Application Checklist

The following items constitute a complete application. If any item is missing, the application will be considered incomplete and disqualified. Use the following checklist as a guide to a complete application.  You may submit all materials through the electronic application. 

Cover letter– The letter must address the relevancy of the proposed research with the Foundation’s mission: advancing the education of exceptionally promising students who have financial need. (one page, single-spaced, no smaller than 11 pt. font and 1” margins).
Keywords - 8 – 10 keywords that reflect the discipline, research design, participants, research questions and other significant characteristics of your study.
Summary of the proposal – The summary should be no longer than six pages (double-spaced, 11 pt. font, 1” margins) and MUST include all the following sections (ALL APPLICANTS MUST use these section headers listed below).
 
Required Headers
Recommended Page Layout
Objective and purpose(s)
½ page
Perspective(s) or theoretical framework
1 page
Methods, techniques or modes of inquiry
1 ½ pages
Data sources, evidence, objects, or materials
1 ½ pages
Limitations of the study
½ page
Significance of the study for practice and research
1 page
                                                                                                                = six pages
Please try to follow guidelines listed above on length of each section and focus your attention on thoroughly describing the methods and data sections, including details on sample (size, characteristics), design, and data analysis. In addition, please ensure you clearly inform the reader on how your research relates to the Foundation’s work: advancing the education of exceptionally promising students who have financial need (e.g. Pell eligible, free/reduced lunch).
References may be included in addition to the five-page limit. They should be single-spaced and prepared in accordance with the style required by your discipline. For more details, see the FAQs and How to Apply page.
 
Work plan timeline – Outline the present state of your dissertation project. Include a detailed schedule for completion, highlighting key milestones an action steps as well as a planned dissertation defense date. Reviewers will be evaluating this section to determine if it is realistic and logical. It must show that research can be completed in a timely manner.
Curriculum vitae
Letter of support from dissertation chair or doctoral advisor  – You must “nominate” the person you want to author a letter of support on your behalf. The author should be your chair or advisor. He/she will receive an email and link to the nomination site and will be required to upload a copy of the letter. 
Please communicate to the letter’s author that the letter must:
  •  Confirm successful defense of the dissertation proposal, including the month and year of defense stated clearly.
  •  Include a brief clarification of the purposes, scope, and quality of your dissertation research, an explanation of how the dissertation contributes to the field of study (in terms of theory and practice) and the Foundation's mission, and a discussion about why the work deserves fellowship support.
  •  Be no more than two pages, and submitted on the official letterhead of his/her professional affiliation.
This letter will be submitted separately from your chair or advisor. You can monitor submission on the application site using the Dashboard. Applications are not considered complete until the letter is submitted.
Official graduate transcript - Contact your graduate institution’s registrar to request a transcript. Please see transcript section on the Dashboard on the application site for more detailed instructions on how to submit.