1. Explore your options with INFO
First, take a look at our database of competitions and deadlines (INFO) to find a fellowship (or more!) that interests you.
National Fellowships in Five Steps
2. Check out our workshops
If we have any upcoming or recorded information sessions and workshops on fellowships that interest you, plan to attend or watch. Information sessions cover an array of fellowships around a theme, while workshops are focused on a particular fellowship and its application process.
3. Make an appointment
Make an appointment with a fellowship advisor to meet one-on-one to talk about your fellowship interests and how we can guide you in the process! Find us under Involvement and Engagement.
4. Complete your Candidate Profile
Complete your Candidate Profile before your appointment, so we can learn a little bit about you and what you want to talk with us about.
5. Use your resources
In addition to our National Fellowships office, the Office of Undergraduate Research, Center for Integrative and Experiential Learning (CIEL), Education Abroad, the Career Center and the Office of Pre-Professional Advising are just a few of the many offices on campus that are ready to offer guidance and support.
Engage in the Process
Tune in to Engage in the Process: A National Fellowships Podcast to hear USC students share their remarkable stories from winning nationally competitive fellowships. Listen on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
National Fellowships Steps by Class Year
First Year
It’s never too early to start thinking about which fellowships might be a great fit for you. While many fellowships are geared towards upper-level students, your first year is a great time to explore. And there ARE awards you can apply for in your first year!
- Subscribe to our newsletter, The Candidate. Keep up to date with the latest national fellowships information via our weekly newsletter.
- Attend National Fellowship Info Sessions to learn more about broad categories of awards. This is a great way to learn about a variety of options. And don’t forget about the Fall Fellowships Fair!
- Participate in Fellowships February. From finding a fellowship to connecting with faculty to developing your leadership skills, Fellowships February offers a variety of programming to help you kickstart your fellowships journey. Join us all month for these interactive sessions!
- Make an appointment to meet with a National Fellowships advisor. Map out a plan to apply for fellowships at any point in your undergraduate career.
- Reflect on your interests and goals. What classes, organizations and activities excite you during your first year of college? What are you passionate about? Have any future possibilities caught your eye?
“There is nothing to lose from taking the shot and applying, and the application process itself can be such a beneficial experience. I guarantee
that after applying for the first one, you’ll want to apply for a second, so just
take the leap and get the ball rolling as soon as you feel that inkling that you want
to.” – Alexis Soucy, DAAD RISE scholar
Sophomore Year
Look for fellowships that can enrich your college experience and help you pursue the interests and goals you’ve been reflecting on.
- Attend our info sessions and workshops. You can receive competition-specific advice and start developing your application materials at these events.
- Listen to our Engage in the Process podcast, featuring interviews of winning students. If you’re interested in a particular fellowship, there’s probably an episode about it.
- Stay in contact with faculty (you may need a recommendation from them). Maintain the relationships you built in your first year. An email or office hours visit can go a long way.
- Engage in beyond-the-classroom activities. Apply for leadership positions, become involved in your community, conduct research, investigate opportunities abroad – find ways to enrich your academic experience.
- Meet with the national fellowships team when you want to apply. We can offer wholistic guidance, review essays and help you practice interviews.
- If any of the nominated awards for junior year (Goldwater, Truman or Udall) are on your list, be sure to meet with us in the spring to get started and lay a good foundation over the summer!
“Really think about why you want to apply. That will determine how fervent you are during your application process, how much
time and effort you create while applying, and how much you are willing to do things
differently than what you are used to during the fellowship. Every opportunity will
grant you something valuable, even if it is unexpected!” – Ever Curry, NSF REU scholar
Junior Year
Fellowships can be a springboard into post-graduation opportunities. It’s an excellent time to explore your options and develop your professional network beyond USC.
- Campus nomination is required for some of the most well-known awards (e.g. Truman, Udall, Goldwater) – to prepare, meet with the national fellowships team as soon as possible. The earlier you can get started, the better! You can even meet with us the spring of your sophomore year to plan ahead.
- Look for opportunities to share your research and/or develop your professional network. Attending/presenting at conferences can be an excellent way to share what you’ve been working on and receive feedback from others in your field.
- Investigate experiential opportunities in your field. If you haven’t engaged in research, completed an internship, given a performance, attended a conference etc., it might be helpful to get practical experience and learn what options are a good fit.
- Make time for applications. Preparing materials takes time and energy. Be sure to give yourself enough lead time to write and revise so that you aren’t overwhelmed at the last minute.
- Reflect on your academic and personal journey. How have you grown since your senior year of high school? Have your plans changed? What is the “why” behind what you hope to do?
- Plan ahead. If you’re interested in post-graduation awards like Fulbright, NSF GRFP and the Rhodes Scholarship, meet with the NF team in the spring.
“If there’s one place to brag about your achievements and abilities, it’s a fellowship
application. I recommend meeting with both NFSP advisors and fellowship ambassadors, not being
ashamed to speak openly about your positive qualities in your application, even if
it seems a bit like showing off, and getting an early start so you don’t fall behind
when the semester inevitably starts to get tough right around the application due
date.” – Cecilia Callozzo, Gilman scholar
Senior Year
It’s time to celebrate all that you’ve learned and achieved throughout undergrad – and also time to plan your next steps. National fellowships can make a variety of post-graduation experiences possible.
- Plan ahead. The application process for many post-graduation opportunities starts in the spring of junior year. If you’re interested in awards for graduate study like the Rhodes or an international experience like Fulbright, meet with the NF team in the spring of your junior year.
- Make time for applications. Amidst the busyness of senior year, it can be challenging to find time to apply for opportunities. As you prepare for your final year, make sure to budget time for application drafting and review.
- Reach out to alumni and/or professionals in your field. Informational interviews are an excellent way to find out if a fellowship, job, or graduate program is a good fit for you. The NF team can help to connect you with fellowship alumni.
- Maintain connections with influential faculty and mentors. These individuals could serve as recommenders as you apply for fellowships, jobs and other opportunities. Share your next steps with them as your plans develop!
- End your college career on a high note. Stay committed to your academic work, research projects and on-campus involvement. Maintain this momentum as you progress toward your post-graduation plans.
- Stay in touch with the NF team! We work with alumni and are always excited to see what our students are up to after their time at USC. Share your good news and let us know if we can be a helpful resource.
“Keep your mind open. There's a million opportunities available post-grad, so explore what's out there
and see what you might be interested in. When I started thinking about my initial
post-grad plans, I found that my heart wasn't in it. Follow your gut, talk to people
who have been in your position before, and think outside the box about what you want
to do next!” – Carlos Sanchez-Julia, 2024 Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters Degree scholar