Careers in K-12 Education

Hayley
Hayley Meredith McIlvaine

There is a wide range of career opportunities in K-12 education. This resource covers various roles that one can play in a school, as well as a diversity of school types and structures.
 

Careers in Nonprofits

Hayley
Hayley Meredith McIlvaine

While all nonprofits share a commitment to bettering society in some capacity, they are incredibly diverse in terms of size, focus, and type. In the United States alone there are millions of nonprofits ranging from small, community-based organizations, to cultural and educational institutions such as museums, universities and colleges (like Wellesley!) to large foundations supporting causes around the globe.

Careers in Fundraising and Development

Hayley
Hayley Meredith McIlvaine

A field that often goes unexplored by many students is a career in fundraising and development. These professionals secure the resources and foundations needed to fuel mission-driven nonprofits

On-Campus Recruiting Program Policies (Students)

Kate Rettstadt
Kate Rettstadt

Career Education expects all students to abide by the following rules in order to maintain the success and integrity of Wellesley’s recruiting program.

Fulbright Program (rising seniors & graduates)

Kate Dailinger
Kate Dailinger

Supports a year (or occasionally more) of study or research abroad in any discipline, or year-long English teaching assistantships (ETAs) abroad in programs designed by the host countries. Eligible are graduating seniors and graduates who are US citizens. Campus application deadline for Wellesley students and graduates typically in August.

Wellesley College Graduate Fellowships (WCGF—seniors & graduates)

Kate Dailinger
Kate Dailinger

Wellesley College offers a number of fellowships and scholarships for graduate study or research open to Wellesley seniors and graduates. Two awards are open to women graduates of any American institution (the Schimke and the Shackford). Awards are usually made to applicants currently enrolled in or applying to graduate/professional school for the following academic year; there is a single common application process for most of these awards, and the campus deadline is typically in January.

Navigating the Job Search: The 4 Step Model

Wellesley Career Education logo
Wellesley Career Education

The four steps in this resource will help keep you focused and productive in your search. You should plan on revisiting each step as your knowledge and understanding of positions and industries grow. Each step below is outlined without a specific industry or position in mind. It is best to schedule an appointment with your Advisor for Career Exploration (ACE) or an Industry-specific Career Advisor to customize your process. The questions we have provided at each step are designed to help you reflect on your preparedness and identify what you may need to move forward in the process.

Elisabeth Luce Moore '24 Fellowship at the National Palace Museum in Taipei (seniors & graduates)

Kate Dailinger
Kate Dailinger

This one-year, full-time position is available to Wellesley College graduates, thanks to a long-standing arrangement between the college and the National Palace Museum. Each fellow’s responsibilities and job description will be determined, to some extent, according to the Museum’s current staffing requirements as well as the fellow’s personal background, interests and skills.  

Wellesley-Yenching Fellowship at Chung Chi College in Hong Kong (seniors & graduates)

Kate Dailinger
Kate Dailinger

The Wellesley-Yenching Program in cooperation with Chung Chi College in Hong Kong sponsors a fellowship to teach or assist in teaching English at Chung Chi. This one-year fellowship is generally offered on an annual basis to a Wellesley College senior or graduate with the option to extend for a second year.  Candidates are first interviewed by the committee at Wellesley College, which then sends on the credentials of its nominee for final approval by Chung Chi College.

Apply in spring semester 2024 for the 2024-25 Fellowship.

Thomas J. Watson Fellowship (rising seniors)

Kate Dailinger
Kate Dailinger

The Thomas J. Watson Fellowship offers graduating seniors a one-year grant for independent study and purposeful travel and exploration outside of the United States, to enhance their capacity for resourcefulness, imagination, openness, and leadership and to foster their humane and effective participation in the world community. Campus deadline typically in August.

Udall Scholarship (sophomores & juniors)

Kate Dailinger
Kate Dailinger

Supports a year of undergraduate study for American Indians and Alaska Natives working on an array of policy issues in Indian country or interested in pursuing health-related careers, or for students with demonstrated leadership, service, and commitment to issues related to conservation and environmental issues. Eligible are college sophomores and juniors who are US citizens, nationals, and permanent residents. Campus application deadline typically in early February.

Truman Scholarship (juniors)

Kate Dailinger
Kate Dailinger

The Harry S. Truman Scholarship Foundation supports the graduate education and professional development of outstanding young people committed to public service leadership. This scholarship provides funding toward senior year and graduate school for juniors interested in a career in public service. Campus application deadline typically in November.

Schwarzman Scholars Program (rising seniors & graduates)

Kate Dailinger
Kate Dailinger

Supports leadership development & a special one-year Master’s program at Tsinghua University in Beijing, taught in English. Eligible are graduating seniors, current graduate and professional students, and recent graduates from any country and any major (knowledge of Mandarin is an asset but is not required). Official deadlines typically in May and September.

Rhodes Scholarship (rising seniors & graduates)

Kate Dailinger
Kate Dailinger

Did you know that citizens of any country are now eligible to apply for the Rhodes Scholarships, for graduate study at the University of Oxford? Campus deadline for Wellesley applicants for Global Rhodes is typically in early June and for the Canadian and US Rhodes typically in late August. Application deadlines for other Rhodes competitions may fall even earlier (see their website, and Career Education deadline listings). All prospective Wellesley Rhodes applicants are encouraged to seek advice from Kate Dailinger, of Wellesley's Career Education, and learn more through this resource page.

Mitchell Scholarship (rising seniors & graduates)

Kate Dailinger
Kate Dailinger

*As of March, 2024, the Mitchell Scholarship has paused the selection of new Scholars. There will be no new class selected in autumn 2024, but they hope in future to be able to re-open this award.

Supports one year of study in any discipline at a university in Ireland. Eligible are graduating seniors and graduates who are US citizens between the ages of 18 and 30. Campus application deadline for seniors (who must seek institutional nomination) typically in August; graduates apply directly for the Mitchell but are very welcome to seek application advice from Wellesley's Fellowships office.

Mary Elvira Stevens Traveling Fellowship (graduates)

Kate Dailinger
Kate Dailinger

Established by the will of Alice Alvira Stevens, Class of 1891, the Mary Elvira Stevens Traveling Fellowship is available to a Wellesley graduate who is at least 25 years of age in the year of application and supports up to a full year of purposeful travel outside the United States. We invite proposals that will inspire reflection and growth and lead to more fulfilling and productive personal and professional lives. Campus application deadline typically in the spring.

Marshall Scholarship (rising seniors & graduates)

Kate Dailinger
Kate Dailinger

Supports one or two years of study in any discipline at a university in the United Kingdom. Eligible are graduating seniors and recent gradiates who are US citizens. Campus application deadline for Wellesley's endorsement typically in August.

Luce Scholars Program (seniors & graduates)

Kate Dailinger
Kate Dailinger

Supports one-year professional placements (along with language training) in Asia for those who have not had extensive experience in Asia. Eligible are US citizens or permanent residents who are graduating seniors, recent graduates, and professionals under the age of 32 -  or if older, no more than three years out from receiving bachelor’s degree [Davis Scholars, we're looking at you]. Direct application deadline typically in October.

Knight-Hennessy Scholars Program (seniors & graduates)

Kate Dailinger
Kate Dailinger

Offers full scholarships for any graduate or professional degree offered at Stanford University, plus leadership development, aimed at preparing leaders to find creative solutions for the world's greatest problems. Eligible are graduating seniors and recent graduates, from any country. Apply to the Knight-Hennessy by their deadline in early October, and to the Stanford degree program of your choice by the deadline for that program.

The Susan Rappaport Knafel ’52 Scholarship for Foreign Study or Traveling Fellowship (seniors)

Kate Dailinger
Kate Dailinger

Scholarship for Foreign Study – up to $36,000
The scholarship will be awarded to a member of the graduating class who displays a desire for learning and an ability to impart knowledge and judgment to others.  It will fund a year of study at a foreign institution to pursue a specific subject that requires contact with foreign scholars, libraries or other resources.  

Traveling Fellowship – up to $36,000
The fellowship will be awarded to a member of the graduating class who displays an interest in and an acceptance of others, and who displays the ethos of a Wellesley education.  It will fund a year of purposeful travel abroad to explore a particular interest with the requirement that the recipient not remain in the same area for more than two months.