How to Apply

Application re-opens February 14, 2012

Read carefully the text below.

• Eligibility: Graduate and professional school students and those who have completed graduate studies (degree awarded) within the last five years may apply.  Areas of study may include any social/behavioral science, medical/health discipline, physical or biological science, any field of engineering, law/business/public administration, or any relevant interdisciplinary fields.
                    
• Reference Requirements: Two online references/recommendations are now required to complete the application process for the Fall 2012 session. References must pertain to your academic, professional, or other work-related experience. 
   
• Reference Due Date:  References must be submitted by Friday, April 27, 2012--a week earlier than the application deadline.
  
  You will NOT be able to submit your application until BOTH references have been received. Recommendations submitted with the Winter 2012 application have been retained and can be resubmitted with your Fall 2012 application.
                  
• Returning Applicants:  If you wish to apply to the current session and previously used the Scholar Select system, login as a "Returning Applicant" using your existing username and password.  All information has been carried over from your previous Scholar Select application except for unit selections, demographics, and immigration/visa documents; information in these sections must be re-entered/uploaded. Previously received references have also been retained. If you do not log in as a "Returning Applicant," all previous data will be lost.

Steps to Apply:

Application Due Date(s): Application materials (application and possibly immigration documents) must be submitted by the application deadline dates.  Incomplete applications will not be considered.  

• MAY 1, 2012: Fall 2012 Session (Application Now Available)
• OCTOBER 1, 2012:  Winter/Spring 2013 Session (Application Closed)
  
  
  1. Make sure you are eligible: Graduate and professional school students and those who have completed graduate studies (degree awarded) within the last five years may apply.  Areas of study may include any social/behavioral science, medical/health discipline, physical or biological science, any field of engineering, law/business/public administration, or any relevant interdisciplinary fields.
     
     
     
  2. Preview the application prior to creating an account to gain a better understanding of the application process. We've included a printer-friendly version of the application for your convenience.
     
      
  3. Review Frequently Asked Questions to gain a better understanding of the program.
     
      
  4. Review Meet Former Fellows to gain a better understanding of the type of educational and training activities that fellow alumni participated in while at the National Academies.  Consider emailing alumni who served as Fellows in units you are interested in exploring or those with whom you may have a personal connection (e.g., went to the same school, have a degree in your field of study, etc.) for insight into those boards/units/committees.
     
     
  5. Review the Available Boards/Units page.  Click on participating unit links to determine which activities most interest you.  Consider emailing board/committee/unit staff to gauge their interest in "hosting" a Fellow if provided an opportunity to do so. 
     
     
  6. Fill out the Application Form. Your application can be saved in draft form at various stages. 
     
     
     
  7. Notify References - For Fall 2012, two references are required and must pertain to your academic, professional, or other work-related experience.  
     
      
  8. Towards the beginning of the application form, you will be asked to provide an email address for each reference writer; you should not delay this step.  Completing this section right away will ensure that your reference writers have adequate lead time to submit the required online form by Friday, April 27th. Formal letters of recommendation will NOT be accepted.
     
     Important:
     Please alert your reference writers that they will receive an automated "Information Request" email from Scholar Select/Mirzayan S&T Policy Fellowship Program. This email will contain a unique link to a recommendation form to be filled on your behalf.  An email confirmation will be sent to you when a recommendation has been received. 
     
     To ensure delivery of the recommendation request, you may wish to ask your reference writer(s) to add <automated.email@scholarselect.com> to their contacts, email address book, or safe senders list.
      
  9. Review each section prior to submission.
     

Make sure you visit:          

* About the Program
* Eligibility
* Time Frame
* Available Boards/Units
* Fellow Alumni Reflections
* Selection Process
* FAQs
* The National Academies' Current Projects System