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Textual Dynamics of Fellowship Applications Lorelei Blackburn Michigan State University 281 Bessey Hall East Lansing, MI 708-743-5673 [email protected]

ABSTRACT I began exploring other options and discovered that the In this paper, I explore the textual dynamics of fellowship government and private trusts give away millions of dollars per applications as well as access issues that can affect those year in the form of fellowships. But, because I still sometimes dynamics. feel like an outsider in the academy (a non-traditional student from a blue-collar background who has large gaps in her educational history), I wasn’t sure how to even go about finding Keywords and applying for fellowships. In fact, I suspected that there was Working class rhetoric, textual dynamics, access, some inside information—some information only accessible to the elite, pedigreed scholars—that I needed to get my hands on before 1. INTRODUCTION I could even dream of creating an effective application. As a first-generation college student from a blue-collar family firmly rooted in Chicago’s Southside, I was not able to count on This quest to find funding and its resultant mission to discover my family for financial support when I began college in the early and examine the textual dynamics of fellowship applications 90s. Nor was much institutional assistance available to help me within the academy is not born of avarice or greed, but of a overcome economic, class, social, and cultural barriers to higher desperate attempt to break free of the unyielding confines of education. And, because I was woefully under-prepared poverty. I do not wish for my socio-economic birth status to financially, I frequently went without textbooks, and was denied constrain my potential. What follows hereafter is a discussion access to numerous courses due to the high activity fees. To earn based on two interviews I conducted in an attempt to discover the my basic living expenses, I worked numerous jobs concurrently— “social framework regulating textual production” in regard to secretary, babysitter, pizza maker, retail store clerk, and cocktail fellowship applications (Schwegler 216). While I found this waitress to name just a few—earning just enough to pay rent, information personally invaluable, I also believe that it might be cover utilities and transportation, and buy groceries. However, of interest to others scholars in similar circumstances. tossing pizzas until 2:30 a.m. was not conducive to making an 8 a.m. Spanish class. As such, my performance as an undergraduate was less than stellar. 2. METHODOLOGY In order to obtain a clear picture of what happens on the judges’ side of application processes, I thought it important to interview a Unfortunately, admittance to what Mike Rose astutely refers to as scholar in my discipline who reads and evaluates fellowships. For the “academic club” is so exclusive that mere “highbrow this reason, I chose to interview Dr. Malea Powell, Director of the language,” and “fancy badges,” will not gain one admittance. Rhetoric and Writing Program at Michigan State University. Dr. Rather, it seems, one must have the finances—bread, dough, Powell has served as a reviewer for the Ford Foundation Diversity moolah, big bucks, cold hard cash—or, access to said finances. Fellowship. And, to gain a practical sense of what is involved in When my financial aid counselor told me that I probably didn’t applying for fellowships, I interviewed successful fellowship and belong in college if I couldn’t come up with the money to pay for grant applicant and recent Michigan State University graduate Dr. it, I dropped out and returned to Chicago to pursue a writing Jim Ridolfo, Assistant Professor of Composition and Rhetoric in career in advertising. the Department of English and Comparative Literature at the University of Cincinnati. Dr. Ridolfo has an accurate reputation on the Michigan State University campus as man who can get Fast forward fifteen years. I finally dug myself out of the debt I funding. incurred during my first years as a college student, and I finished a bachelors degree and a masters degree. Then, I decided to continue my education. After turning down several good job I interviewed Dr. Powell in person, and, due to distance, I prospects, I packed up my belonging and my meager savings interviewed Dr. Ridolfo via webcam using skype. I was, account, and moved to another state to pursue a doctoral degree. unfortunately, not able to record either conversation, but I took After using up all my savings within the first two months, I copious notes during the interview process. Each meeting took realized my stipend wasn’t going to cut it. But, because I knew approximately one hour. The meeting with Dr. Ridolfo also how difficult it was to work and attend school full-time, I was included several follow-up e-mails. reticent to begin looking for another job—especially during the first semester of PhD work. 3. FINDINGS Dr. Powell was able to give me an authentic view into the “responses of readers in a particular interpretive community suggested applicants begin strategizing early in order to position [(fellowship reviewers)] to one common form of discourse in the themselves to benefit when opportunities arise. For example, field [(fellowship applications)] in order to identify the rather than simply applying for a Fulbright Fellowship cold, he conventions guiding reader response and interpretation” maintains that building a record of fellowships and grants can (Schwegler 216). Basically, she allowed me an inside look at how actually positively influence the reviewers. Toward this end, he the target audience interprets or receives information offered for urges applicants to think of themselves as commodities, or as fellowship consideration. The following is a condensed list of her venture capital. In this regard, he suggested laying the advice to potential fellowship applicants: groundwork by identifying and engaging in activities valued by 1. Before applying, research the fellowship. the communities from which one hopes to gain funding. For 2. Follow instructions religiously in order to avoid being example, applying for and being awarded a FLAS (Foreign screened out. Language and Area Studies) Fellowship can lead to an award for a 3. The statement of purpose should take up the mission of Critical Language Fellowship. The Critical Language Fellowship, the fellowship and be clear, direct, focused, with as in turn, can lead to receiving preferential treatment for State much detail and specificity as possible. Department jobs. However, as Dr. Ridolfo noted that FLAS 4. Make materials as accessible as possible. For example, applicants must take a foreign language class the year before CDs containing digital samples are not as accessible as applying for the FLAS, in actuality, preparation for fellowships online information, so offer a website address instead of begins far in advance of the actual application. Unfortunately, if including a CD. prospective applicants are unaware of the specifications required Dr. Powell also suggested choosing recommenders carefully. of a fellowship, they could find that they have disqualified While someone with a recognizable name seems a good choice, themselves by making, or not making, small, seemingly someone who is familiar with a student’s work and can offer inconsequential decisions years previously. This means it is of specific details would be a better choice. the utmost importance that potential applicants begin researching fellowships and speaking with those “in the know” early in their academic careers. Dr. Ridolfo also suggests applying for multiple From the information Dr. Ridolfo offered regarding the opportunities to increase chances of success. application process, I can only conclude that fellowship applications, because they involve input from various players, are 4. IMPLICATIONS collaborative in nature. Not only must an applicant solicit referral I find it important to note that, while as scholars we are often letters, which requires participation from professors, but they may forced to reduce themselves to textual representations, these texts also sometimes need administrative support in getting paperwork are not holistic representations and are, by their nature, to the proper people, which requires participation from various incomplete. For, nowhere in among their pages are the lists of office personnel. Consequently, Dr. Ridolfo spent a great deal of fellowships applied for, but not granted. Nowhere are the failed time discussing consideration for those contributors who assist in attempts or evidences of persistence. Nowhere is there room for producing and coordinating the delivery of necessary texts. He discussions regarding time spent caring for children or ailing explained that it is essential to complete as much legwork as relatives. However, I suggest that these silences, this information possible to take the burden off those from whom much is left out, can speak volumes about an applicant’s diligence, requested. He suggested the following as basic courtesies: perseverance, and character. In this instance, the textual dynamics 1. Ask for support letters as much as three months in of the academy has “not taken into account the incompleteness of advance. the evidence provided by the texts” (Schwegler 217). 2. Give stamped and addressed envelopes to those who will write support letters. Perhaps if a feminist approach were applied to decisions and 3. Offer boilerplates of support letters. expectations of what should be included in a CV, these textual 4. Offer to do the photocopying. representations of scholars might offer a more balanced And, because applicants frequently apply for more than one representation of reality. To further complicate matters, not only fellowship, Dr. Ridolfo suggested that it is important to recognize are scholars required to turn themselves into these limited- the contribution of those involved and to express appreciate for dimensional textual representations, but they are expected to allow their ongoing efforts. others to do the same to them, trusting their recommenders and letter writers to accurately collapse who they are and who they Like Dr. Powell, Dr. Ridolfo also suggested researching the need to be into a representative text that will appeal to a specific fellowship. However, as could be expected, his focus was audience. different; he suggested contacting former winners to request copies of their statements of purpose. He pointed out the obvious: While it may not seem obvious, access plays a role in creating a successful statements can serve as excellent models. Dr. Ridolfo textual representation of oneself that will be valuable to also offered practical advice for creating and submitting the profession-building. For example, many applications require the documents that will serve as textual representations of applicants: inclusion of a CV, which seems standard and innocuous enough. 1) maintain two updated versions of CV—a condensed one-page However, this textual representation of scholarly pursuits and CV and a full version, and 2) keep multiple copies of sealed achievements can actually represent an investment of thousands official transcripts on file for easy access. and thousands of dollars. My CV has a significant list of conference presentations, which I partially credit for helping me In addition, Dr. Ridolfo encouraged forward-thinking, and he gain entrance into my current PhD program. What is not listed in that section is the large amount of money that I had to borrow—in 216). I feel it is interesting to note that, even here, access plays a the form of student loans—to fund those conference presentations. significant role in one’s textual representation.

Had I not realized early on the value of conference presentations The hypothesis I proposed at the beginning of my study—that in a textual representation of my scholarly identity, I probably some inside information, possibly available only to elite, would not have even considered incurring such a high debt. pedigreed scholars, would be needed to successfully apply to However, if I had not done so, I would not now be continuing my fellowships—was proven to be more complicated than I had education. Moreover, because of lack of funding, I was obligated originally expected. An analysis of the data I gathered from my to turn down several opportunities that might have increased the two sources suggests that, while information necessary for appeal of my CV. This situation required me to attempt to creating successful applications is not exclusive, it can, for a determine “the social framework regulating textual production” variety of reasons, be difficult to access. and to make “assumptions about what objects are appropriate for examination and discussion” within the academy (Schwegler