UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — The Penn State University Fellowships Office will offer a wide array of events this spring semester to prepare undergraduate students who aim to apply for prestigious opportunities.
The Fellowships 101 series will be among the signature programming, tailored to all stages of the application process, as well as various theme weeks.
“This semester the information sessions and writing workshops will target the application procedure and materials that frequently stump students who are applying for fellowships for the first time,” said Caitlin Ting, interim director of the University Fellowships Office. “By focusing on curriculum vitae and personal statements, these events will simultaneously help students hone their technical writing skills.”
The Fellowship 101 schedule is as follows:
Undergraduate Scholarships: Jan. 23
3-4 p.m., 309 Boucke
The session will introduce undergraduate fellowship opportunities, as well as discuss how to apply for a fellowship and how to set oneself apart in applications.
Graduate Fellowships: Jan. 25
3-4 p.m., 304 Boucke
The session will introduce juniors, seniors and current graduate students to graduate fellowships and teach strategies for becoming competitive candidates.
Requesting Strong Letters of Recommendation: Feb. 15
3-4 p.m., 309 Boucke
The session will outline how students can select letter writers, request letters of recommendation, and aid writers in composing ideal letters.
Crafting the Curriculum Vitae: March 13
3-4 p.m., 309 Boucke
The session will help students learn about the qualities that make a good — and bad — vita, and how they can construct an academic CV that best reflects their strengths.
CV Writing Workshop: March 15
3-4 p.m., 309 Boucke
The workshop will allow students to fine-tune their peers’ undergraduate or graduate CV for fellowships and other academic applications.
Crafting the Personal Statement: April 10
5-6 p.m., 311 Boucke
The session will allow students to develop skills for writing about their academic and professional qualities, interests and experiences for the personal statement genre.
Personal Statement Writing Workshop: April 19
3-4 p.m., 309 Boucke
The workshop will provide students with an opportunity to review their peers’ undergraduate or graduate personal statements for fellowships and other academic applications.
The UFO will also host theme weeks throughout the spring to spotlight distinct fellowship categories.
“The office is excited to host another series of theme weeks this semester,” Ting said. “These weeks are a great way for students and faculty alike to learn about funded opportunities for undergraduates to pursue their interests outside of the classroom.”
Nontraditional Week, held from Jan. 15-19, will detail opportunities available to students from nontraditional and diverse backgrounds.
United Kingdom Week will follow from Jan. 29 to Feb. 2, with each day emphasizing various fellowship opportunities that award funding for research or study in the U.K.
Finally, Fulbright Week, slated for April 2-6, will outline the research, teaching and study experiences available in more than 140 different countries through Fulbright scholarships and awards.
To learn more about scholarship and fellowship opportunities, visit the University Fellowships Office website.
The University Fellowships Office is part of Penn State Undergraduate Education, the academic administrative unit that provides leadership and coordination for University-wide programs and initiatives in support of undergraduate teaching and learning at Penn State. Learn more about Undergraduate Education at undergrad.psu.edu.