Application Planning

This roadmap for funding for graduate/professional study provides step-by-step advice and detailed timelines.

Timeline overview for application process:

• March 18, 2024: opt in to the Postgrad Fellowships Spring Prep, which includes customized timelines, reminders, and planning!

• April: (i.e. the spring before the fall application deadline): 

  • Consider postgraduate plans, explore deadlines for the coming academic year, and book a Fellowships advising appointment.
  • Learn about the Scholarships and sign up for an online information session 

• By May 1, 2024: opt-in to Postgraduate Fellowship Summer Support program by submitting this Getting Started worksheet to this form to help plan and build your applications (outlining, essay review, choosing recommenders, etc.)

• - and gain access to additional check-ins to help you stay on-track and craft strong applications with minimal stress!

• June: Start to plan for your application, including talking with people you might ask to write letters of reference. (Pro-tip: folks travel over the summer, whether for work or vacation, and may be hard to reach, so don’t wait to reach out!)

• July 24: Optional Draft Deadline for postgraduate fellowships—submit drafts to guarantee draft review appointment before relevant fall deadline.

• Wednesday, August 21, 2024: Deadline to declare your intent to apply through this form by 12:00 pm (noon) EST on August 21 in order to be eligible to apply to the program directly by the official deadline in September.

• Late September (TBD): Direct application deadline.

• October – December:  

  • Apply separately to eligible programs at McGill University. McGill admissions generally open in September for the following Fall semester. Apply by the program deadline, or in December at the latest, if selected as a scholarship finalist.  
  • Semi-finalists invited for regional interviews.

• March: Finalist interviews.

Eligibility

Who is eligible?

• Candidates in all fields or majors;
• From any country; and 
• Planning to apply in the same application cycle for admission to a full-time master's or second-entry professional undergraduate program at McGill University.

What makes a strong applicant for this fellowship?

• Exceptional character: Do you value excellence, hard work, service, and lifelong learning? Do you strive to act with integrity, honesty, and empathy? Do you have the tenacity to pursue long-term goals? Are you willing to take meaningful risks?
• Community engagement: Do you value working for and with others to address challenges facing a community? Do you pursue a breadth and depth of interests, through your activities outside the classroom?
• Leadership potential: Do you believe in working with and leading others towards a common goal? Are you ready to take on tough leadership roles to advance meaningful change? Are you driven to help others and to develop the potential of those you lead?
• Entrepreneurial spirit: Are you able to identify unmet needs and motivate others in developing creative solutions to address those needs? Do you believe in forging new paths and not being held back by fear of failure?
• Academic strength and intellectual curiosity: Do you have a deep interest in and curiosity about people, ideas, and the world around you? Are you interested in working with people who have different perspectives? Is there a good fit between your proposed graduate program, your qualifications, and your future plans?

Questions? Drop in to chat at Virtual Fellowships Pop-Up Advising (dates/details via Career Education events listings: search Handshake events for "pop"), book a Fellowships advising appointment, and/or email us at fellowships@wellesley.edu.