{"id":678,"date":"2018-03-08T19:56:47","date_gmt":"2018-03-08T19:56:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/onsf.utk.edu\/?page_id=678"},"modified":"2026-02-24T12:40:28","modified_gmt":"2026-02-24T17:40:28","slug":"first-steps","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/studentsuccess.utk.edu\/urf\/first-steps\/","title":{"rendered":"First Steps"},"content":{"rendered":"

Interested in applying for a competitive fellowship, but unsure where to start? Consider the following steps:<\/h2>\r\n
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  1. Nationally competitive fellowships support a wide range of activities and consider factors including and beyond academic merit.

    Fellowship programs expect students to be engaged in activities that extend and deepen their academic program, such as relevant leadership activities, professional experience, community projects, research, and\/or international experiences\u2014in addition to strong (but rarely<\/em> perfect) academic performance.

    There is no perfect, ideal, or even typical candidate. Review committees seek interesting applicants and consider the \u201cwhole person.\u201d

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  2. Take a look at our LIST OF SCHOLARSHIPS AND FELLOWSHIPS.<\/a>

    Note that awards for which international students are eligible are asterisked.

    We also have a page     HERE<\/a> focused on fellowships specifically for immigrants and non-US citizens.

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  3. **Follow the Vol Connect directions below to request an appointment. (URF’s “peak season” is late August to mid-October and then again mid-January – mid-February. We will likely take more time to schedule an appointment with you during this time of year and appreciate your patience.)<\/li>\r\n
  4. We also welcome friend\/peer referrals from students. If you know UT students or recent graduates who might be strong potential candidates, you may refer them to URF using THIS FORM<\/a>. We’ll take it from there!<\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n

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    ** Scheduling an appointment through Vol Connect:<\/p>\r\n

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    1. Log into your\u00a0MyUTKLinks to an external site.<\/span><\/span><\/a>\u00a0account.<\/li>\r\n
    2. Select \u201cAcademic Support\u201d from the options at the top of the screen and select \u201cVol Connect\u201d from the dropdown menu.<\/li>\r\n
    3. This will take you to the Vol Connect student portal.<\/li>\r\n
    4. Click \u201cConnect\u201d from the options at the top of the screen and select \u201cSchedule Appointments\u201d from the dropdown menu.<\/li>\r\n
    5. Click the blue \u201cSchedule an Appointment\u201d button.<\/li>\r\n
    6. Select the \u201cTeams\u201d tab.<\/li>\r\n
    7. Select our team: \u201cUndergraduate Research and Fellowships.\u201d<\/li>\r\n
    8. Select the appropriate topic and subtopic.<\/li>\r\n
    9. Select the preferred date, time and modality. Select one of the URF staff (Coaches and the assistant director of fellowships who have the most knowledge are Hannah Morgan, Emily Pope, and Ryan Lee, in that order)\u00a0<\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n