Applying for fellowships can be deeply rewarding and transformative, whether a student wins the award or not. By engaging in reflective practice throughout the process, students have opportunities to consider the impact they aim to have in the world as they combine the knowledge and skills they have accumulated in their past, present, and future experiences.
How Do I Get Started
Browse the opportunities listed on the UFO’s website and gather information. Our site provides just a brief description of these awards; make sure to click through to the foundation’s official site for more information and full details about the award. Many of these sites have profiles of past winners – look through some of them. Do these students have similar experiences or interests as you? Do they sound like they have similar goals or aspirations to you? This can be a good sign of whether you may be a good match for the award.
Attend an information session hosted by the UFO. These sessions are usually held 3-6 months prior to the national deadlines. If you are not able to attend an information session or none are scheduled for the opportunity which interests you, email fellowships@osu.edu for more information or to arrange a meeting. See our upcoming event schedule here.
Begin drafting your application once you confirm an award is right for you. The application writing process teaches students a lot about themselves as they articulate ways their experiences have shaped them. These resources are a great place to begin.
Connect with our office for support. A large portion of our time is spent guiding students as they draft and revise essays and short-answer questions for their applications. Email us at fellowships@osu.edu.
What can I do to make myself more competitive?
While each award has different eligibility and selection criteria, there are some things that can make students more competitive candidates for most awards:
- Keep those grades up! Academics count!
- Participate in undergraduate research.
- Develop ongoing relationships with faculty whom you can call on for mentorship and letters of recommendation.
- Seek out international experiences.
- Find one or two meaningful activities where you aspire to a leadership role.
- Engage with your community. Successful students have ongoing involvement in community and service activities.
- Reflect on your goals. Think about what motivates you, what you want to do next after Ohio State, and where you ultimately would like to end up professionally.
- Be purposeful. Make sure your activities move you towards your goals