Application Planning

Timeline overview for application process:

• Mid-October: Application materials sent to nominating officials at each participating college or university, which we'll then post here.

• October and November: Prospective applications should drop in to Fellowship Pop-Ups (see Career Education events listings for details), and/or book a Fellowships advising appointment via Handshake, to discuss the application process, and begin to write their essays, request letters of recommendation, and compile application materials.

• October 27, 2025: Optional Priority Draft Deadline for fellowships and scholarships - submit drafts by this deadline to guarantee a draft review appointment before the campus deadline.

• December 2, 2025 by 12:00 pm (noon) EST: Campus application deadline. 

  • Submit your application materials (see checklist below) via Wellesley’s online form, here.

  • Request that your letters of reference be submitted via this link ideally by this date (should they have any difficulty with the link, please ask them to email their letters to fellowships@wellesley.edu).

• December: The campus committee reads applications and occasionally interviews shortlisted applicants before selecting nominees. Nominees will have the benefit of advice from the committee as they finalize their application materials in advance of the national deadline in January.

• Mid-January: Nominated applications will be forwarded by Wellesley’s campus representative to the Carnegie Endowment.

• February to early March: Selected applicants will be interviewed.

• Late March: The Program make selections and notify all candidates for the Carnegie Junior Fellows Program. 

Eligibility

• Graduating seniors or graduates who have graduated during the last academic year;
• Those who have not yet begun graduate studies; and
• Those eligible to work in the United States for a year (September 1st through at least June 30th) following graduation. (International students at Wellesley who have a year, or nearly a year, of OPT available are eligible!)

• A serious, demonstrated interest in a career in international affairs;
• Strong writing skills;
• Significant related academic and/or work experience - note that language and other particular skills are required for some assignments (see the official application materials, found via the checklist below, for details);
• A competitive academic record; and
• Strong letters of recommendation and personal interviews.

How do I apply?

Wellesley College applicants for the Carnegie’s James C. Gaither Junior Fellows Program must first apply for Wellesley’s nomination. Wellesley may nominate no more than two candidates to go forward to the national competition each year. 

 Application checklist 

• Read the official Carnegie James C. Gaither Junior Fellows Program information for candidates (what is currently posted is for applications due to Wellesley in fall '25 for nomination for fellowships to take place during 2026-27; it will be replaced in October 2026 with information about fellowships for 2027-28). Note that the official Carnegie application materials are posted on this page annually in mid-October, and that the placements and applications change from year to year.

• Request two letters of reference (at least one from a faculty member who has taught you in a relevant course or supervised relevant academic research; one letter might be from the supervisor of a relevant internship). Note the following advice from the Carnegie: "Junior Fellows provide essential research assistance to our senior scholars. This often requires sophisticated judgment and independent work. Recommendations will therefore be especially useful if they speak to the student's analytical and writing skills, self-discipline and maturity, and, where relevant, subject matter expertise." Please give your recommenders this link to allow them to submit their letters, ideally by the campus application deadline (should they have any difficulty with the link, please ask them to email their letters to fellowships@wellesley.edu).

And, before the campus application deadline, submit the following materials via Wellesley’s online form, here:

• Personal statement 
  • No more than 2 pages, double-spaced, according to the official Carnegie application information (linked from the top of the checklist)
  • This is essentially a job cover letter, and should address "why you are applying for this job, what you hope to learn from it, how you think your experience and working style would serve you well as a research assistant, and why you have chosen to apply for the program you are applying for."
• Writing sample 
  • 3-5 pages, double-spaced, according to the official Carnegie application information (linked from the top of the checklist)
  • The writing sample may be on any topic, but note that Carnegie recommends that applicants "choose a writing sample that is relevant to the program they are applying for, either in subject matter or style of analysis. For more information on what each Carnegie research program is working on [see the Carnegie website here]."
  • A works cited page is not required, however in-text citations (either footnotes/endnotes or parenthetical) should be included with the writing sample.
  • The sample may be either a full-length piece that meets the page limit or an excerpt from a longer piece.
  • The writing sample must be accompanied by "a brief explanation of no more than half of one page explaining why [you] chose that sample." Thie explanation is not included in the 3-5 page limit
• Curriculum vitae or Resume 
  • 1-2 pages; please note that some programs have particular requirements - e.g. skills in a certain language, coursework/experience in a particular field
  • If the program to which you are applying lists such requirements in the official Carnegie application information (linked from the top of the checklist), please ensure that your cv or resume shows how you meet the requirements for your program of interest
• An unofficial Wellesley transcript, and copies of any other applicable college/university transcripts (e.g. transfer or study abroad)
• Wellesley Fellowships office signature document (please print, sign & date this form, then submit a scanned pdf or other image of the signed document along with your application materials)

Questions?
Email fellowships@wellesley.edu or call Caitlin Roberts-Donovan at 781.283.2347.