Fellowships Preliminary Questionnaire for Graduate Students/Graduate Alums (GS/GA FPQ)

Fellowships Preliminary Questionnaire for Graduate Students/Graduate Alums (GS/GA FPQ)

This FPQ is for currently enrolled graduate students and graduate-degree alumni. If you are an undergraduate student or undergraduate alum, please complete the FPQ for undergraduates and undergraduate alums instead. Please do not use generative AI tools when completing this questionnaire. Getting an accurate sense of your writing and voice is an important part of the advising process. Your thoughtful, detailed responses will better enable us to support you in developing a cohesive, competitive fellowship application.
Full Name

First NameLast Name
Preferred Name/Nickname
URochester Email:
netID@u.rochester.edu
Non-URochester/preferred permanent email address:
Personal email you currently use or will use after leaving URochester.
Please indicate your FIRST award of interest.
Please indicate your SECOND award of interest. (Optional)
Please indicate your THIRD award of interest. (Optional)
Please indicate your FOURTH award of interest. (Optional)
Please LIST HERE any additional awards of interest, including any not listed above.
What is at the heart of your academic interests and what has contributed to your choice of this/these area(s) of focus? Discuss your choice of major(s) and minor(s). Include some reflection on the role of particular courses, projects, readings, professors, as well as non-academic experiences, in your decision to pursue your chosen field(s) of study.
Undergraduate Education
Current or completed graduate degree and field:
e.g., M.S., Healthcare Management, PhD, History
Degree completed?
Date of completion:
e.g., December 2024, May 2025
Starting term:
e.g., fall 2025
If applicable, other degree(s) earned:
e.g., Master's degree or additional post-Baccalaureate degree
Where did you study as an undergraduate, and what were your major(s) (and minor(s), if applicable)? What motivated you to focus on these field(s) of study?
If you completed an honors thesis or other senior project as an undergraduate, please briefly describe this work, the questions/problems you were seeking to address, your methodology or theoretical framework, and your findings/outcomes. Please describe in a manner that would be accessible to someone who is not trained in this field.
Describe other independent study, research, or major projects completed during your undergraduate degree. What was the topic or problem, when did you do the work, how did you investigate your questions, what was the outcome or product? For EACH research experience, please describe—for a non-expert audience—your specific project, results obtained, and contributions made, as relevant.
What are your principle academic / creative interests beyond your major(s)/minor(s)? In what way(s) do you pursue these interests?
What languages other than English do you know? How would you describe your proficiency level(s)? How did you acquire this knowledge and how do you maintain your proficiency?
Whom do you consider to be your faculty mentors? How has this relationship helped support your growth and/or prepare you for your future? If you do not have a faculty mentor, what have been the obstacles to a mentoring relationship? What is your plan to overcome this obstacle?
Describe other independent study, research, or major projects completed during your undergraduate degree. What was the topic or problem, when did you do the work, how did you investigate your questions, what was the outcome or product?
Describe any independent study and/or research you have participated in. Indicate a) where the activity occurred; b) date/duration of your participation; c) who supervised you, if relevant; d) significance of the experience in your academic and personal development, or what you gained; f) any presentations or publications of your work.
For EACH research experience, please describe—for a non-expert audience—your specific project, results obtained, and contributions made, as relevant.
Describe any teaching, tutoring, academic mentoring, or workshop leader experiences you have participated in during your college years. Indicate a) courses and instructors/supervisors where relevant; b) date / duration of your participation; c) significance of the experience in your academic and personal development.

0/5000
Describe any non-research internships or other career / professional development experiences you have participated in during your college years. Indicate a) where the activity occurred; b) date / duration of your participation; c) basis of selection/how you obtained the position; d) who supervised you; e) your particular role or duties and what you consider your major contribution; f) what you gained from the experience.
What has been your most meaningful intellectual / creative accomplishment in college thus far and why? If you have not yet had such an experience, what do you hope to accomplish in your studies beyond excellent grades in coursework?
If you have studied or traveled abroad (including family trips), when and where did you go and why did you choose that destination? How long were you abroad? Discuss the impact of the international experience on your studies, personal growth, world outlook, post-graduate plans, and career goals. If you will study abroad in the future, indicate when, where, and why.
Please explain the circumstances of any semester in which your academic performance did not reflect your ability.
Please explain if there has been any interruption in your education since high school. When and how long were you away from schooling; what did you do during this time?
List merit-based awards, honors, and any other special recognition received while in college or beyond. Please do not abbreviate award names. Indicate a) award selection criteria or purpose; b) sponsor of award or honor; c) date received and/or duration (e.g., May 2025, Fall 2024, 2026-27 academic year):
POST-BACCALAUREATE EXPERIENCES
If relevant, what did you do in the period in between your undergraduate degree and starting your graduate work at the University of Rochester? Describe the activity, what you accomplished/contributed, and how it influenced your graduate study. If addressed in another question, you may skip this prompt.
What are your main academic interests and what has contributed to your choice of this/these area(s) of focus for graduate study? Reflect on any evolution in your interests since your undergraduate studies, and the impact of particular courses, projects, readings, professors, as well as non-academic experiences, on your decision to pursue your current field of study.
What profession / career do you now aspire to and what problems / issues / needs in your field or society do you wish to make a difference in through your work? What inspired you to pursue your chosen educational and career goals?
If you completed a master’s degree, please indicate where, the focus of your study, and the specific degree you pursued (e.g., MPH, M.Ed. MPP). If you completed graduate-level independent study, a thesis, or a culminating project, please briefly describe this work, the questions/problems you were seeking to address, your methodology or theoretical framework, and your findings.
If you are currently working toward a dissertation, thesis, or capstone project for your graduate degree, please describe your topic/project in terms that are accessible to a reader who is not an expert in this field.
Please list any publications, presentations, conference papers, performances, or exhibitions not already listed in your resume/CV. Include context, date, etc.
Whom do you consider as faculty or professional mentors? How has the relationship helped support your growth and/or prepare you for your future?
CO-CURRICULAR AND CAMPUS ACTIVITIES
What are/were your main extracurricular activities on and off campus? This answer can include volunteer work, clubs, athletics, religious organizations, etc. Please discuss the impact of your participation (e.g., what you contribute and/or what you gained) on the activities of most significance to you.
Describe any teaching, tutoring, mentoring, or workshop leader experiences you have participated in during your college years or graduate school. Indicate a) course title and instructors/supervisors where relevant; b) date / duration of your participation (e.g., fall 2024-spring 2025; summer 2023; c) any training connected with the experience; c) impact of the experience on your academic and personal development.
Describe any non-research, non-academic internships or other career / professional development experiences you have participated in as a graduate student. Indicate a) where the activity occurred; b) date / duration of your participation; c) basis of selection/how you obtained the position; d) who supervised you; e) your particular role or duties and what you consider your major contribution(s); f) what you gained from the experience.
If you have studied or traveled abroad (including family trips), when and where did you go and why did you choose (as relevant) that destination? How long were you abroad? Discuss the impact of the international experience on your studies, personal growth, world outlook, post--graduate plans, and career goals, as applicable If you will study abroad in the future, indicate when, where, and why..
Describe any talents, hobbies, or special interests you have that are not mentioned elsewhere. How long have you been engaged in these pursuits and how often do you engage in them now? Why are these activities important to you?
Some fellowships take financial need into consideration; therefore, please indicate how your education is being financed (in general terms, no amounts necessary).
AWARDS & RECOGNITIONS
List merit-based awards, honors, and any other special recognition received while in college or graduate school. Please do not abbreviate award names. Indicate a) award selection criteria or purpose; b) sponsor of award or honor; c) date received and/or duration (e.g., May 2019, Fall 2021, 2023‐24 academic year).
PERSONAL REFLECTIONS
Reflect on one recent specific experience or activity in which you demonstrated your leadership capacity and made a positive difference on campus or in the wider community. What was the problem or situation; what did you do to bring about change, improvement, or resolution, and what is the ongoing impact of your efforts?
Reflect on one recent (within past 3 years) particularly meaningful or satisfying public service or volunteer activity in which you participate(d). What motivate(d/s) your involvement and keeps you involved (if applicable)? Discuss the impact of your engagement on you as an individual and for the intended beneficiaries.
Discuss an encounter with difference or diversity (in broadest possible sense) that challenged or complicated your prior conceptions, or that introduced you to new perspectives. How did you respond, what if anything changed for you, what remained constant for you through this experience?
Briefly tell us about your family background and the community where you grew up:
Tell us something about yourself that you think others misunderstand about you.
Describe an encounter with difference or diversity (in the broadest possible sense) that challenged your prior conceptions or introduced you to new perspectives; your response; what changed for you; what remained unchanged as a result of the experience.
If applicable, what aspect of applying for a competitive fellowship causes you concern or worry?
I understand that my next step is to EMAIL the Fellowships Office for an appointment at URFellowshipsAsst@UR.Rochester.edu.
If you haven't already done so or if it is from a prior academic year, please also complete the Prospective Applicant Form. Thank you!
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Fellowships Preliminary Questionnaire for Graduate Students/Graduate Alums (GS/GA FPQ)

Undergraduate Education

POST-BACCALAUREATE EXPERIENCES

CO-CURRICULAR AND CAMPUS ACTIVITIES

AWARDS & RECOGNITIONS

PERSONAL REFLECTIONS