Amanda Cuevas, Director

1. Amanda Cuevas, Director Fellowships & The Graduate School Process Discover. Dream. Destiny.www.gvsu.edu/fellowships

2. Overview • The Process of Pursuing Fellowships/Grants for Graduate School • How to Strengthen Graduate Applications • Continued Preparation • Q&A/Discussion Discover. Dream. Destiny.www.gvsu.edu/fellowships

3. The PROCESS of pursuing fellowship/grants for Graduate Study • Know Thyself! • Have a solid action plan • Have proven research, leadership and service • Know where you have been and where you are headed • Why/how are you well suited/prepared for this next step? • What contributions will you make in this next step of your journey? Discover. Dream. Destiny.www.gvsu.edu/fellowships

4. The PROCESS of pursuing fellowships/grants for Graduate Study • Do Your Homework • What opportunities apply to your field of study? • Google Keyword Search • www.gvsu.edu/fellowships • Databases Discover. Dream. Destiny.www.gvsu.edu/fellowships

5. Fellowship Databases & Other Resources • https://www.grad.illinois.edu/fellowship • http://www.gradschool.cornell.edu/?p=132 • http://iris.library.uiuc.edu/~iris/deadlines/grad/science.html • http://www.topscholars.illinois.edu/resources/other.html • https://www.med.illinois.edu/msp/Students/Fellowships/Potential%20Funding%20Sources.htm Discover. Dream. Destiny.www.gvsu.edu/fellowships

6. The PROCESS of pursuing fellowship/grants for Graduate Study • Know The Playing Field! • What kinds of fellowships/grants are available to you through the Graduate College? Department? Program? Lab? where you are admitted? • Is there a Fellowships Advisor available to you at your campus? • What kinds of fellowships/grants have peers & faculty been awarded at your institution, department, program or lab? Discover. Dream. Destiny.www.gvsu.edu/fellowships

7. The PROCESS of pursuing fellowship/grants for Graduate Study • What kinds of fellowships/grants have been awarded to your PI? • NIH RePORTER: http://projectreporter.nih.gov/reporter.cfm Discover. Dream. Destiny.www.gvsu.edu/fellowships

8. The PROCESS of pursuing fellowship/grants for Graduate Study • Pre-Doctoral • NIH NRSA F(30), F(31) and othershttp://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-10-107.html • FLAS • http://www2.ed.gov/programs/iegpsflasf/index.html Discover. Dream. Destiny.www.gvsu.edu/fellowships

9. The PROCESS of pursuing fellowship/grants for Graduate Study • Dissertation • http://www.act.org/aauw/amdissert/index.html • http://www.acls.org/grants/default.aspx?id=354 • http://www.airweb.org/?page=818 • http://www.ssrc.org/programs/idrf/ • http://www.woodrow.org/fellowships/religion_ethics/index.php • Check your Graduate College and/or Home Department Discover. Dream. Destiny.www.gvsu.edu/fellowships

10. The PROCESS of pursuing fellowship/grants for Graduate Study • Pay attention to details and deadlines • Plan time for composition, review and revision(s) of proposal • Peers • Program Administrators • Faculty advisor(s) • Garner strong letters of recommendation specifically tailored for award • Obtain transcripts (keep in mind campus closings during holidays) • If applying through campus Office of Sponsored Research, know and plan for internal campus deadlines Discover. Dream. Destiny.www.gvsu.edu/fellowships

11. How to Strengthen Your Application • Pay attention to application purpose & deadlines • Make sure your adequately answer all questions • Make sure the award is a good fit • Make sure you have the background (i.e. leadership, research, activities) to be a strong applicant for the award Discover. Dream. Destiny.www.gvsu.edu/fellowships

12. How to Strengthen Your Application • Write a strong rationale/personal statement • Have strong and relevant letters of recommendation • Garner appropriate support from faculty advisors/PIs to be able to carry out proposed project • Edit, proofread and follow formatting guidelines! Discover. Dream. Destiny.www.gvsu.edu/fellowships

13. Continued Preparation • You get out of something what you put into it • Strive for and attain excellence • Know who’s who in the field • Gain appropriate experience for program(s) • Go above and beyond in your field: • Publish • Present at professional conferences • Become involved in professional associations • Find joy in the journey! Discover. Dream. Destiny.www.gvsu.edu/fellowships

14. What are Nationally Competitive Awards? Nationally competitive scholarships/fellowships are highly selective funding opportunities for bright and talented students to pursue study, research or other creatively tailored projects at the undergraduate or post-Bachelor’s level. They are an award for past performance (stellar grades, leadership, community service, etc.), recognition of your future promise, and are springboards to greater opportunities. Discover. Dream. Destiny.www.gvsu.edu/fellowships

15. Mission Statement • To provide outstanding nationally competitive scholarship & fellowship advising services to GVSU students and alumni who show extraordinary potential in disciplines all across campus. Discover. Dream. Destiny.www.gvsu.edu/fellowships

16. Awards of Interest? Refer to “Award Opportunities” Tab @ www.gvsu.edu/fellowships Discover. Dream. Destiny.www.gvsu.edu/fellowships

17. A Sampling of Award Opportunities • Critical Language Scholarship • Fulbright • National Defense Science & Engineering Graduate Fellowship • National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship • NSEP David L. Boren Graduate Fellowship Discover. Dream. Destiny.www.gvsu.edu/fellowships

18. Questions & Discussion Discover. Dream. Destiny.www.gvsu.edu/fellowships