Fellowships
As a sophomore, you are encouraged to begin considering whether you might be interested in applying for any of a number of generous fellowships. Sophomores are eligible for many fellowships, which can offer support for independent projects, research, or formal study during the summer following sophomore year. The Student Grants database allows you to search for fellowships by your class year and other criteria.
In the spring of sophomore year, students are selected for the Mellon Mays and the Bouchet fellowships, which are designed to increase the number of minority students and others with a demonstrated commitment to eradicating racial disparities. Those who intend to pursue careers in mathematics, engineering, or the natural sciences are also eligible for the Goldwater fellowship in sophomore or junior year.
For some fellowships, such as the Truman and the Beinecke, that support education at Yale and later graduate study, students apply in junior year but begin preparing in the spring of sophomore year.
If you think you may be interested in applying for a fellowship or fellowships, it is important to continue developing close relationships with your instructors. Such faculty contacts are often particularly helpful to you when you are writing fellowship proposals and seeking strong letters of recommendation.
The Office of Fellowship Programs (formerly lEFP), 55 Whitney Avenue, third floor, also maintains a library of fellowship resources, and its fellowship advisers are available to meet with students to help with finding opportunities and preparing applications—including their application essays—and to advise students on interviews.
To learn more about specific fellowships, visit the Office of Fellowship Programs page of the Yale College Web site, the Center for International Experience Web site, and the Student Grants database.
