Steps for Getting Started

Building a Competitive Application

Many of the nationally competitive fellowship applications require several weeks, and sometimes months, of preparation. We encourage you to get started early, so you can begin building a competitive application. While each fellowship requirement varies, the following can help you be competitive:

• Maintain a strong GPA (3.5 or higher)
• Create a four-year plan with classes that contribute to your research/professional interests
• Take Writing Intensive Courses
• Apply to one of the Honors Programs
• Pursue courses with capstone experiences (see individual departments for more information)
• Develop your leadership/ambassadorial skills through participation in: Academic Service-Learning, Community-Based Learning, and Internships and Cooperative Education
• Participate in faculty mentored undergraduate research and publish in a peer-reviewed journal and/or present at a regional or national conference
• Study Abroad
• Learn a new language.

If you want to apply for a fellowship, then the following steps will help you through the process.

1. Explore Fellowship Opportunities

   1. Use our Fellowship List to explore which opportunities interest you. 
   2. Click the links and read through the foundation websites carefully. Identify what the opportunity offers, the history, eligibility requirements, application components and due dates.
   3. Some competitive fellowship opportunities have internal FAU deadlines in advance of the national deadline. Contact us at fellowships@fau.edu for up to date deadline information.
      
      

2. Complete the Intake Form and Meet with a Fellowship Advisor

   1. Take a few minutes to complete the Fellowships Intake Form before meeting with a Fellowship Advisor for the first time. It’s okay if you don’t have a specific fellowship identified. The information provided in the form will help the Fellowship Advisor identify potential fellowships based on your interests and determine eligibility.
   2. Once you submit the Fellowships Intake Form, please schedule your first meeting with a fellowship advisor. Bring something to take notes, so that you can explore opportunities further and/or map out your next steps.
      
      

3. Brainstorm and Begin Writing

   1. Create a Google folder (or something similar) and begin writing about your background and life experiences, volunteer and work involvements, your values, academic experiences and future career plans. Ask yourself, "How did these experiences shape who I am today and influence what I want to do?" and "What were my contributions?".
   2. Take time to review the essay prompts required for your fellowship. Start writing short-answer or bullet-pointed responses to the prompts. Pay special attention to the individual foundation's policies on using AI. For guidance on AI in Prestigious Fellowships, click here.
   3. Some fellowships require you to add resume information in their application form. Add in any recent volunteer involvements, work experiences, and awards to your resume or CV. Don’t have a resume started yet? No problem. Connect with the FAU Career Center to get started.
      
      

4. Continue Writing, Drafting, and Revising

   1. Leave enough time to write several drafts of your essays and/or personal statements, with ample time for feedback.
   2. When you're ready, share it with your fellowship advisor for feedback. Also, consider sharing drafts with your professors, mentors, or other students. Having a range of opinions can be useful since fellowship review committees are not always made up of specialists in your field. It's important to consider how your work impacts the world more globally. 
   3. Make an appointment with a writing consultant from FAU's University Center for Excellence in Writing. They can help with organization, grammar, and sentence structure.
      
      

5. Submit your Application

   1. For assistance submitting application materials, email fellowships@fau.edu. 
   2. Submit your work BEFORE the deadline. Web portals have been known to crash with all of the last minute activity.
   3. Save submission notification emails and begin preparing for follow-up interviews, if your fellowship requires it.
   4. Save your application essays and any drafts, as they can help you with other fellowship or graduate school applications.