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Graduate Fellowship Information
Department of Mechanical Engineering
v1.1 – 10/26/2011
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Agenda
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Who pays for your graduate education?
How do they decide?
What fellowships are available?
What do I have to do to apply for a fellowship?
Extra help Clemson offers
• FAQs
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Who Pays for your education?
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Your Employer
The Department (GTA)
Your Research Advisor (GRA)
Fellowships (Government and / or private)
Money is important, but it is also about the prestige
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How people decide whether to pay
for you?
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GPA
GRE scores
Biosketch/essay
Interest in Ph.D. (M.S.)
Letters of recommendation
Specific field of interest
To make a compelling case in items 3, 4, 5 and 6,
research experience is particularly useful !
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What fellowships are available?
• http://www.grad.clemson.edu/financial/FinancialAssistance.php
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http://fellowships.gatech.edu/index.php?page=listataglance
http://fellowships.gatech.edu/index.php?page=listgeneral
http://opsf.byu.edu/Scholarships/SearchForms.aspx
http://www.gdnet.ucla.edu/asis/grapes/search.asp
http://fellowships.gatech.edu/index.php?page=resources
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Available Fellowships (sample)
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CoES Dean’s Scholars Program
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Graduate School Fellowship
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Twelve-month stipend of $30,000 plus $10,500 toward tuition expenses for three years of
study.
NASA Graduate Student Researchers Program
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Up to $15,000/year for top students
National Science Foundation (NSF) Fellowship
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Primarily for Doctoral students ~ $15,000 for 3 years
Fellowship value of $24,000.
U.S. Department of Defense: National Defense Science & Engineering Fellowship
Program
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Intended for Doctoral students
Stipend: 1st Year $18,500, 2nd Year $19,500, 3rd/4th Year $20,500, plus invitation to do
research at DoD labs during the summer
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Available Fellowships (sample)
• Fellowships for Minorities & Women
– Ford Fellowship (Minorities)
• http://national-academies.org/fellowships
– GEM Fellowship (Minorities)
• University Representative Dr. Robert Snelsire
– Zonta International Foundation (Women in aerospace related
engineering)
• www.zonta.org
– Lucent Technologies (Minorities & Women)
• www.bell-labs.com/fellowships/CRFP
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Federal Agencies, Programs, and
Information (1)
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U.S. Air Force Research Office
U.S. Army Research Office
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance
Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention
Congressionally Directed Medical
Research Program
Defense Advanced Research Projects
Agency
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
FedBizOpps.gov
Federal Acquisition Jumpstation
Federal Register
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Grants.gov
Health & Human Services
National Aeronautics and Space
Administration
National Endowment for the Arts
National Endowment for the
Humanities
National Institutes of Health
NIH Parent Announcements
NIH Basic Behavior and Social
Sciences
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
National Institute of Standards and
Technology
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Federal Agencies, Programs, and
Information (2)
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Individual NOAA Offices
National Science Foundation
Office of Naval Research
U.S. Department of Agriculture
U.S. Department of Education
U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Science
National Energy Technology Lab
Office of Nuclear Energy
Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable
Energy
Advanced Research Projects Agency
U.S. Department of Homeland Security
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban
Development
NSF Graduate Fellowships
• NSF has been planning to
increase the investment
into graduate fellowship
• NSF has a dedicated
website providing
guidelines for application
• Some portion of the
guidelines can be useful
for applying other
graduate fellowships!
just google “NSF fellowship”
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What do I have to do to apply for a
fellowship?
• How/What to prepare
– Plan of study
– Experience
– Motivation
– Impact of your work
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Fellowship application essays
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Plan of Research / Study
Biosketch / Experience
Motivation / Personal experiences
Experiences
– integrating research and education,
– advancing diversity, and
– contributing to your community
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Your Plan of Study
• Describe a project / research interest
– Field in the discipline
– Practical need
– A specific problem
• A plan for attacking the problem
• Not stated but important:
– Find an advisor!
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Experience
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– Describe your role in professional projects
• Optional (but useful)
– Describe what experience has prepared you for
– Did your plan evolve from professional experiences?
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Describing projects
• Need / Problem
– What was the project supposed to do or determine?
• Tasks
– What did you design?
– What tests did you conduct?
• Result
– What was developed (or expected)?
– What publications were issued (or projected)?
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Personal, professional or
educational experiences or
situations
• What do you bring to your colleagues?
– What motivates you?
– What experiences or interests do you bring to your work?
– What might people learn from you?
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Research & education, diversity,
community
• What have you done (or will you do) for others?
– Teaching? Judging science fairs?
– Inviting others to participate?
– Professional activities, Campus activities, Civic activities?
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References--1
• How people invest in you!
– University Faculty (strongly preferred)
– Professional supervisors (when qualified)
– Faculty at other schools (when available)
• They must understand your plans and interests
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References--2
• To write a supportive letter, faculty members need:
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Your resume
Your plan
Your biosketch / experience
Your time and enthusiasm
a warm and fuzzy letter is easy – and often useless
(john is a hard-working student, he has a GPA of 3.9, he pays attention to details, he
has an interest in xx subject, bla bla bla, …)
a compelling letter is difficult – but it is entirely up to yourself
(I have personally seen john’s growth in both academic study and research in the last
three years. With keen interest, he independently invented a new algorithm to perform
ABC. His hard work paid off as leading authors two journal papers and one conference
presentations. … What impressed me the most is his determination when challenged
with tough problems, for example, … )
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References--3
• How they invest in you:
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Letters (commonly for several years)
Feedback on your plan
Information about schools and potential advisors
A professional network
Extra Help Clemson Offers
google
“NSF fellowship
Clemson
Workshop”
three sessions of workshops guiding you through the entire process of application!
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FREQUENTLY ASKED
QUESTIONS
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1. What is a fellowship? Are they
different from scholarships?
• A fellowship is a monetary award usually designated for
graduate students, and many are nationally competitive.
There are often specific requirements and expectations,
and some fellowships are limited to particular fields of
study. Students applying for fellowships should read
carefully the requirements (usually on the fellowship
web site) before applying to be certain they have the
qualifications to apply for the award. Scholarships may
be either for undergraduate or graduate students, and
students need to check qualifications carefully to choose
awards for which they are most qualified.
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2. How can I decide if I am
competitive for a fellowship or
scholarship?
• Competitive students are generally those who achieve
high grades and have potential to make significant
contributions for the public good. How high grades
should be vary with different competitions, and students
should read the web site for the award to determine if
there is a specific GPA requirement. In addition to
grades, there are other assets most reviewers consider:
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meaningful volunteer experience,
honors courses,
undergraduate research,
study abroad, and
leadership in campus and community activities.
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3. Is there an easy way for me to
find award web sites other than
searching for each one on Google?
• See provided links.
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4. I am an undergrad. Is it too early
for me to be thinking about
fellowships?
• Freshman year as a undergrad is not too early to begin
planning future applications. Talk with advisors about
how to achieve experiences that will make you a
competitive candidate for future applications.
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5. I am not sure my grades and activities are
competitive. Should I bother applying even when I
am not sure I can compete nationwide?
• Going through an application process is hard work, but
it is the kind of hard work that is rewarding in many
ways. Applicants get to know themselves and their goals
by the writing they do, and they develop skills, such as
interviewing and grant writing, they will use in the
future. Polishing your writing skills is never a waste of
time. The personalized mentoring from Fellowship
Communication Program advisors is valuable and helps
you know where to use your energy. Rhodes and
Marshall require 3.7 or above GPA. Discuss with
advisors your situation for other programs. You may
have accomplishments that will help a lower GPA.
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6. I want to apply for an external fellowship
but am not sure if my essays are what they
should be. Is there anyone who can help?
• Speak with your advisor or graduate chair for guidance.
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7. Are fellowships taxable?
• Under the Tax Reform Act of 1986, most fellowship
funding is considered taxable income, but sometimes
there are portions of funds that may be deductible.
Consult an accountant about how to declare funds, and
read carefully Chapter 1 of IRS publication 970, Tax
Benefits for Education.
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8. I know reference letters are important,
but I am uncertain about how to ask for
them. What do you recommend?
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The best recommendations come from faculty in courses where you have done well and the professor
knows you. It is helpful to ask if the person can provide you with a strong recommendation. If the
professor says no or is unsure, it is better to learn this information at the beginning and ask someone
else than to have a lukewarm recommendation. Throughout your college career, get to know
professors so your abilities are known. Materials to provide referees include the following:
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A cover sheet with your name, address, phone, and email information, purpose of the recommendation
(graduate school or fellowship application);
A copy of your personal statement or proposal;
A list of course(s) you had with this person, grade, and semester and any special projects you did;
Your overall GPA and unofficial copy of transcript;
The date when the recommendation is due, the address where the letter is to go, and whether the letter is to be
submitted online or in hard copy;
If there are special requirements (in a sealed envelope signed across the seal or other direction), provide this
information.
Do not ask recommenders at the last minute. Plan your applications and ask many weeks in advance.
Check with those who are writing shortly before letters are due to be certain all materials have been
submitted. Be considerate and write a thank you note to those who provide you references.
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9. Can I decide to apply for a fellowship on
my own? Do I need to go through
Clemson?
• Many national scholarships require an institutional endorsement. For
these awards students must apply through the Fellowships Office.
Some awards limit the number of students who may be nominated
from each university. Talk with an advisor so that you know about the
endorsement process and if only a limited number may be
recommended.
• NSF, NDSEG, Hertz, and many other applications are submitted by
the individual and not through the Fellowships Office. However, with
all applications, you will benefit from feedback about your essays from
a Clemson faculty and staff.
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Process
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Search for fellowships.
Develop a plan, what is due, when they are due.
Write essays and acquire required information.
Ask for letter of recommendation (3 weeks before due,
remind with 1.5 weeks left, remind 3 days)
• Thank letter writers.