For Students
Fellowship Details, Application and How to Apply
Please review the application information below (also as .pdf here) before completing your application packet.
Online application is available here.
- What is the Eagleton Fellowship Program?
- At what point in my graduate studies can I apply to the program?
- What majors are eligible for Eagleton Fellowships?
- What are the requirements of the program?
- What are the fellowship types/classes/internship opportunities?
- How do I apply for a fellowship? When is the application deadline?
- How do I submit the application form?
- What should my essay focus on?
- I completed the online application, now what?
- Who should I ask to write my letters of recommendation?
- What criteria are used by the selection committee? Is there a minimum GPA?
- When are the fellowships decisions announced?
- I have more questions, who can I talk to?
What is the Eagleton Fellowship Program?
The Eagleton Institute of Politics at Rutgers University offers interdisciplinary fellowships that provide select Rutgers graduate students the opportunity to further their understanding of government, public affairs, and the practice of politics, and connect the fellowship experience to their chosen fields of study. Eagleton fellowships expose students to the art and politics of governing and to multiple aspects of public policymaking while providing meaningful assistance to government.
Eagleton fellows work toward their graduate degrees without interruption; the one-year fellowships are designed to complement academic study. In recent years, fellows have come from diverse departments and schools on all New Brunswick, Newark and Camden campuses, representing more than a dozen departments in the social sciences, humanities and natural sciences and nine different graduate and professional schools reflecting a wide variety of interests and perspectives.
During the fall, fellows enroll in a weekly, three-credit seminar in applied politics. The seminar is designed to help prepare fellows for the spring semester when they are placed with an office in the New Jersey legislature, the Governor's Office, an executive agency, or other government-related office for 15-hours a week. In the spring, fellows also register for three credits of independent study to work with faculty members in their schools or disciplines, making the connection between their field of academic study and hands-on practical experience in government and politics.
Throughout the year, Eagleton gives students direct access to practitioners in state and national politics and government. These contacts serve to bridge the gap between the academic training of a graduate student and the everyday challenges of a life in politics and public affairs.
Graduate fellowships at the Eagleton Institute of Politics have been offered since 1956. Many of Eagleton's more than 1,500 education program alumni maintain strong contacts with the Institute, assisting in professional development and placement and providing an informal support system for new classes of fellows.
At what point in my graduate studies can I apply to the program?
You can apply at any point during your graduate studies as long as you are admitted to, or have applied for admission to, a graduate program at Rutgers University and you will be a registered graduate student at Rutgers from September 2012 through May 2013. Eagleton fellows work toward their graduate degrees without interruption; the one-year fellowships are designed to complement academic study. Students applying for admission to a graduate program at Rutgers University may apply for an Eagleton fellowship at the same time. Transfer students are also encouraged to apply.
What majors are eligible for Eagleton Fellowships?
The Eagleton Fellowship program is interdisciplinary! Previous Fellows have represented a wide variety of graduate majors including: agricultural and food resource economics, anthropology, art history, atmospheric science, business, communications, city and regional planning, criminal justice, cultural heritage preservation, ecology and evolution, economics, education, environmental science, exposure assessment, food science, geography, global affairs, history, law, liberal studies, management, media and library studies, microbiology and molecular genetics, music, plant biology, political science, psychology, public administration, public policy, social work, sociology, toxicology, urban education/systems, and women's and gender studies.
What are the requirements for Eagleton fellowships?
Students must maintain a B/3.0 average during the fellowship year and remain in good academic standing in their disciplinary program.
Fall Semester:
- Three-credit graduate course in applied politics held at the Eagleton Institute. Students enroll in either Legislative Policy Making or the Eagleton Seminar in American Politics depending on the type of fellowship they receive.
- Internship placement in government office or agency (15 hours per week/210 hours total). Placement location options depend on fellowship type received.
- Three-credit independent study course in student’s school or discipline
- Monthly group meetings convened by Eagleton in Trenton
Fellows also participate in numerous Eagleton events and a trip to Maryland over the course of the academic year. Upon successful completion of these requirements, fellows are awarded a certificate from the Institute and notation on their transcript.
What are the fellowship types/classes/internship opportunities?
The Eagleton Fellowship Program in Politics and Government is made possible by four funding sources. All Eagleton Fellows have the same basic requirements (fall class and spring internship). The levels of support Eagleton provides (stipend and tuition) and internship placement options differ according to the funding source/fellowship type awarded. There are diverse internship opportunities available at all levels of government.
All students are encouraged to apply for more then one fellowship type depending on their interests. Fellowship types include Raimondo, Governor's Executive, Martin and Alumni (see below).
Note: you will need to list preferences for your fellowship type and spring placement offices on the application form.
- Eight Raimondo fellowships are awarded annually. Raimondo fellows are required to take the three-credit Legislative Policy Making seminar in the fall.
- These fellows are placed in the NJ State Legislature during the spring semester. Four fellows are placed with the New Jersey Senate and Assembly Democratic and Republican offices and four are placed with the Office of Legislative Services.
- Raimondo fellowships offer a stipend of $8,625 and an equivalent amount of tuition remission. (Awards are contingent on funding in the FY13 New Jersey State Budget.)
- This program was initiated by the Legislature and Rutgers University to honor the memory of Henry J. Raimondo (1947-1999), who served as associate director and professor at Eagleton.
- Twelve Governor’s Executive fellowships are awarded annually. Governor’s fellows take the three-credit Eagleton Seminar in American Politics in the fall.
- During the spring semester these fellows are placed in state government departments or agencies, including the Governor’s office and administration.
- Governor’s fellowships provide a stipend of approximately $6,000. (Awards are contingent on funding in the FY13 New Jersey State Budget.)
- Six Harold and Reba Martin fellowships are awarded annually along with one Eagleton Alumni fellowship. Martin and Alumni fellows are required to take the Eagleton Seminar in American Politics in the fall.
- Spring placements are determined by the students’ interests in politics, public affairs and/or government and can be with an office or agency at the municipal, county, state, regional or federal level.
- Martin and Alumni fellowships provide stipends of $6,000 plus full tuition remission for the academic year.
- Eagleton has been awarding Harold and Reba Martin Fellowships since 1981, when the former Bergen County Assemblyman and his wife made their first generous donation to the Institute. The Alumni fellowship is made possible by contributions from Eagleton’s alumni and other friends.
How do I apply for an Eagleton fellowship? When is the application deadline?
Eagleton must receive all components of your fellowship application packet by the March 23 in order to be considered. Packets include an online application form, essay, unofficial transcript(s), resume and three letters of recommendation. The application form must be completed online - no hard copy forms will be accepted. The rest of the packet is submitted by email attachments to fellows@eagleton.rutgers.edu.
Complete application packets include:
1. Online application form completed and submitted.
2. Email the following documents attached in MS Word doc or Adobe pdf
format to fellows@eagleton.rutgers.edu:
- Essay 300-500 word statement explaining why you want to participate in the Eagleton Fellowship Program. What makes you a strong candidate? What has prepared you for this fellowship? What are your future professional goals and how will this program help meet those goals?
- Resume
- Unofficial transcript (view Rutgers transcript online and copy/paste into MS Word document or save as Adobe pdf file). Web files are not acceptable.
– Include list of classes you are currently taking (spring 2012
semester).
– You will also be asked for a list of relevant courses on the
application form.
– If in first year of graduate school - also include your
undergraduate transcript.
– If transfer student - also include your transcript from previous
college/institution. - Three Letters of Recommendation must be submitted in support of your application. Letters should be addressed to “Fellowship Selection Committee” and emailed as MS Word document or Adobe pdf directly from the recommender to fellows@eagleton.rutgers.edu. All recommendations must be received by March 23 in order to be considered. You will be notified by email when your recommendation letters have been received.
How do I submit the application form?
The Fellowship application form can be accessed on the student page of the Eagleton website at www.eagleton.rutgers.edu/students/fellows-online-app.php. There is also a link on the Eagleton home page www.eagleton.rutgers.edu in the announcements section. When you click submit at the end of the online application form, you will see confirmation of receipt. Once you start the online application you cannot save and continue at a later time so please have all information ready when you begin.
What should my essay focus on?
In 300-500 words, your essay/statement should answer the following questions:
- Why you want to participate in the fellowship program?
- What makes you a strong candidate?
- What has prepared you for this fellowship?
- What are your professional goals?
- How do you think this program will help you meet those goals?
I completed the online application, now what?
Email following documents attached in MS Word doc or Adobe pdf format to fellows@eagleton.rutgers.edu:
- Essay 300-500 word statement explaining why you want to participate in the Eagleton Fellowship Program. What makes you a strong candidate? What has prepared you for this fellowship? What are your future professional goals and how will this program help meet those goals?
- Resume
- Unofficial transcript (view Rutgers transcript online and copy/paste into MS Word document or save as Adobe pdf file). Web files are not acceptable.
– Include list of classes you are currently taking (spring 2012
semester).
– You will also be asked for a list of relevant courses on the
application form.
– If in first year of graduate school - also include your
undergraduate transcript.
– If transfer student - also include your transcript from previous
college/institution. - Three Letters of Recommendation must be submitted in support of your application. Letters should be addressed to “Fellowship Selection Committee” and emailed as MS Word document or Adobe pdf directly from the recommender to fellows@eagleton.rutgers.edu. All recommendations must be received by March 23 in order to be considered. You will be notified by email when your recommendation letters have been received.
Who should I ask to write my letters of recommendation?
- Three (3) letters of recommendation must be submitted in support of your application. Letters should be written by those who can speak to your academic qualifications and/or relevant experience for the Eagleton Fellowship program.
- At least one letter should come from a faculty member, preferably at Rutgers. If you are a transfer or new graduate student then you can use professors from your previous college/institution.
- Letters should be addressed to “Fellowship Selection Committee” and emailed as MS Word document or Adobe pdf directly from the recommender to fellows@eagleton.rutgers.edu. If you send the letter instead of your recommender, the submission will be delayed until contents of the letter can be verified.
- All recommendations must be received by March 23 in order to be considered. You will be notified by email when your recommendation letters have been received.
What criteria are used by the selection committee? Is there a minimum GPA?
The selection committee judges applications using the following criteria: demonstrated interest in government, politics and/or public affairs; academic performance; the quality of the essay on the applicant’s purpose for applying to the fellowship; and letters of recommendation. Overall GPA is considered as part of academic performance. There is no “minimum GPA” in order to apply, but Fellows selected usually have a cumulative GPA of 3.2 or higher.
When are the fellowships decisions announced?
Students will receive preliminary notification on or before May 11, 2012. Henry Raimondo and Governor’s Executive fellows will receive final confirmation of fellowship funding once the state budget is approved in early July.
I have more questions, who can I talk to?
If you have questions, call Sarah Kozak, senior administrative assistant at (732) 932-9384 x 244 or e-mail sarah.kozak@rutgers.edu.