There are several stages in the application process.
(1) Preliminary Campus Application
On the basis of the written application, Bryn Mawr will select approximately 10 candidates to interview. Interviews will take place with the Watson Fellowship Committee made up of Bryn Mawr faculty and staff. 4 nominees will be chosen as soon as possible after the interviews and will have between 1-2 weeks to complete revisions for their application.
(3) Thomas J. Watson Fellowship Application
Students interested in applying for a Watson are encouraged to submit a preliminary application to Bryn Mawr's Watson Liaison, Isabelle Barker (Assistant Dean, Director of Student Funding) who will provide detailed feedback.
** Deadline: AUGUST 1 **
This preliminary application should include:
| • A comprehensive resumé listing extracurricular activities, paid and unpaid internships and employment, languages spoken (with degrees of proficiency), and previous significant travel |
| • A five-page essay describing what you’re proposing to do and why |
| • A list of any questions you have about the fellowship or the application process |
The draft application will not be evaluated as a part of the formal competition. Instead, it is intended to get you thinking, researching, and writing early in the summer. It will also help the Watson Liaison give you specific feedback.
On-line application:
** Deadline: TBD **
Formal on-line application. This application consists of the following.
• A project proposal that “should describe your plan for the 12-month fellowship year, including a description of your proposed project and details about how (and where) you intend to carry it out.”
No more than five double-spaced pages using at least an 11-point font. |
• A personal statement that discusses “how it is your project – how it reflects your talents, concerns, and commitments. You may also want to describe your background, your college years, your professional goals, and your reasons for seeking a Watson Fellowship to undertake this project.”
No more than five double-spaced pages using at least an 11-point font. |
• 2-3 letters of recommendation.
It is often good for the third letter to be from someone who knows you from an internship or work setting. If you submit three letters, at least one letter must come from somebody outside Bryn Mawr. Be sure your recommenders are familiar with the Watson Fellowship and with your project proposal.
Information sheet for recommendation writers Please print out and give to your recommenders.
On-line recommendation form Please email link to your recommenders. |
Interview:
On the basis of this application, Bryn Mawr will select approximately 10 candidates to interview. Four nominees will be chosen as soon as possible after the interviews and will have between one and two weeks to complete revisions for their application.
On-line application:
** Deadline: 3 p.m. Wednesday, November 7, 2012 **
Nominees will be given access to the online system when they learn that they have been selected.
Interview:
Each nominee will have an hour-long interview with a member of the Watson Selection Committee sometime between November and February. Winners are announced in mid-March.
The Watson Liaison will meet with nominees prior to this interview.