By Xavier Jenkins
Have you ever been told that graduate school is too expensive, time-consuming, or too expensive? What if someone told you that there are national fellowships that provide full-time salaries, tuition waivers, and guaranteed job offers after graduation? These fellowships are prestigious, available nationally, and can completely change your perspective on applying. What’s more, they all have open applications on a yearly basis!
If you are a rising senior, consider investigating and applying for these fellowships now! Basic steps include: 1) Determining those you’re eligible for 2) Completing the necessary application materials 3) Acquiring required letters of recommendation and 4) Requesting trusted professionals such as your professors, mentors, or graduate students review your materials.
Fortunately at Arizona State University, we have The Lorraine W. Frank Office of National Scholarship Advisement or ONSA, a resource for applying for all of these fellowships, scholarships, and grants. ONSA even has a fellowship Applicant Development Program which is tailored to make you the best possible applicant both before and after your fall applications. Below are just a few of these exciting fellowships!
NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program: The GRFP supports current and future graduate students in research-based STEM fields, providing a three-year $36,000 stipend, as well as tuition waivers, internships, and career workshops. Logan Raming, a graduate student in Geological Sciences here at ASU, had this to say about receiving the GRFP:
“The independent and unique nature of research at a graduate level requires a laser focus yet demands significant flexibility and all too often comes with many other personal and professional challenges. The NSF GRFP provides financial support, opportunities for internships, and additional support and recognition. Personally, the GRFP allows me to focus on my research and provides many opportunities to expand my professional career, while still allowing me to maintain a good work-life balance," Logan Raming, Ph.D. student in Geological Sciences
Fulbright U.S. Student Program: Fulbright provides support for students seeking to study internationally, as well as for students wanting to teach English abroad. Fulbright has fellowships for practically all fields including STEM, Education, Business, and Journalism. While each award is different, typically these grants provide funding for tuition, housing, and airfare, and may even offer a salary!
Rhodes and Marshall Scholarships: These two scholarships are highly competitive and prestigious awards providing funding for American Students to attend schooling at universities in the United Kingdom. These can include tuition, housing, research, and travel grants, and can cover the cost of living.
There are many more fellowship and scholarship opportunities, so don’t hesitate to get in contact with ONSA for more information! The earlier you prepare for these opportunities, the more likely you are to succeed!