Fellowships frequently asked questions:
Everyone should:
- Put your name in the upper right hand corner of each page of your proposal.
- Have a one page single-spaced bibliography (in addition to the longer one)
- Be sure to apply for an MA anytime after your first year in the program just so you have it in case the fellowship requires a Harvard degree.
What does it mean "proposal as required by the fellowship" on the material required for Harvard Fellowships?
Each fellowship, Kennedy, Knox, Sheldon, Lurcy, term-time, language tuition waiver, etc. require a slightly different set of material. You need to refer to the "Fellowships for Harvard GSAS Students" book for more details. There is one reference copy in Deanna's office. You may obtain your own copy through the GSAS Fellowships office.
Ex.
The Kennedy, Knox, etc require a 2-4 page proposal.
The language tuition waiver requires a one page statement of purpose.
Etc.
How long should the proposal be for the grant writing workshop?
Generally, it is a 3-5 page standard fellowship proposal. Be sure to pick up copies of everyone's proposal in the days preceding the workshop.
If I am requesting nomination for a Kress Travel and another fellowship, do I need to submit two different proposals?
The proposal would generally be the same, but in the case of Kress travel you have to submit a travel budget with details.
I have a Kennedy, Knox, Sheldon, or Lurcy grant this year. Can I apply for the Norton?
One year of dissertation research support constitutes one source. The KKSL are a replacement for the Norton and vice versa. Holding either fellowship makes you ineligible for the other. Reminder: You are not eligible for the Norton if you do not apply for outside fellowships. Those who apply for the KKSL are automatically put into the Norton application pool.
How many transcripts do I need to order?
You should submit one original transcript with each fellowship application. However, for nomination purposes, one transcript is sufficient. Please take it out of the envelope before you submit it to the department.
How do I order an official GSAS transcript?
The Transcript Office is open for business Monday through Friday, 9:00 am to 5:00 p.m. at 20 Garden Street. Requests must be made either in writing or in person, not by telephone or e-mail. The first transcript ever ordered is issued without charge. Thereafter, when a transcript is ordered, the charge is $3 for the first and $2 for each additional one per request. Cash or personal checks made payable to Harvard University are accepted. Charges may not be added to the student's term bill. All transcripts are produced as "official" documents. This means they bear the Registrar's signature and University seal. If the envelope is requested to be "signed and sealed," please request this when placing the order. The normal processing time for transcripts is two to three business days. Once processed, transcripts may not be returned for refunds. When requesting by mail, please include signature, check or money order, years of attendance, degree program, and mailing address. A picture I.D. is required to pick up a transcript in person.
For Harvard Fellowships you only need a graduate transcript.
For National Gallery you need undergraduate and graduate.
What about the no incompletes rule?
You will not be nominated for the KKSL fellowship if you have any incompletes, or if they are permanent incompletes, you must provide a detailed explanation. And, you must take care of completing the coursework in time for the registrar to clean up your transcript for submission with the fellowship. If you have any incompletes at the time you request nomination, you must write a detailed explanation of how this will be remedied by late November. I can replace your previous transcript if I have it by December 1.
What about letters of recommendation?
Most fellowships require two letters.
Harvard finishing grants require that you have had less than three years of support. What does that mean?
It means that you should not have had more than three years of dissertation writing support. Teaching fellowships and stipends do not count.
What is the difference between the GSAS Summer Award and other GSAS summer funding?
GSAS Summer Research Award is guaranteed summer funding included in each student's initial financial aid package. The funding must be used in the summers following the first and second years or will be forfeited. In April of both years, students eligible to receive this award must submit a one-page research objective, travel itinerary and budget to the Coordinator before the funds will be released.
Students must apply for the Graduate Society Fellowships (Pre-Dissertation Summer Awards) or the GSAS Summer School language tuition waiver through the Department. The former is open to students in the second or third years; the latter is open to all students, with emphasis on first and second year students. Applicants must submit materials to the Department's Fellowships Committee, which then produces a ranked list to be forwarded to the Graduate School. Notification of the award recipients in both these funding competitions are generally mailed by May.
As a graduate student, am I allowed to receive more than one finishing fellowship?
Graduate students are only eligible to receive one finishing fellowship from the Graduate School. Only students who anticipate completing the dissertation within the academic year that they receive the fellowship should apply for a dissertation completion fellowship.
Do I need to submit a complete dissertation chapter when applying for a dissertation completion fellowship?
No. However, the advisor's letter of recommendation should clearly state that he or she has seen the first dissertation chapter and should discuss its content for the benefit of Fellowships Committee members reviewing the application.
Do I need to report funding that I have received from outside sources?
Yes. The Graduate School requires that you report any funding received from outside sources.
What does preference for US citizens mean?
It means that the terms of the grant state just that, a preference. Non US citizen should also apply.
Where do I find out about other grants and fellowships available?
You should refer to and obtain the "Graduate Guide to Grants." There is one reference copy in Deanna's office. Copies are available in the Fellowships Office, 1350 Massachusetts Avenue and a version is also available online at http://www.gsas.harvard.edu/current_students/the_graduate_guide_to_grants.php.
Should I submit the cover forms or transcripts with my proposal for the grant writing workshop?
No, only your proposal.
Do I submit my undergraduate transcripts?
Each fellowship can vary, but for Harvard fellowships, it is your official graduate school transcript only.
What about the Chair's nomination letter?
When that is required, the department will automatically take care of it. If we require more information from you, we will request it from you.
Are deadlines strict for submitting the material to the department?
Yes. There are reasons too numerous to list here but it takes time to process the material for the faculty to read in a reasonable amount of time so that nominations can be made in a timely manner. In the case of National Gallery there is extensive application material to submit.
Can I polish my proposal after the nomination and submit a new one?
Possibly.
Do I need to have all my letters by the deadline?
One letter is the minimum required for nomination but it would be better and streamline the process if you go ahead and request the two required for the actual applications. Again, please ask your recommenders to make the letter "To Whom it May Concern" so that it can be used for multiple nominations if that occurs.
What is the real story about incompletes?
Please remember that no incompletes are allowed on the transcript by the time of application and if you have incompletes now you need to provide a good explanation of why and when they will be cleared.
Would three letters help?
Three are probably overkill unless someone is speaking to something specific (that only they can address) re: your project, but sometime three are useful.
Recent notes:
Be sure to read the prospectus (online if possible) for each of the fellowships you tick off on the departmental fellowships application to make certain you are eligible. I will put a sketch below of some things that were problematic this year.
Do not indicate an interest in a particular fellowship if you are not eligible.
National Gallery--you must have advanced to degree candidacy (that is, generals, languages, coursework complete) prior to application. Also, each National Gallery fellowship has very specific requirements-sometimes relating to field. If your specialty is western art, you cannot be nominated for a non-western fellowship. That is a simplistic (and obvious) statement but where the "American" and "N. Ren" and "Curatorial" components are relevant to you, please be sure you read the fine print prior to submitting your application for nomination. I should also add here that the National Gallery website -- is where you should look and NOT at previous years' material. They change the terms (sometimes in a subtle way) each year.
Dedalus Foundation - you must have advanced to degree candidacy (that is, generals, languages, coursework complete) prior to application.
Graham Foundation - you must have advanced to degree candidacy (that is, generals, languages, coursework complete) prior to application -- www.grahamfoundation.org
Kennedy, Knox, Sheldon, Lurcy - you should have passed your generals prior to receiving the award.