The essay(s) that you prepare for an application to a competitive fellowship program represents the most important piece of your entire application. The essay is where you convincingly state your case for why you should be awarded the fellowship. In your essays you must demonstrate critical thinking skills and your abilities; you will give context and provide details of your accomplishments. You will reveal your ambitions and motivations and articulate how the fellowship will help you to achieve them. It will also give the readers a sense of who you are and what you believe in—authenticity is key.
Each individual fellowship program will determine the type of essay(s) that they require for their selection process. It is important that you follow the essay guidelines very carefully and ensure that you are effectively responding to the essays prompts. Guidance for the most common essays types are below.
PERSONAL STATEMENTS
The personal statement presents a narrative of you as an individual. It will highlight your academic achievements, your personal goals and plans for the future. It will illustrate the choices you have made and the influences that have contributed to your path and which have led you to where you are now – applying for this fellowship opportunity. While revealing your authentic self, you must also convey your goals, plans, and history in a way that engages your readers and convinces them that you are a perfect fit for their program. Typically, these essays begin with a narrative hook, to draw the reader to your application, which is likely sitting in a very large pile.
Always SHOW, never just tell. So describe examples of your accomplishments and experiences through one or two anecdotes that are specific to you and put your personality into words. Ensure that your essay is organized and follows a coherent structure. Tell a story with a beginning, middle and conclusion that conveys why you want to pursue this fellowship, how you are qualified to do it, and where it will take you.
STATEMENT OF PURPOSE / INTENT
A statement of purpose or Intent is sometimes very similar to a personal statement, but is typically focused on your qualifications that align with the fellowship’s purpose (i.e. what you would be doing on the fellowship). Where as, a personal statement would be more holistic in describing experiences that have shaped you both within and outside of your professional/academic field. A statement of purpose also generally has more specific essay prompts that you must address so leaves less room for crafting a creative narrative than a personal statement. However, a statement of purpose should still be an authentic narrative that only you could write with several anecdotes and examples that put your accomplishments and motivations into perspective.
In addressing any prompts that align with the fellowship’s purpose, you need to be as clear and specific as possible. For example, a statement of purpose for a professional development fellowship may ask you to state what you hope to gain from the program. The best way to convey this compellingly would be to pull out specific components of the program would be to pull out specific components of the program that would be transformative by offering you a skill building opportunity aligned with your goals. In any essay for a competitive fellowship it is best to always be specific and avoid generic statements. The key, again, it to write an essay that only you could have written.
PROJECT PROPOSALS
A project proposal essay will be required for fellowships that award funding for you to pursue a specific study, research or community engagement project that you propose to the funding organization. It is important to note that some fellowship sponsoring organizations may call a project proposal essay a statement of purpose. If asked for both a personal statement and a project proposal / statement of purpose they should connect and complement each other without restating what you have already written.
How to formulate a project idea?
Begin by selecting a topic in which you are interested. What do you already know about it and what do you want to learn? Next narrow your topic to a specific aspect of the subject. Then form your topic into a question. The research question or thesis statement provides the focus for your project. Discuss your plans with professors in the discipline to ensure that the idea is legitimate, valid, and appropriate to your skill level.
Writing the project proposal essay
Once you have determined a project plan you will need to convey answers in your essay to the following questions: Is it feasible given the time and resources that will be available? Do you have the necessary skills (research, language proficiency, etc.), academic qualifications and prior experience to accomplish it? If so then give evidence of your preparation. If not, discuss how you will obtain these skills in time, or detail the accommodations you will make to ensure the project is workable. Will it contribute to the literature in the field, or have some benefit other than just to you? Is appropriate to the funding organization’s mission? What is your motivation for pursuing this project?
The project proposal essay is a persuasive document. It should accurately express the methodology, location and plan that you will use to complete the project. It should clearly explain the results and outcomes. You may need to present a timeline and/or a budget that you determine is necessary for successful completion of the project.
TIPS FOR SUCCESS
- Work with Baruch’s Fellowships Advisor: Fellowship applicants who seek the guidance from a Fellowship Advisor have a higher rate of success, and will benefit more from the application process.
- Answer the Essay Prompts: Seems to go without saying, but many fellowship applicants write essays that do not effectively answer the essay prompts. A good technique to ensure you do is to ask yourself the prompt, then record yourself responding to it out loud. Then type up what you said, and you may find that your verbal response is a more effective and authentic response than one you wrote.
- Work with Baruch’s Writing Center: Baruch’s writing center is an invaluable resource to all students. While Baruch’s Fellowship Advisor will give you guidance on how to prepare a competitive application and ensure you are effectively responding to the essay prompts, the Writing Center will help you craft a compelling narrative, that, once again, only you could write.
- Seek Faculty/Mentor Advice: Ask your faculty and mentors to review your essay and help you brain storm ideas. Especially those who are experienced in the field relevant to the fellowship opportunity.
- Avoid Clichés, Generalized Statements and Jargon: Too many of these and the labors you put into crafting a compelling narrative will fall flat. Your application will not stand out if it sounds like one that anyone could have written, or if it is so filled with jargon that it confuses your reader.
- Make it flow with a Cohesive Narrative: The best way to do this is to ensure your essays tell “a story” with a beginning, middle, and conclusion.
- SHOW, Never Tell: Put your accomplishments and experiences into perspective with narrative anecdotes and examples. Telling your reader that you have certain skills is less convincing than showing them through a story of a time when you demonstrated these skills.
- Revise, Revise and Revise Again: The most compelling and competitive fellowship essays are ones that develop over several drafts.
- Do NOT Use Generative AI Software: You can only sound authentic if you write your essays yourself.
- Work with Baruch’s Fellowship Advisor: This is your best Tip for Success.