Develop A Competitive Application

It is never too soon to begin taking steps to develop a competitive and eye-catching profile.  Review the strategies below and scroll down to view the resources available that can help you put together a strong application.

First and foremost, developing relationships with your faculty members and instructors is one of the most important parts of the process. Get to know them outside of class and visit their office hours to discuss your future goals, since they will be the ones writing your letters of recommendation. The better they know you, the better their recommendation.

Some great first steps might include:

• Scheduling a strategy meeting with the National Fellowships Advisor.
• Attending a professional development workshop, including those offered by Career Services.
• Participating in meaningful co-curricular activities, such as undergraduate research, leadership and cross-cultural engagement programs, internships, summer experiential learning programs, and/or artistic activities. Sustained involvement with a couple of activities that you truly enjoy is more impressive than a long list of activities in which you are only partially involved.
• Articulating your skills with metrics of achievement. Maintain a high-grade point average, and keep records of your accomplishments outside of class, such as your publications, presentations, or performances; the number of students you have mentored or coworkers you have trained; funds you raised for your organization, etc.
• Developing strong writing and communication skills. Practice writing for diverse audiences and speaking in front of groups, and seeking frequent feedback for improvement. You might challenge yourself to enter essay or creative writing contests, set goals for blogging or vlogging, participate in practice interviews, or play improv or role-playing games.
• Staying informed about current events and innovations. Spend a little time each week reading reputable newspapers and news magazines, as well as scholarly journals and professional organization publications in your field.

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