The Woodrow Wilson-Rockefeller Brothers Fund
Fellowships for Aspiring Teachers of Color
Application Process Steps
To ensure you have all necessary components, please view/print the checklist.
1. Check your eligibility.
Check your eligibility for the program.
2. Contact your campus liaison.
Candidates must be nominated by their undergraduate institution in order to be considered for this fellowship program. Each nominating institution is allowed to nominate two (2) candidates for the fellowship. Interested applicants must meet all campus application deadlines in order to be nominated and move forward in the application process.
3. Register
Begin the application process by registering for an application. When you register as a user of the Woodrow Wilson website, you create a user profile that will enable you to save your unfinished application, so that you can return later to add or change entries and view a checklist of supporting documents received.
There is no fee to register. You will need to provide basic contact information and choose a username and password. Any information collected is used only for purposes of the Woodrow Wilson-Rockefeller Brothers Fund Fellowships for Aspiring Teachers of Color (see the Foundation’s privacy policy).
4. APPLY!
To ensure you have all necessary components, please view/print the checklist.
Sign-in using the username and password you created during registration. If this is your first visit, select “Not Applied,” then “WW-RBF Fellowship.”
If you are returning to complete an unfinished application, select “Saved Applications.” If you are returning to check the status of your supporting documentation, select “Submitted Applications.”
To be considered for the WW-RBF Teaching Fellowship, you must complete all items on the application—but you may save the work you have done on parts of the application during any online session, and return to complete other parts during subsequent visits.
Information required on the application includes:
- Your educational background: Information on your undergraduate institution and academic record.
- Your preference(s) of master’s program(s): A rank ordering that indicates which of the participating universities you intend to apply to.
- Two 500-word essays: Brief essay questions on your interest in teaching in an urban or rural school and what special skills, insights and perspectives you would bring to your classroom and how might you help a student in your class who is struggling to learn the subject material.
- Contact Information for the two (2) the recommenders you’ve asked to write letters for you: This section is used in the course of the application process to allow you to check back and learn which of your recommendation letters have been received.
- Personal information: Information on your citizenship (required) and race/ethnicity (optional).
- Additional information: Space for any clarification or description of extenuating circumstances you wish to provide.
5. Submit Supporting Documents (Nominated Candidates ONLY)
In addition to your online application, you must submit a resume, two recommendations, and official transcripts.
Resume
The resume—which is the most important component of your application—provides you with the opportunity to showcase your excellence.
- Please be sure to include all colleges/universities attended, along with enrollment dates, as well as information and employment dates for all professional experience.
- If you have won any awards or fellowships or excelled in sports or other extracurricular activities.
- Any volunteer experience, particularly with adolescents or in an under resourced community, is also worth detailing.
Please send your resume to the WW-RBF Fellowship program by email as an attachment to WWTFdocs@woodrow.org.
TIP: Please limit your resume to no more than three (3) pages. Remember, this is an important opportunity to showcase your excellence.
Please request (2) letters of recommendation. One recommender must be a college professor or faculty member. Recommenders should be advised they will receive an email notification directly from the Woodrow Wilson Foundation. Each recommender will be required to complete a recommendation form as well as a letter of recommendation. The site will provide the necessary instructions.
Letters of recommendation must come from individuals who are not members of your family. Recommenders should comment on your character, your commitment to education and service, and your capacity to work in high-need urban and/or rural contexts.
Note: All letters of recommendation and corresponding recommendation forms must be received by the application deadline October 15, 2012.
Copies of official transcripts from all undergraduate institutions you have attended—this includes any institution that awarded credit for coursework—must be provided with your supporting documentation. The transcripts must be provided in an unopened envelope. Contact each of your institutions to request official copies of your transcripts.
6. Apply to Participating Graduate Programs
Fellows will only use this fellowship stipend for teacher preparation programs at participating institutions. Candidates must apply separately to the programs of interest. It is highly recommended that candidates apply to interested programs early in order to meet the programs’ deadlines and be eligible for other potential financial aid opportunities.
7. Review Financial Aid Opportunities
Each participating institution may provide financial aid opportunities for graduate students. Should you be interested in applying for need-based financial aid from the federal government, you will need to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) which can be found at www.fafsa.ed.gov.
8. Interview (Finalists only)
Up to twenty-five (25) finalists will be invited to attend an interview with the Woodrow Wilson Selection Committee. The interview day will include an interview, a writing assignment, and a Question & Answer Session.
9. Await a Decision (Finalists only)
For 2013, the Woodrow Wilson Foundation will award at least eight (8) WW-RBF Fellowships, with possible additional awards contingent upon funding.
Final decisions are expected to be made by December 19, 2012.