Fellow Application

Thank you for your interest in becoming an America Needs You Fellow!

The 2017 Fellows Application is now closed.

To learn more about our program, please click here.

For Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs), click here.

Eligibility

We invite all applicants who meet the following criteria to apply to be a Fellow.

Neither of my parents/guardians have a bachelor’s degree (from any country)
I am a U.S. Citizen, Permanent Resident, or eligible for full-time work in the U.S. by July 2017
I am a freshman attending 4-year or community college
- If applying in New York you must attend a CUNY school
- If attending community college, you must intend to transfer to a 4-year school (ANY provides transfer support)
- ANY defines “freshman” as having earned no more than 30 credits by 3/1/2017 if on a semester schedule and no more than 45 credits by 3/1/2017 if on a quarterly schedule
I am in the process of obtaining my first associate’s or bachelor’s degree
I am available to attend regular Saturday workshops (workshops occur bi-weekly in Year 1 starting in July 2017; monthly in Year 2)

I am considered low-income by HUD standards. See chart below for your state.

Selection Criteria

We are searching for high-potential, goal-oriented college students. In selecting our Fellow class, we will consider the following:

Performance
Applicants must have a strong academic record, reflecting a commitment to hard work and excellence. We require Fellows to maintain a 3.0 GPA throughout their time in the program. The average GPA of the 2015 Fellows Class across all sites was 3.4.

Leadership
Applicants must demonstrate leadership and a commitment to communities in need through work experience, campus organizations, athletics or other extracurricular activities.

Ambition
Applicants must possess a passion for reaching their potential, and must have a vision for how the Fellows Program can help them achieve their professional goals. The Fellows Program is open to students from all disciplines and interests.

Program Admissions Timeline

September – Application Opens
March 1, 2017 – Application and Recommendations Due
April – Finalists Notified and Interview Day
May – Class Selected
July – Program Begins

Application Details

Essays
Three essay questions must be completed before submitting the application. We consider the responses to the following questions important in the selection process. For each of the essay questions below, you must draft a response in 1500 characters or less (approximately 250 words).

Please describe why you are a strong candidate for the Fellows Program. Also tell us how America Needs You will help you accomplish your professional goals.
Please describe a challenge that you overcame and what you learned from the experience.
Please describe a problem that impacts your community or a community that interests you. What have you done or what would you like to do to address this problem?
OPTIONAL ESSAY: If there are extenuating circumstances affecting the quality of your application, use this space to provide the Selections Committee with further information.

Resume
Applicants must submit a one-page resume. A resume should generally contain the following:

Contact Information – Full name, address, phone number and e-mail
Education – college and high school (optional), start and end dates
Work experience – companies at which you have worked or volunteered, start and end dates, and a description of your responsibilities
Activities – description of any extracurricular activities you are involved in
Awards and honors – list of any awards or honors you have earned or received

Transcript
Applicants must upload transcripts for their high school and for each college or university they have attended. Only unofficial transcripts are required for their application to be reviewed and should be uploaded. If you are selected for the Fellows Program, you will be required to submit official transcripts.

Letter(s) of Recommendation
Applicants must submit the name and email of one person to submit a letter of recommendation via the online application. The Letter of Recommendation must be submitted online. Applicants should give their recommender ample time to complete the form and submit the recommendation. Submitting recommendations from friends or relatives is discouraged.

Permanent Resident or Work Authorization Status (if applicable)
If applicable, applicants also upload a copy of their green card or employment authorization card, which authorizes them to live and work in the United States.

Stay Informed

If you have any questions about the online application or admissions process, please contact: