Application Planning

Timeline overview for application process:

• Mid-October: Application materials sent to nominating officials at each participating college or university, which we'll then post here.

• October and November: Prospective applications should drop in to Fellowship Pop-Ups (see Career Education events listings for details), and/or book a Fellowships advising appointment via Handshake, to discuss the application process, and begin to write their essays, request letters of recommendation, and compile application materials.

• October 28, 2024: Optional Priority Draft Deadline for undergraduate fellowships and scholarships - submit drafts by this deadline via the form here to guarantee a draft review appointment before the campus deadline.

• 12:00 pm (noon) EST on December 2, 2024: Campus application deadline.  

  • Submit your application materials (see checklist below) via Wellesley’s online form, here.

  • Request that your letters of reference be submitted via this link ideally by this date (should they have any difficulty with the link, please ask them to email their letters to fellowships@wellesley.edu).

• December: The campus committee reads applications and occasionally interviews shortlisted applicants before selecting nominees. Nominees will have the benefit of advice from the committee as they finalize their application materials in advance of the national deadline in January.

• Mid-January: Nominated applications will be forwarded by Wellesley’s campus representative to the Carnegie Endowment.

• February to early March: Selected applicants will be interviewed.

• Late March: The Program make selections and notify all candidates for the Carnegie Junior Fellows Program. 

Eligibility

• Graduating seniors or graduates who have graduated during the last academic year;
• Those who have not yet begun graduate studies; and
• Those eligible to work in the United States for a year (September 1st through at least June 30th) following graduation. (International students at Wellesley who have a year, or nearly a year, of OPT available are eligible!)

• A high-quality written essay;
• Significant related academic study and/or work experience - note that language and other particular skills are required for some assignments (see the official application materials, found via the checklist below, for details);
• A competitive academic record; and
• Strong letters of recommendation and personal interviews.

How do I apply?

Wellesley College applicants for the Carnegie’s James C. Gaither Junior Fellows Program must first apply for Wellesley’s nomination. Wellesley may nominate no more than two candidates to go forward to the national competition each year.

 Application checklist 

• Request two letters of reference (at least one from a faculty member who has taught you in a relevant course or supervised relevant academic research; one letter might be from the supervisor of a relevant internship). Please give your recommenders this link to allow them to submit their letters, ideally by the campus application deadline (should they have any difficulty with the link, please ask them to email their letters to fellowships@wellesley.edu).

And, before the campus application deadline, submit the following materials via Wellesley’s online form, here:

• Topic Essay 
  • No more than 3 pages, double-spaced
  • At the top of your essay or in a cover sheet that precedes it, please include your name and the program to which you're applying, along with the relevant essay prompt, found in the official Carnegie application materials for the competition held during 2024-25, for fellowships during 2025-26.
  • Note that the official Carnegie application materials are posted on this page annually in mid-October, and that the placements and subject essays change from year to year)
• Curriculum vitae or Resume 
  • 1-2 pages; please note that some programs have particular requirements - e.g. skills in a certain language, coursework/experience in a particular field
  • If the program to which you are applying lists such requirements in the official Carnegie application materials please ensure that your cv or resume shows how you meet the requirements for your program of interest
• An unofficial Wellesley transcript, and copies of any other applicable college/university transcripts (e.g. transfer or study abroad)
• Personal Statement: 1 page or less, double-spaced, as per the official application instructions)
• Wellesley Fellowships office signature document (please print, sign & date this form, then submit a scanned pdf or other image of the signed document along with your application materials)

Questions?
Email fellowships@wellesley.edu or call Caitlin Roberts-Donovan at 781.283.2347.