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

Pre-doctoral/Research Fellowships

• Why Apply?

• Where are the Fellowships?

• How do I create a competitive application?

Why Apply?

• $$$$ More money

• Prestige

• Flexibility/independence

• Establish grant award worthiness

(which can lead to getting more grants,

jobs, fame, fortune )

Where are the Fellowships?

For the 2011 competition, the deadline is November 1, 2010.

• 40 awards/year• 3 years of support

www.nationalacademies.org/fellowships

Howard Hughes Medical Institute

www.hhmi.org

Google can lead you to many other resources, such as this website at Princeton University, which has a guide to fellowships.

National Science

Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program

NSF = WOW!!!

$$$Prestige

Independence

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!

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!!

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

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

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!

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

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!!!!!

The Criteria

The NSF committee evaluates applicants on two main criteria:

• Intellectual Merit• Broader Impacts

Intellectual Merit

• Plan and conduct research• Work independently and

collaboratively• Interpret and report research

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

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

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

What are the essays?

1) The Research Proposal

2) Research Experience

3) Personal Statement

REMEMBER THIS #1

Make the job of reading your proposalas easy and pleasant as possible

for the reviewers.

This Not This

REMEMBER THIS #2

Show your passion!It is contagious!

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

To develop a great research idea:

• Your advisor• Your own research and thinking• Reading journals in your field• Talking to others in your field

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

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

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

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)

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.

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

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!!