These terms are used interchangeably. Scholarships usually refer to grants in support of undergraduate education, whereas fellowships tend to refer to grants in support of post-baccalaureate projects or programs.
Most awards described on this site are open only to U.S. citizens or permanent residents. A few fellowships invite non-U.S. citizens to apply. Check the website of the scholarship or fellowship foundation for eligibility requirements.
Although grades alone are less important than the major projects and work you have done, they are still extremely important. Nominees for prestigious scholarships generally have a 3.75 or higher cumulative grade point average, but some fellowships and scholarships place less emphasis on grades, so there are exceptions to this guideline.
Absolutely. Fellowships are investments in your future, so having a vision for your future is helpful in crafting a compelling application. But that vision may be one of many possibilities. Nothing you write in a fellowship application is set in stone, but you do have to believe in the pathway you present for your future. One benefit of applying for fellowships is that the process of articulating your goals through personal statements and project proposals can be helpful in identifying a possible vision for your future.
Winners of prestigious fellowships generally have a sustained record of significant activity relating to their career goal. For example, if you aim to become a researcher within a given field, you should become involved in undergraduate research early in your undergraduate career. Similarly, if public service is your ultimate goal, become involved in community service as soon as possible.
Once you have some competence in your chosen area, assume a leadership position by initiating your own project or endeavor. Along the way, take rigorous courses related to your chosen field, gain a broad liberal education, and build relationships with faculty and staff members.
Some competitions ask each university to narrow the pool of applicants by endorsing or nominating one or a few students. Contact Dr. Lesley Graybeal (lgraybeal@uca.edu) for more information on the endorsement or nomination process.
Students who do not win a scholarship or fellowship benefit greatly from the process of applying for one.
Benefits include:
- Clarifying your career goals.
- Gaining a sense of which graduate schools are appropriate for you.
- Improving your writing and research skills.
- Getting a head start on the application to graduate or professional school.
- Building even closer relationships with key faculty.
- Developing as a person and thinker.
You do not necessarily need to have been president of an organization to have leadership ability. Leadership is much more than holding a position. It really entails the capacity to make positive change, usually by working with others effectively.
To discuss your leadership ability, think of a time you were instrumental in making a difference. Consider how you did this and what you learned.
The most effective letters of recommendation come from those individuals who know you well and can attest to your achievements, capabilities, and potential. These individuals should understand your motivations and goals for applying to the particular fellowships you have selected; make sure to share them. Take cues from the specific fellowship opportunities as to people who can best support your application. Sometimes the fellowships identify that a certain number of letters should come from individuals who know you in an academic, leadership, or service capacity. You do not want all of your recommenders to say the same thing. Remember, it is important to ask for letters of recommendation well in advance. When asking a recommender to write a letter for you for the first time, a minimum of one month prior to the deadline is most considerate.
Absolutely! In fact, many winners have applied multiple times before they actually achieved success, and a few students have won more than one fellowship or scholarship.
Be sure, however, to select only those that are appropriate for you and aligned with your goals.
Fellowships have different requirements, but you would be wise to begin planning applications due in the fall of your senior year during the spring of your junior year. That’s also the time to attend information sessions about many fellowships. Some awards have early fall deadlines, so summer is a key time to be productive. If you plan ahead, you will be prepared to meet deadlines without rushing.
Some of the fellowships listed on this site are open to individuals who have recently graduated. The Rhodes, Soros, Marshall, and Fulbright, for example, accept applications from recent alumni. Check the eligibility requirements on the scholarship or fellowship website.
Hopefully, you will have learned something about yourself and your goals in the process, so the application process is beneficial whatever the outcome. Many applicants are successful on second—or even third—tries. Fellowship advisers can often offer comments and suggestions for improving your applications.