FELLOWSHIPS

Guide to Fellowships in the U.K. and Ireland

2014-2015

BROWN Office of the Dean of the College for Fellowships

Are you interested in pursuing advanced graduate study in the U.K. or Ireland?

Do you dream of doing cutting edge biology with Cambridge scientists working in Darwin’s footsteps? Of building bridges between America and its British allies? Of digging your way through the Anti-Slavery Society’s Collections in Oxford’s Bodleian Library? Of playwriting at ’s Oscar Wilde Centre?

Today, there are many fellowships available that can help make doing graduate work in the U.K. or Ireland possible. In this brochure, you’ll find all the information you need to figure out what fellowships and programs might be a good fit for you and how to make your way through the application process.

It goes without saying that these awards are highly competitive and there are no guarantees that you’ll win one. Quite the opposite, in fact. The process is relatively long and requires introspection, self-examination, out-of-the-classroom thinking and lots work on your part. Though it can be an arduous process, a vast majority of students who do end up applying for a fellowship find it to be intellectually and emotionally satisfying.

We hope you will consider throwing your hat in the ring this year.

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Contents

The awards and who wins them……………………………………………………………………………………4

The application process……………………………………………………………………………………..……..11

Writing a personal essay…………………………………………………………………………………………..15

Writing a project proposal……………………………………………………………………………………..….17

Recommendations……………………………………………………………………………………………..….18

Compiling a C.V……………………………………………………………………………………………….…19

General tips ………………………………………………………………………………………………….…...20

Office of the Dean of the College for Fellowships…………………………………..…………………………...21

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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 is the Each year, 32 U. S. citizens win the oldest and most well-known of the Rhodes, taking up degree courses • Personal Statement (1,000 Words) U.K. fellowships. The at Oxford. The four criteria by • Activities List (2 Pages) were established in which prospective Rhodes • 5-8 Recommendation Letters (At 1903, at the behest of Cecil Scholars are selected are character, Least 4 Academic) Rhodes, an industrialist and initiative, civic-mindedness, and • Transcripts imperialist, who “dreamed of an ability to make a significant improving the world” by bringing difference in the world. together scholars at Oxford to Important Dates & To-Do’s study. Improved by their While good grades are important, April 4: Info Session education and exposure to one Brown’s Rhodes winners have another, these scholars would been those students who have been April 16 & May 1: “Getting Started” return to their communities, ready able to make significant cases for Workshops to fight the world’s fight. themselves as “change-makers.” April - June: Research Oxford, Get While there used to be an athletic Faculty Advice, Request Letters The Rhodes is a graduate component, the committee has scholarship for two years of study June - July: Prepare Application, Submit expanded the criterion to include at the University of Oxford. Drafts for Feedback such activities as hiking. The Rhodes Scholars may pursue any August 5: Campus Deadline selection committees seek full-time graduate course offered September: Feedback & Workshops candidates who are truly by the University, whether a outstanding, in mind and person, Early October: Official Deadline taught Master’s program or and promise to be effective, long- research degree. University and Early November: Mock Interviews term world leaders. The Rhodes College fees are paid by the Scholarships, in short, are November 22 & 23: Interviews Rhodes Trust. Scholars also receive investments in individuals. a monthly maintenance stipend to December: Awards Announced cover accommodation and living Brown Nomination Required.

expenses. Resources

http://www.rhodesscholar.org/

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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) The Marshall Scholarships were Each year up to 40 Scholarships • Short Essays, including future founded by an Act of Parliament are awarded. Marshall selectors plans in 1953. They serve both as a living look for distinction of intellect and • Statement of Program character as evidenced by memorial to US Secretary of State • 4 Recommendation Letters (3 George C Marshall, the creator of significant achievements, scholarly Academic) and otherwise. The Marshall seeks the Marshall Plan, and as a • Transcripts testament to the gratitude of the students who can make deep and British to the American people. meaningful contributions to society. The Marshall places more Important Dates & To-Do’s The Marshall enables intellectually emphasis on the presentation of a distinguished young Americans, specific and realistic academic April 4: Info Session their country's future leaders, to program of study than the Rhodes study in the U.K. in order to gain does. Candidates must indicate April 16 & May 1: “Getting Started” an understanding and two universities they would like to Workshops appreciation of contemporary attend: a first and second choice April - June: Research Programs, Get Britain and ultimately act as university. Faculty Advice, Request ambassadors between the USA and Letters the U.K. The award is also The is open designed to promote the personal to United States citizens with a June - July: Prepare Application, and academic fulfillment of each minimum GPA of 3.7. Submit Drafts for Feedback Scholar. To this end, scholarships Brown Nomination Required. August 5: Campus Deadline provide winners with two fully funded years of study, with a September: Feedback & Workshops

possible third-year extension, at Early October: Official Deadline any university in the United Kingdom in nearly any field of Early November: Mock Interviews study. November 5-14: Finalist Interviews

December: Awards Announced

Resources

http://www.marshallscholarship.org

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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 offers At least 14 scholars are selected • Application to Cambridge seniors and recent graduates of nationwide each year. The University exceptional ability and Churchill is an award exclusively • Personal Statement outstanding achievement in for those in the sciences, • Research Plan engineering, mathematics, or the engineering, or mathematics. • Future Plans sciences the opportunity to pursue Churchill Scholars who are ready • 3 Recommendation Letters graduate work at Cambridge. One to contribute to the advancement • Transcripts of the newer colleges at of knowledge in these fields by Cambridge, Churchill College was pursuing original, creative work at Important Dates & To-Do’s built as the national and an advanced level as demonstrated Commonwealth tribute to Sir by awards, prizes, research, and May - August: Research Cambridge Winston, who in the years after letters of recommendation. While Programs, Get Faculty & World War II championed science applicants should demonstrate Fellowship Advice, Request and technology as central to the outstanding personal qualities, Letters prosperity and security of liberal they need not be “well-rounded” August - October: Prepare Application, democracies. The first award was but can possess “interesting Submit Drafts for Feedback granted in 1963. Churchill “jagged edges.” Scholars have become leaders in a October: Cambridge Deadline Applicants must be U.S. citizens. wide range of fields, from finance Upon taking up the scholarship, October 21: Campus Deadline to pharmaceuticals, working in winners must be between the ages university laboratories as well as October - November: Feedback of 19 and 26, hold a bachelor's industry. degree and may not have attained November 12: Official Deadline

a doctorate. There is no minimum January: Awards Announced The Scholarship provides support GPA, but Scholars usually have a for a one-year degree, at GPA between 3.7 and 3.9 or above. Cambridge University. The Scholarship covers all University You must apply separately for entry and College fees and provides for into Cambridge University. Resources living expenses as well as a small Brown Nomination Required. travel grant. http://www.winstonchurchillfoundat

ion.org/

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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 • Application to Cambridge The Gates Cambridge are awarded, with 40 typically University Scholarships are highly going to US citizens and 50 to • Personal Statement competitive full-cost scholarships citizens of all other countries • Short Essays awarded to outstanding applicants (except the U.K.). The • 3 Letters of Reference (2 from outside the U.K. to pursue a Scholarships are awarded on the Academic) postgraduate degree in any subject following criteria: • Transcripts at the University of Cambridge. In • intellectual ability many ways similar to the Rhodes • leadership capacity Important Dates & To-Do’s and Marshall Scholarships, as all • a person's desire to use their three emphasize intellectual knowledge to contribute to May - August: Research Cambridge ability, leadership and civic- society throughout the world Programs, Get Faculty & mindedness, the Gates Cambridge by providing service to their Fellowship Advice, Request differs in that it provides funding communities and applying Letters for postgraduate study at the their talents and knowledge August - October: Prepare Application, University for the duration of the to improve the lives of others Submit Drafts for Feedback • a good fit between the degree. The award includes all Early October: Cambridge Deadline abilities and aspirations of tuition costs, a maintenance the applicant and what the October 15: Gates National Deadline allowance and return airfare. University of Cambridge can February: Finalist Interviews The Scholarship was founded in offer in its graduate March: Awards Announced 2001 with a $210 million gift by program.

The Bill and Melinda Gates Scholars are expected to become Foundation, whose major leaders in their fields and give back philanthropic foci are: health, to society in ways that they are best equity, technology, and learning. placed to do so. Resources The aim of the Gates Cambridge Just as with the Churchill Scholarship is to build a global Scholarship, interested students network of future leaders must apply separately for and earn http://www.gatesscholar.org/ committed to improving the lives entry into Cambridge University. of others.

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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 Fellowship Each year, one of these awards is • University is an internal Brown University given. The successful candidate • Personal Statement Fellowship established by Charles will demonstrate academic • Program Statement Craig ‘72, who studied at Selwyn distinction, particularly in his or A Complete C.V. College, University of Cambridge her field of study, service to Brown • 3 Letters of Reference after graduating from Brown. The and the surrounding community, • (2 Academic) Craig Cambridge Fellowship leadership, and character. He or Transcripts provides an opportunity for one she will have a compelling reason • graduating senior or recent for wanting to study at Cambridge graduate to pursue a Masters and be an excellent match for the Important Dates & To-Do’s Degree (M.Phil) in any field at the program of study for which he or University of Cambridge as a she is applying at Cambridge. May - August: Research Cambridge resident of Selwyn College. Just as with the Churchill and Programs, Get Faculty & The scholarship covers tuition, Gates Scholarships, interested Fellowship Advice, Request matriculation and laboratory costs, students must apply separately for Letters travel, and room and board at and earn entry into Cambridge August - October: Prepare Application, Selwyn College, Cambridge. University. The must list Selwyn Submit Drafts for Feedback College as their first choice of residential college on their Early October: Cambridge Deadline University of Cambridge November 8: Campus Deadline application. March: Awards Announced

Resources

http://www.brown.edu/academics/college/fe llowships/fellowships_at_brown/detail/craig _cambridge

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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 named after former US Senator Scholars between the ages of 18 • Program Statement • 5 Letters of Reference (At Least 3 George Mitchell, the current envoy and 30 are chosen for the Mitchell. Academic) to the Middle East and the man Candidates must be U.S. citizens. This is an award for graduating • Transcripts whose diplomatic work was seniors, as well as recent alumni. pivotal to the While there is no minimum GPA, Important Dates & To-Do’s peace process. In honoring candidates should be poised to Mitchell, the award is designed to make an impact in their field of April 4: Information Session introduce and connect generations study. of future American leaders to the May - August: Research Irish A sustained commitment to serve island of Ireland, while Programs, Get Faculty & community and country, along Fellowship Advice, Request recognizing and fostering with the characteristics of Letters intellectual achievement, intellectual distinction, leadership, leadership, and a commitment to integrity, excellence, and fairness June - August: Prepare Application, Submit Drafts for Feedback community and public service. are the qualities sought in Mitchell The award provides for one year of Scholars. August 5: Campus Deadline postgraduate study in any Brown Nomination Required. September: Feedback & Workshops discipline offered by institutions of October: National Deadline higher learning in Ireland and

Northern Ireland. November: Finalist Mock Interviews November 22 & 23: Finalist Interviews In addition to tuition, the Mitchell Scholarship provides for December: Awards announced accommodations, a $12,000 living expenses stipend, and an international travel stipend. Resources

http://www.us-irelandalliance.org/

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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 form The Fulbright Scholarship was There will be approximately 40 • Project Proposal (2 pages) established by the United States U.K. Fulbrights in all-disciplines • Personal Statement (1 page) Department of State in 1946 “to offered in the 2014/2015 cycle to US • Short Essay Questions increase mutual understanding citizens. There will be 3 Irish • Other Information between the people of the United Fulbrights, one full grant, one • 3 Recommendation Letters States and the people of other taught masters, and one Irish (At Least 2 Academic) countries." Scholars should expect language award. • Transcripts to serve as ambassadors of the The is looking United States and to have a not only for candidates with Important Dates & To-Do’s transformative cultural experience. intellectual ability, but also those It is named after Senator J. April 11: Fulbright Orientation with ambassadorial skills, evidence William Fulbright of Arkansas, of cultural sensitivity, a genuine April 17 & May 7: Getting Started who was the longest serving Workshops desire to learn about their host chairman of the Senate Foreign country and to share American April-June: Research Universities & Relations Committee. culture. Candidates should also Programs, Get Faculty & The Fulbright Scholarship for possess wide-ranging Fellowship Advice, Request Study in the U.K. provides funds interests, leadership potential, and Letters for the first year of Master's or a desire to further the Fulbright June-August: Prepare Application, Submit PhD study in any subject, at any Program and give back to their Drafts for Feedback accredited U.K. university. home country upon returning. You August 26: Campus Deadline must be a US citizen resident The Fulbright Scholarship for anywhere except the U.K., and hold September: Feedback & Workshops Study in Ireland provides funds or expect to receive a Bachelor's October 15: National Deadline for the first year of Master's or degree before departure to the U.K. March - May: Finalists Announced PhD study at any accredited Irish university. Candidates apply to the university March-May: Awards announced and/or program they wish to attend Unlike Fulbright awards to most directly. The Fulbright is contingent countries, the Fulbright to the Resources upon acceptance there. U.K. is primarily a study grant for a degree. Brown Review Required. http://us.fulbrightonline.org/home.html

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The most important thing to do For the most up-to-date specific when figuring out which information about these fellowship is right for you involves opportunities, consult the Dean identifying your interests, of the College Fellowship talents, and future plans. Rather website. You will find links there than thinking simply about to the websites of each award winning an award, consider: program and you should explore these pages. Remember, Brown • What do I want to study? And for which course of study am I is rich in resources of staff and best prepared? faculty who are here to help you • Who is doing interesting work prepare the strongest possible The Application in my field and where are they applications. Process doing it? • What do I want to be doing in You should begin to have a good ten, fifteen or twenty years? sense of what fellowships you • What place and program can want to apply for towards the best help me achieve these long-term goals? end of your junior year. Many In this section, we will take you applications are due in August through what you can expect to When you’ve sorted through these before the start of your senior happen during the application questions, finding the right year, so you will need the process, in general, while also fellowship for your life and goals, summer between junior and giving you an overview of the as well as the process of applying senior year to work on your materials you can expect to for it is much easier. materials. provide for most fellowship To help you in this process, you applications. should attend information sessions Having selected a fellowship or fellowships, download and read The first step in any application about the Rhodes and Marshall process is deciding what fellowship and Fulbright. At these events, you are interested in pursuing. you will be able to speak directly to Hopefully, the overviews you’ve an informed party about the just read have given you some respective awards. Consult, too, insight into what each award with professors and mentors with offers, who usually wins, as well as whom you’ve worked closely for important information to keep in advice. Dean Linda Dunleavy in mind about the applications. the Dean of the College Office can also offer you advice about these

fellowships and programs in the U.K.

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In order to complete these pieces, the applications, making note of you will need to stick to a relatively what materials each application tight schedule. requires. Typically the applications June is the time for you to draft the become available for download in essays for each application including the early part of the summer; if the the personal statement, the program current application is not available, proposal, and any required short look at the previous year’s. essays. Once you have completed In May or June, you should also drafts of these essays, submit them to begin identifying and contacting the Fellowship Proctor or Dean the people you would like to serve Dunleavy for feedback. The Dean’s as your recommenders. The more Office encourages you to submit lee time you can give them the drafts of essays, ask questions, and better. Because of the summer request advice and information.

deadlines, it is important to ask committed to the process in this Trusted mentors in and outside of your field of study can also serve as your referees at least 2 or 3 weeks way. before the end of the spring valuable sounding boards. So what will you be working on semester. You should schedule a It can be useful to identify people during the summer? Though meeting with each referee to with whom you would be interested applications differ—and you must discuss your plans for the in working in the U.K. and Ireland, do the legwork to know what exactly fellowship and talk about the and now would be a good time to each fellowship requires and when possibility of them writing on your learn about and potentially contact things are due—there are a number behalf. those people. of items that typically make their way Having picked one or a few into all of these fellowship packets. Establishing contact with a potential fellowships to pursue, it is now We will list them here and go into mentor in the U.K. is not required time for APPLICATION more detail about what each item for these fellowship applications, but SUMMER. To do well in the hunt entails more thoroughly later on in it can be useful to be in touch with for one of these competitive our guide. people in order to learn about their awards, expect to spend a good The items are: research and if a given program would really be the right fit. chunk of time drafting, revising • A Personal Essay • An Activities List or CV and compiling your materials. The • A Program Proposal or A number of awards are contingent process of preparing a compelling Statement of Purpose upon acceptance into one of the U.K. application takes time, real time. • Letters of Recommendation or Irish universities. At this time, it is • Transcripts Without exception, all of Brown’s critical that you begin the separate • The Application Itself recent award winners have applications to Cambridge for the

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Utilize Brown’s Resources

Attend an Information Session

Use our Online Resources

Talk to your Professors Visit the Dean of the College Fellowship Office

Attend a Workshop

Churchill, Gates, and Craig, as well The Fellowship Office will host as any applications to U.K. or Irish workshops and provide advice for universities for the Fulbright. those whose applications have advanced. If you are on campus, you During July, it is time to revise, should plan on attending at least one revise, and revise some more. of these sessions. Past applicants have Attend workshops and work with found these small seminars your advisors and the Fellowship enormously useful venues for Proctor. Incorporate the feedback thinking about their essays. you have received into your essays. In October, sign, seal, and send your Utilize Brown’s As July moves along, follow-up with Resources completed fellowship materials, as your recommenders to tell them Attend an Information Session well as any separate University about any changes you’ve made to application materials you might have. Use our Online Resources your application and to remind them about approaching deadlines. By late October/early November, Talk to your Professors Several Fellowship foundations-- Visit the Dean of the College This is a good time for taking care of Fellowship Office Rhodes, Marshall and Mitchell-- will other aspects of your application, notify the candidates they will Attend a Workshop like preparing your activities list interview. At Brown, these applicants and/or C.V. and ordering any copies will be given mock interviews. Real of your transcript that you need. interviews will follow in mid-late Many applications also require a November. passport photo, so get that taken For several Fellowships, award care of when you can. winners are announced in In early August, you must submit December. your application materials for many

of these awards to the Brown

Committee.

During September, if your

application has moved forward through Brown’s Internal Evaluation you will need to revise and polish your application materials using feedback from the committee and Dean Dunleavy.

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Applying for Multiple Fellowships

CLUSTERING SCHEDULING YOUR WORK

If you have identified a program you Because the core materials for so many of the applications are similar, it like at a particular institution, we makes sense to apply for multiple awards. If you’re going to be applying for encourage you to maximize your multiple awards, we recommend that you work on them in the following opportunities to succeed! order. This order is based both on the application deadlines and the type Apply for all of the U.K. fellowships and volume of work involved. that support the study program you 1. Marshall: Because the Marshall application requires the most want to do. writing, we recommend that any student whose portfolio of Create a cluster of applications. fellowship applications includes the Marshall work on that

application first. If you would like to study at Oxford,

for example, apply for the Rhodes, 2. Rhodes: The Rhodes is similar to the Marshall, but without the Marshall, and Fulbright. program proposal. The challenge here is fitting a short discussion and the program proposal into the 1,000 word personal statement If you have identified a program at and in the process losing some of the words in the personal Cambridge, apply for the Marshall, statement you may have prepared for the Marshall application. Gates, Churchill (if you are a math, The Activities List is a demanding project as well. Keep in mind science, or engineering student), that you also need to set up 8 letters of recommendation for the Craig, and Fulbright. Rhodes, twice as many as for the Marshall. If you want to study at Queen’s 3. Mitchell: This application has an early deadline and requires 5 University in Belfast, apply for the letters of recommendation. Marshall, the Mitchell, and the

Fulbright to the U.K. 4. Fulbright: Similar to the Rhodes and Marshall though the project proposal essay is longer and the personal statement is shorter.

5. Churchill, Craig, and Gates: These applications all require that candidates apply to the University of Cambridge separately.

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yourself in each one. The Rhodes, about, where you come from, for example, tends to emphasize where you are going, and most leadership and active involvement importantly why should the in the significant issues of our day; people reading your essay want to an award like the Marshall shades a meet you in person (and give you this award). bit more towards candidates who The demonstrate their intellectual and One easy, if silly sounding, thing Personal academic depth and development. to do is to imagine yourself as a character in a novel. How does a Having thought about what the successful writer, like Jane Essay selection committees are seeking, it Austen, let readers know that a is critical now to begin asking character has character? The word essay comes from the questions of yourself. Before you Typically, a good author will put a French word “to try” or “to begin writing an essay take some attempt.” A personal essay, then, time to consider and answer the is an attempt to put a picture of following questions in prose detail:

yourself into words. No small task, • What has your experience it is not surprising that producing growing up been? How has that shaped who you are and what a compelling paper version of you care about? themselves strikes many applicants • How did you first become as the most difficult part of the interested in what you’re application process. While there is interested in? no secret way to produce a good • Describe a moment when you personal essay, there are a number demonstrated bravery? When you failed? of things that you can strive to character through some sort of trial emulate in order to make your • In what moment did you feel or scenario, one that that allows essay successful and a number of most powerful, scared, readers to see the best (and worst) of intrigued, inspired? Why? pitfalls to avoid. that fictional person. Use events and • Where do you see yourself in actions to give readers a sense of A good first step when ten, fifteen, fifty years? who you are through how you approaching this essay is to By answering these questions, you behave. In a novel, too, you’ll expect consider the fellowship for which will be doing two important things: to see descriptive detail about a you are applying. Read the essay one, getting started writing and two, character’s life, portraits of where question! What attributes, in thinking about what it means “to be they live, what they look like, how particular, is this award personal.” Use your answers to they’re dressed, what they eat, what emphasizing? While the awards these questions to begin they say and how they sound. By are similar, depending on the constructing a story about you, providing us with this descriptive selection criteria, you will want to future fellowship award winner: detail, authors enable us to see emphasize different things about Who you are, what do you care

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where characters are coming elsewhere, pick a moment or two obsequiously fawning and non- from not just physically but also out of your experience that committal. You won’t know what intellectually and emotionally. provides insight into who you are your readers politics are, but Hence the old adage: show, don’t and what you value. Your essay assume that they’ve come to their tell. shouldn’t come out of left field conclusions rationally and in good and seem unrelated to your faith. The advantages of this narrative ambitions or proposed course of approach are many. First and Don’t let your ego get in the way study; rather each portion of your foremost, showing, rather than of your success. In order to application should tell the telling, enables you to present a compete for an award, you must selection committee something formidable case that you deserve be willing and able to write and distinct. to win an award without revise your essay many times. explicitly stating, “I deserve this As you write, there are a few other Solicit criticisms from people you award.” It is important to take important things to keep in mind. trust and respect and be open to First and foremost? Be honest. On and incorporate their feedback. a practical level, don’t lie, don’t Come to the workshops the exaggerate. On a metaphysical Fellowship Office offers, and work level, don’t be flip. Try to with the Fellowship Proctor one- communicate some form of the on-one for more granular advice truth about what you want, how on your essay. you think, and for an essay like Finally, successful personal essays the Rhodes, how you are going to are as individual as the people who “fight the world’s fight.” craft them, but if you need some Similarly, you should try to avoid models, there are a number of writing about how great Oxford is winning essays available for you to and how terrific the fellowship look at in the Fellowship Office, you are applying for is. The people University Hall, Suite 213. on the pose of humility even if you do not actually possess it. reading your essay know this

already – they’ve been there and Another advantage of this method earned it. You only have a limited is that it forces you to avoid the amount of space in your essay. most common personal essay mistake: namely, writing a Remember, tone is important. narrative C.V., i.e., “I did this and When writing about your this and this and this.” You have a academic work in your personal very limited amount of space essay, assume an educated within the application to make a audience, if not one entirely fluent big impression. Rather than in your field. When discussing replicating information that the your politics, toe the line between committee will already have seen needlessly inflammatory and

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The Project Statement/ Proposal

Most U.K. fellowships want you to why send you to study specifically professional journals of your identify a program or course of in that department at that U.K. particular discipline and get a sense study that will help you move University? of “what’s happening.” forward in your academic work Next, the task is making a Your proposal will answer the and overall life plan. In addition to convincing case for why you, in naming a program and a potential following questions in clear particular, must do this research, in mentor in that program, you succinct prose: this particular place, with these should be able to say something • What is the focus of my work particular people. This means specific about the kind of focus in this program? detailing your previous experience– your work would take there. This • Why is it interesting? be it writing a thesis, doing can be in the form of an • Why you? anticipated thesis topic, mentors, laboratory work, conducting • Who cares? the types of seminars you would anthropological studies – in the Let's discuss what each of these take, and/or the guiding question field. Try to narrate your items means. First, the focus of that will shape your work within intellectual experience in such a the program. your research and why it’s way that your undertaking seems interesting. Because you have like a natural progression of the It is important when writing a spent approximately 4 years work you have done so far. The persuasive program statement that studying a particular field, you expectation is not that you will be an you thoroughly research the should have a sense of the accomplished and polished scholar, university and programs to which problems and question with which but that you will be on your way to you are applying. Knowing what you hope to most seriously engage. becoming one. assets each department possess, If you’re unsure of how you want who is doing what research, and Your program proposal should to move forward in graduate how you can take advantage of all include a brief discussion of the study, speak with your professors, the school offers will make your contributions pursuing this program advisors and your fellow students proposal more compelling. If you will have on your development and about what related research areas could do your research anywhere, future plans. Describe how you seem most promising, read the

17 Brown University Guide to Fellowships in the U.K. and Ireland

envision your work in this program enhancing your plan to make a difference in the field you are pursuing and, particularly for the awards that emphasize leadership, like the Rhodes, Marshall, and Gates, how you envision your work in this program leading to your ability to make a positive impact on the world.

Letters of Recommendation

Your letters of recommendation are and your abilities well and can speak, If you’ve gained the attention of an one of the most significant pieces of from direct experience with you, important person in your field, all your application. They are also one about your successes and potential. If the better for you.

of the aspects of your application one of the most important activities In order for a recommender to write over which you exercise the least is your work to improve disabilities a good recommendation, they are control, as you are not writing them. services at Brown, a letter from going to need help, in the form of That said, there are a number of Brown's Director of Student and time and information, from you. things you can do to ensure that your Employee Accessibility Services When you know that you are going letters do good work on your behalf. (SEAS) is important. Think of your to be applying for a fellowship, application as a unified whole in The most important aspect of getting schedule an appointment with your which all parts work together; your good recommendation letters is potential referee and ask them if they letters should support and amplify finding the right people to write would support your candidacy. The other parts of the application. That them for you. Right does not mean earlier, the better. said, it is always useful to have that your recommendations need If they agree, give them the materials recommendations, particularly to come from Nobel Laureates, they need. Provide the following academic ones, from professors however. Your recommendations materials to your referees: rather than Teaching Assistants. should be from those who know you

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• The recommendation form • A copy of your fellowship essay. itself. In most cases, referees If your referees can read the may write the letter on their own essays and perhaps even discuss letterhead, but they might also them with you, their letters will need to include the form. If be more forceful and germane. someone is writing multiple You might also take this letters for you, make sure you opportunity to ask for their emphasize that each fellowship feedback on your essays. needs to have its own letter • The resume and/or activities list specific to the application and you plan to submit as part of addressed to that foundation or your application. appropriate committee at Reminders of any relevant work Brown. • you did with your referees or • The deadline. under their direction, including • To whom the letter(s) should be papers, presentations, and addressed (individual or research projects. The C.V. committee, relevant titles, Be in touch with your recommenders address). or should any of your plans change and • Specific information about to remind them of approaching Résumé where the letter needs to be sent. deadlines.

If the letter needs to be uploaded Though it has many names – to UFunds and later to the Curriculum Vitae, resume,

program’s online website, activities list -- this portion of provide the referees with all the your application serves one

relevant information. You can essential function: to provide a find the specific forms for the quick overview of you and your

Rhodes, Marshall, and Fulbright accomplishments for those who referees on the Fellowships @ read it. Some applications may Brown website. ask for more depth than others, so again, be prepared to read • A description of the fellowship directions and adjust your and your specific project or materials accordingly. program within it. Ideally, your letters of recommendation speak to your suitability for the For the most part, resumes should fellowship. Referees need to include the following: understand the nature of the award to write strong letters of • Your name and contact support. information.

19 Brown University Guide to Fellowships in the U.K. and Ireland

• Your education, State the • Your “other” extracurricular participate in the AIDS Walk so that highest degree you have activities, including service I could fundraise money for HIV earned, the institution where commitments, leadership, art- awareness” you would write the degree was granted, date of making, athletic “Fundraised $400 for HIV Awareness (anticipated) graduation, the accomplishments. Be sure to in AIDS Walk.” Use action verbs and level of degree and field), any include relevant information the active voice! minors, and your GPA. about the organizations with Though you want to keep things whom you worked, the dates and • Your academic achievements, concise, be sure to spell out unusual duration of activities, as well as a including any awards you have or unfamiliar acronyms. As you short description. won and descriptions of any move through your resume, make research projects (including When writing a resume or C.V., sure too, that you are using conference papers and readability and concision often consistent phrasing when describing publications) trump proper English. One typical your work, so that readers can easily practice is called “gapping.” follow the thread of your experience. • Your work experience, “Gapping” is the use of incomplete including the name and sentences (normally frowned upon) address of jobs, the dates of in order to get your points across employment, your title and a quickly and clearly. Rather than description of your writing, “Organizers asked me to responsibilities.

General Tips

As we close out our booklet on • Ask for help work, it will also be a rare applying for fellowships to the U.K. opportunity to think about what • Revise and re-draft as necessary and Ireland, let us part with some you value and which direction general advice about the process and • Proofread! Your application you want your life to go in. preparing the application. Here’s a should be well polished and

few tips to take with you: professional looking.

• Get started early and stick to • Enjoy yourself. While applying schedule. for these fellowships can be hard

20 Brown University Guide to Fellowships in the U.K. and Ireland

The Dean of College Office for Fellowships

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 and want to help you succeed. Contact Information

Here’s all of our relevant contact Office: University Hall, Suite 213 information for any questions Phone: 401.863.2538 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 Good luck.

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

21 Brown University Guide to Fellowships in the U.K. and Ireland

Office of the Dean of the College Brown University Fellowships