About the Fellows in Formation Program
One of the most common questions students ask our team is, “Am I a competitive applicant for a national fellowship?” The answer isn’t a simple yes or no, because there are over 300 fellowship opportunities in our database. Each has unique criteria. No single person could win every fellowship, because being “competitive” means being an excellent fit for a fellowship.
That’s why Fellows in Formation cohort members will focus on these questions instead: “Why am I a perfect fit for a fellowship? How do I demonstrate that in an application?”
Cohort Benefits
To best accomodate each student's unique needs and goals, Fellows in Formation is open to 15 cohort members per semester: sophomores in fall, first-year students in spring.
Cohort members who successfully complete the program will receive a personalized Fellowships Application Plan, participate in an exclusive fellowships alumni networking event and have access to one-on-one advising with National Fellowships advisors each semester until graduation.
Fall 2026 Schedule
Beginning Sept. 25, the fall 2026 Fellows in Formation cohort will meet every Friday at 2 – 3:30 p.m. in the Honors Residence Hall B112, except for the final meeting on Nov. 6 which will be in Flinn 107. There will be no meeting on Oct. 16 to accomodate fall break. After these scheduled meetings, one-on-one wrap-up meetings will be made by appointment.
Dates and Covered Topics
- Sept. 25: Personal identity, values and national fellowships
- Oct. 2: Leadership and research
- Oct. 9: Faculty connections and letters of recommendation
- Oct. 16: No meeting (fall break)
- Oct. 23: Resume workshop and networking
- Oct. 30: Writing application essays
- Nov. 6: Building and communicating your personal brand
- Nov. 8–20: Individual wrap-up meetings
Application Deadline
The fall 2026 Fellows in Formation application will open on Monday, Aug. 24 and close Monday, Sept. 14 at 11:59 p.m. ET.