bit of advice is simple. Staff Be in touch! The people at the Linda Dunleavy: Associate Dean of the College, Fellowships Fellowship Office are here to Linda Sutherland: Program Coordinator, Fellowships help you through this process Contact Information and want to help you succeed. Office: University Hall, Suite 213 Here’s all of our relevant contact Phone: 401.863.2538 information for any questions
you might have and for Fax: 401.863.1961
recommendation letters you E-Mail: [email protected]
need sent to our office. Web Page: http://www.brown.edu/college/fellowships
United States Postal Service Address
Brown University Fellowships Office of the Dean of the College Box 1828 Providence, RI 02912
FedEx/UPS/DHL Deliveries
Brown University Fellowships Office of the Dean of the College 1 Prospect Street/UH213 Providence, RI 02912
19 Brown University Guide to Fellowships in the UK and Ireland