Preparing for Award Competitions

Basics of Eligibility

Eligibility standards vary from one program to the next, but some of the most basic requirements include:

High cumulative GPA. Some programs require an extremely high GPA, while others are less GPA-driven and look more at additional qualifications.
United States citizenship, unless otherwise noted. Most programs require at least permanent-resident status.
Sustained community involvement, volunteer work, and/or leadership in extracurricular activities.
Extracurricular experiences such as independent research or internships.
Demonstrated enthusiasm for learning, for discovery, and for achievement.
Excellent communication skills, both written and oral.
Strong scores on whatever standardized tests might be required for the programs to which you are applying.
Endorsement by university committee (may be required, depending on the fellowship).

Preparing Yourself to be Competitive

Be proactive in planning your course of studies ahead of time. Consult with your academic advisor about choosing courses that will help you meet your goals. Keep your GPA up, and prepare thoroughly for any standardized tests (such as the GRE or LSAT) you will need to take. Do not hesitate to seek out others in your field who have taken such tests to ask their advise on preparing.

Get to know your professors, and help them get to know you. Discuss your ideas with them and ask their guidance. Strong faculty recommendations can only come from real and sustained relationships with such mentors!

Volunteer, intern, go on a service trip; seek out "extra" educational programs, and/or find ways to conduct independent research outside of your course requirements. Experiences like these can be considered stepping stones to bigger opportunities later. Start by browsing through our Summer Opportunities page.

You should understand the program's mission and purpose, and seek to show throughout your application how you are an ideal candidate for them! Tailor every piece of your application to that particular program--i.e., don't "borrow" personal statements from other applications you may have done. Seek assistance from the Office for Prestigious Fellowships with interpreting each program's unique vision and application guidelines.

This applies to both your field of study and current events, especially those matters touching on the research (or graduate study, language study, etc.) you are proposing to undertake. Find out about relevant current-event concerns in the United States and, if applicable, any foreign country in which you intend to pursue your studies. Know the trends in your field; research the various schools and graduate programs, and find out who is conducting groundbreaking research.

Most applications will involve at least one essay, often a personal statement. Any written component of your application should clearly answer the prompt given, argue compellingly for your candidacy, and be free of grammatical and mechanical errors. For some fellowship programs that require personal interviews, your face-to-face interpersonal skills are also crucial, and you should take this part of your application seriously and prepare accordingly. The Office for Prestigious Fellowships can guide you with feedback about how you are presenting yourself in your application.

Keep an ongoing record of all of your courses, extracurricular projects, and volunteer service assignments, as well as any special initiatives, research or internships you do. This will come in handy when filling out application forms and considering topics for your personal statements. It will also help your recommenders as they write letters of support for your applications.

Office for Prestigious Fellowships staff
Volunteer opportunities through Fordham:
International Study Abroad Program (ISAP) Office: Introduce yourself to this office early in freshman year, discuss your goals and interests, and continue to study any foreign languages that may be requiredfor your desired study abroad. This office can help you locate the best foreign institutions and programs for continuing course work toward your degree, while our office can help you locate and apply for appropriate scholarship funding for study abroad. Please visit Scholarships for Undergraduate Study Abroad for information about possible funding opportunties.