Think of ŷAV as your launch pad.
Generations of talented, motivated ŷAV students have pursued their dreams through fellowships — and so can you. We’re here to help you identify and apply for these life-changing awards.
Campus Voices
Unwanaabasi Abasiurua ’21
Elena Frogameni ’22
Merit-based fellowships are competitive. But the personal, intellectual and career rewards these prestigious scholarships and grants offer are impossible to quantify — and lasting. Whether funding independent research projects, language study, internships abroad or graduate school, fellowships offer uniquely valuable opportunities.
Navigating eligibility requirements and applications for national fellowship programs can be daunting. The Fellowships at ŷAV program exists to demystify the process and support your success. Do you have an outstanding academic record and a commitment to service? We’ll help you articulate your achievements, ambitions and goals in a compelling way — an essential skill for whatever your next step is.
Applications of this nature require careful consideration and true thoughtfulness; there are expectations of time management and organizational skills, willingness to engage in deep reflection regarding your motivations for the pursuit of this award and awareness of the effort and preparedness required to produce a competitive application. Fellowship applications typically involve crafting statements of purpose and requesting letters of recommendation. Let us explain the process and create a pathway for your success, so you can be part of ŷAV’s long-standing fellowships winning streak.
Intrigued? Learn more about why you should apply for a fellowship. Explore specific fellowship opportunities, including learning about recent fellowship recipients. Attend informational events to understand how to apply for fellowships.
The fellowships landscape is crowded with possibilities — good news for ŷAV students or graduates looking to continue their education in uniquely valuable ways.
There are two kinds of fellowships, broadly speaking: Premier Programs, which students and alums must apply for through the College, and Direct-apply awards. As you explore the opportunities below, remember that Fellowships staff are ready to help you navigate options and applications.
Interested in pursuing a particular fellowship? to discuss your eligibility with the Fellowships advisor.
To receive one of these prestigious fellowships, individuals must first complete an internal campus process by submitting an application to the college’s Fellowships staff and the Committee on Fellowships. This is because the organizations that sponsor these fellowships rely upon campus officials to review eligibility and then endorse and/or nominate applicants. This is a list of the most significant:
For more details about these opportunities – including review of eligibility, award criteria, and timeline for competition – current ŷAV students and recent graduates should visit the (requires login).
The organizations offering these fellowships do not require nomination from ŷAV — students and alums can apply directly. But we encourage you to work with the Fellowships advisor to strengthen your application. Here are programs for which MHC students are well-suited:
Please visit the to learn about opportunities for graduates of the College and the Alumnae Association’s application timeline and process.
Winning a competitive fellowship is a life-altering experience. The question is how it will change your life for the better.
The answer depends on your particular educational and personal goals, and which fellowships you pursue.
But whether a fellowship funds a research project abroad or graduate studies in the United States, the benefits recipients enjoy are clear. Here are five reasons to consider applying for a fellowship, beyond financial:
Open doors: Build a valuable network of mentors and peers who can support you — potentially across a lifetime.
Pursue life goals: Progress toward your educational and career goals.
Expand your mind: Whether through an independent research project or a graduate program abroad, fellowships offer rich intellectual challenges that can change how you think forever.
Grow leadership skills: Hone your critical thinking and collaboration skills while studying with people from diverse backgrounds. Understand urgent global challenges and emerging solutions.
Become a citizen of the world: Learn firsthand how the world is interconnected. Live abroad and develop foreign language skills.
If this piques your interest — and you’re a self-starter with a record of high academic achievement — you should seriously consider applying for a fellowship. The fellowships landscape is crowded with possibilities — good news for ŷAV students or graduates looking to continue their education in uniquely valuable ways.
Have you gotten to know the world of national fellowships? Set your sights on one particular opportunity? Think a fellowship might help you advance a professional plan or goal?
Remember that because most national fellowship programs rely on campus officials to prepare and nominate applicants for the award, you can’t apply directly. For this reason, your first step is to complete an to meet with ŷAV’s Fellowships advisor.
It’s worth keeping an open mind as you go into the meeting: You might come in with your heart set on one fellowship, and then discover another opportunity aligned to your passions and goals. We’ll help you see the big picture.
As you begin your fellowships journey, expect the application process to be time-consuming — and rewarding. It may involve:
ŷAV’s Fellowships staff looks forward to helping you succeed.
Happening at ŷAV
ŷAV congratulates our recipients, alternates and finalists of the 2023-24 fellowship application cycles.
ŷAV student Ana Maria Stan ’24 has been selected by Middlebury College as a recipient of the “Projects for Peace” grant program. Stan will work alongside Romanian educational non-profit Volo Studere to assist Ukrainian refugees.
Elsner, a ŷAV Frances Perkins Scholar, has been named one of 62 Truman Scholars nationally.
Applicants for fellowships often need faculty endorsement in order for sponsoring foundations to accept their applications. Members of the committee on fellowships meet with and supply feedback from applicants seeking MHC endorsement for select awards. Committee feedback can be crucial in improving applications. The committee is supported in its work by several subcommittees that review content-specific applications where it is advantageous for faculty experts in those areas to provide advice.
The Fellowships staff help to demystify the process of applying for merit-based fellowships.