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How to Win a Graduate Fellowship& Write a WinningPersonal Statement
Dolores V. Bradley, Ph.D.Professor of Psychology
Director, MBRS-RISE ProgramSpelman College
September 21, 2010
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Pre-doctoral/Research Fellowships
• Why Apply?
• Where are the Fellowships?
• How do I create a competitive application?
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Why Apply?
• $$$$ More money
• Prestige
• Flexibility/independence
• Establish grant award worthiness
(which can lead to getting more grants,
jobs, fame, fortune )
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Where are the Fellowships?
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For the 2011 competition, the deadline is November 1, 2010.
• 40 awards/year• 3 years of support
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www.nationalacademies.org/fellowships
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Howard Hughes Medical Institute
www.hhmi.org
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Google can lead you to many other resources, such as this website at Princeton University, which has a guide to fellowships.
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National Science
Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program
NSF = WOW!!!
$$$Prestige
Independence
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What does it take to win?(A fellowship or a slot in grad school)
• Follow the application rules• Show that you are what they are
looking for in an applicant• Excellent writing/essays• A great research idea • Strong letters of support• A little bit of luck
This is a competition, so put your best foot forward!
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Read the Program Announcement
EXAMPLE: Ford Foundation Diversity FellowshipsThe Ford Foundation Diversity Fellowships seek to increase the diversity of the nation’s college and university faculties by increasing their ethnic and racial diversity, to maximize the educational benefits of diversity, and to increase the number of professors who can and will use diversity as a resource for enriching the education of all students. To facilitate this goal the Fellowship grants awards at the Predoctoral, Dissertation and, Postdoctoral levels to students who demonstrate excellence, a commitment to diversity and a desire to enter the professoriate.
Eligibility RequirementsAll citizens or nationals of the United States regardless of race, national origin, religion, gender, age, disability, or sexual orientation. Individuals with evidence of superior academic achievement Individuals committed to a career in teaching and research at the college or university level, Individuals enrolled in or planning to enroll in an eligible research-based program leading to a Ph.D. or Sc.D. degree at a U.S. educational institution, and Individuals who have not earned a doctoral degree at any time, in any field.
Show (provide evidence) that you are what they are looking for in an
applicant!!
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NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program
Deadlines vary by discipline, early in November
https://www.fastlane.nsf.gov/grfp/
www.nsfgrfp.org/assets/File/NSFGRFPPresentation2009.ppt
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Application Materials
1) Personal Statement Essay 2) Previous Research Experience
Essay3) Proposed Plan of Research
Essay 4) Description of Completed
Graduate Study Essay (Optional)
5) Three Letters of Reference6) Transcripts7) GRE Scores (Highly
Recommended)Everything submitted online
except transcripts
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NSF: What are my chances?
• About 10% of applicants are funded• An additional 20% receive honorable
mentions• Among the best students, this is a
lottery; it is luck-based (based on who reviews your application)
• NO MATTER WHAT, APPLY!
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Tips for Applying (to anything!)
• Get started immediately (NOW)• Revise, revise, revise• Have multiple professors read your
essays• Inform your recommenders early
– Give them copies of your essays– Tell them what to write (so they each cover
something different)– Have your current research mentor write a letter
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Tips for Applying (to anything!)
• Read winning applications • Remember to address all of the
criteria (broader impacts and intellectual merit) in each of your essays
• Make everything about your application perfect (spelling, grammar, references)
• Be clear and concise. Get your point across quickly!!!!!
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The Criteria
The NSF committee evaluates applicants on two main criteria:
• Intellectual Merit• Broader Impacts
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Intellectual Merit
• Plan and conduct research• Work independently and
collaboratively• Interpret and report research
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Intellectual MeritPanelists consider:• Academic record• Research proposal• Research experience• Reference Letters• GRE (optional)• Choice of institution and program
What you can do:• Write an outstanding research proposal• Sell yourself well in the research experience essay• Help your recommenders write good letters• Demonstrate a good fit with your chosen program
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Broader Impacts
• Integrate research and education at all levels, infuse excitement in learning
• Encourage diversity and broaden opportunities for the underrepresented
• Enhance scientific understanding• Benefit society
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Broader ImpactsPanelists consider:• Background in fulfilling broader impact goals• Research proposal ideas
What you can do:• Demonstrate how your proposed research may
benefit society• Play up your leadership and teaching experiences• Present your research (orals, posters, papers)• Propose ideas you have for fulfilling broader
impact goals throughout your career
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What are the essays?
1) The Research Proposal
2) Research Experience
3) Personal Statement
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REMEMBER THIS #1
Make the job of reading your proposalas easy and pleasant as possible
for the reviewers.
This Not This
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REMEMBER THIS #2
Show your passion!It is contagious!
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The Research Proposal• The most important essay• Choose one project and make a mini-grant
proposal for it (be specific)• Cover background (short paragraph),
methods, possible outcomes, the importance of your study, and possible follow-ups. Use headings.
• Also good to explain, briefly how the study benefits society or otherwise fills the broader impacts criteria
• Mention why you have chosen the proper institution for carrying out this research
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To develop a great research idea:
• Your advisor• Your own research and thinking• Reading journals in your field• Talking to others in your field
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Proposed Plan of Research
• NOTE the format requirement for this essay.
• Include:– The title– Key words– Hypothesis– Research plan– Anticipated results or findings– Literature citations– Statement attesting to the originality of the
research proposal
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Organize:
Use headings to define major topics and use the topics identified in the RFP.
Make each page look inviting. Nothing is more daunting than a solid page of text.
Use white space (even when space is at a premium).
Use diagrams, tables, pictures, charts. But keep them simple and understandable.
Use bullets and numbered lists. Ask: Do I want to read this?
• Hypothesis
• Test 1 • Test 2 • Test 3
0
50
100
1stQtr
3rdQtr
East
West
North
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Research Experience• Document your past research experiences,
even those that do not relate to your proposed research
• Explain why each project was interesting and what you studied
• Describe your role and responsibilities• Demonstrate what you learned, even if the
project itself was not publishable• Mention special research skills like
programming, data analysis, techniques, etc
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Personal Statement• Demonstrate Broader Impacts• Illustrate your passion for science• Show, don’t tell• Leave self-praise for the
recommendation letters (don’t sound arrogant!)
• State goals for the future (concerning career, research, teaching, and broader impacts)
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Essay, continued
• Describe personal, professional or education experiences that have prepared you or contributed to your desire to pursue graduate study in STEM
• Describe your competencies and evidence of leadership potential.
• Discuss your career aspirations and how the NSF GRF (or their graduate program) will help you achieve your goals.
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Recommendations
• Have all writers read and comment on the proposed project in their letters
• Prepare other materials (the other essays, cv, etc) for your letter-writers
• Make sure letter-writers address all criteria, including broader impacts
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No pain, No gain!Plan, plan, plan
Your goal is to show them that you can go the distance – that you have the intelligence, passion, maturity, and experience to GO THE DISTANCE!!