With a calendar of events lined up for fall semester and over 50 students applying for fellowships with deadlines in September and October, the school year is already in full swing in the Undergraduate Fellowship Office (UFO)!
Over the summer, Associate Professor and UFO Faculty Fellow, Dr. Thomas McDow hosted two sessions of a 6-week workshop that guides applicants through the process of writing a competitive application for the Fulbright U.S. Student Program. Nearly 30 students who participated in this cohort-based experience on Zoom ultimately submitted applications by the campus deadline earlier this month.
Reflecting on his experience with this year’s workshop participants, Dr. McDow stated, “Every year these workshops attract some of Ohio State's best students, and this year was no different. These students seized the opportunity to learn how to tell their story better.” Most weeks during the summer workshops, students participate in peer-to-peer feedback sessions, which enables them to see the myriad ways individuals write about their personal and professional stories. Regarding the camaraderie of the participants, Dr. McDow stated, “The workshop students made huge strides in their applications and worked so well as a cohort to support each other through the process. I appreciated their progress and spirit of collaboration.”
An additional 17 students engaged with UFO staff members to complete campus applications for the Fulbright program, and now each applicant is preparing for a campus endorsement process. As part of the Fulbright endorsement process, applicants meet with faculty and staff to discuss their applications and receive feedback to continue to improve their materials in advance of the national deadline in October. Throughout the process, applicants are encouraged to reflect on past experiences and future goals, which supports their efforts to write compelling, individualized applications.
In addition to applying for the Fulbright U.S. Student Program, Ohio State students and recent alumni also spent the summer preparing for the university’s nomination process for the Rhodes Scholarship and Marshall Scholarship. UFO staff guided applicants through reflection workbooks, writing exercises, conversations about selecting recommenders, and other application-related needs. Program Manager of Competitive Fellowships, Janet Schroeder, states, “many applicants for these UK-based awards have been working with UFO for many years. It is a real pleasure to witness the ways their aspirations evolve as they accumulate more academic, research, service, and leadership experiences.” Ultimately, ten applicants have been interviewed by a committee of Ohio State-affiliated Rhodes and Marshall Scholars, and soon some applicants will be selected to represent Ohio State in the national competition for these coveted awards.
Additional scholarships with fall deadlines that Ohio State students pursue each year include Princeton in Africa, Princeton in Asia, Princeton in Latin America, Churchill Scholarship, Knight-Hennessy Scholars Program, Luce Scholars Program, and Schwarzman Scholars. As the school year begins, applicants for all of these scholarships are balancing the demands of a new semester alongside the challenges of completing complex application processes.
Alongside completing processes for awards listed above, UFO is also preparing for the opening of others! To introduce Ohio State students to fellowships—what they are, what they offer, and how to build a competitive fellowship profile—UFO staff will present a series of Fellowship 101 sessions this fall. Additionally, they will host information sessions throughout the semester for specific fellowship opportunities. Two fellowships that often attract Ohio State students include the Truman Scholarship and the Goldwater Scholarship, but there are many others that warrant students’ attention. And back by popular demand, UFO will host Writing Circles throughout the semester. Writing Circles offer a quiet space where students can work on applications and have access to fellowship advisors for answers to questions as they emerge.
The full schedule of events is listed on UFO’s website, which also includes information about how to register. To stay up to date on the Undergraduate Fellowship Office’s activities, follow us on Instagram @undergradfellowshipsosu.