• Program
  Fellows
• Featured Fellows
• Meet the Fellows
• Fellow Blog

• Partner
  Organizations
• Featured Organization
• Current
• Past Organizations
• Apply
• FAQ

• Prospective
  Applicants
• Application Process
• Applicant FAQ

• Fellowship Alumni
• Featured Alumni
• Past Fellow Bios
• Alumni Blog
• Get Involved

• Northwestern
  Alumni
• Featured Alumni
• Get Involved

Applicant FAQ

Q. What would my role be as a NUPIP Fellow?
A. Beyond contributing high quality work at your Host Organization, engaging in weekly seminars with the other members of your fellowship class, and developing a mentorship relationship; there are many other ways you can get involved as a NUPIP Fellow. You will have the opportunity to work alongside NUPIP Coordinators in reaching out to prospective applicants, recruiting new Host Organizations, networking among NU alumni, and overseeing overall program development. NUPIP is a new initiative that looks to its fellows as ambassadors. 

Q. What do NUPIP fellows get paid? What about health insurance and days off?
A. Host Organizations agree to pay fellows a minimum stipend of $2,350 a month plus health insurance (which varies across organizations, but must include basic health care coverage). The monthly stipend is paid directly from the organization to the fellow, according to the organization’s pay periods. Depending on the organization, this stipend may be apportioned to the fellow as a salary or hourly wage. The details of compensation are discussed between each fellow and his/her supervisor, who then sign and return a Letter of Agreement outlining their commitment. This letter will also outline vacation days as agreed upon by the fellow and supervisor. These should include the vacation days typically observed by the organization as well as any anticipated need for additional time off related to holidays, grad school visits, etc. Every fellow plays a key role in crafting his/her contract.

Q. Can I seek student loan deferment as a NUPIP fellow?
A. Loan deferment is certainly possible. Because each loan provider has their own policy, you must contact your loan provider directly and ask for a Loan Deferment Request Form. Complete the form as it applies to participants in “graduate/public service fellowships.” Once you have filled out the form, pass it on to us and we will do our part to sign it and provide verification of your participation in NUPIP.  

Q. What are the seminars like?
A. Public Interest Program seminars are held weekly, typically Wednesday mornings from about 9:00-10:30. Fellows are not required, but strongly encouraged to attend. Seminars offer a chance to learn about social issues such as health care, education, and environmental policy; to visit other Host Organizations; to gain practical knowledge in areas such as project management and grant writing; and to reflect and build community with other fellows from Princeton and University of Chicago. The seminar series runs from late August to May, with locations and speakers announced along the way. John Fish, founder of the NUPIP’s sister program at Princeton, organizes the seminars with the help of a small committee of fellows, including NUPIP alum Courtney Spalding Meyer. 

Q. What is involved in the mentorship component of NUPIP?
A. Each fellow will be matched with a Northwestern Alumnus who will serve as a mentor throughout the year. Mentors can serve as a sounding board on a range of topics: professional development, workplace issues, graduate school plans, post-college transition. The frequency and nature of meetings is determined by the Fellow and their Mentor. The relationship is what each fellow makes of it! 

Q. I know of a really great organization never before affiliated with NUPIP that I’d love to introduce to the program. Can I apply and secure a placement at this organization?
A. NUPIP encourages applicants who have had previous experience with public interest minded organizations to forward their contact information to program coordinators at nupip@northwestern.edu.  We can then start communications with these organizations, tell them about our program, and send them a Host Organization Proposal that is required of every potential host site. As an applicant recommending this site, you are guaranteed an interview with this site upon review of your application and your transition to the second round of our interview process. However, we do not guarantee a fellowship position at this site. Each site has the freedom to interview and select from all of the candidates we send them in this second round.   

Q. I really like one of the host organizations that NUPIP has worked with in the past. Can I apply for a fellowship position specifically at this site?
A. Because organizations are submitting their host proposals at the same time that students are submitting their applications, we cannot be sure that any particular site will be part of our program for an additional term this early on in the process. Students are therefore encouraged to apply to NUPIP with an open mind to a variety of organizations.  

Q. I have received an offer to work at an organization that is unaffiliated with NUPIP. I would love to be part of the program and I think this organization fits the criteria of NUPIP host organizations. Is there any way to merge and form part of the new class of fellows?
A. The organization must submit a host organization proposal outlining their agreement to NUPIP’s mission and requirements. If accepted, they can become an official NUPIP host organization, with you as their fellow. If they would like to receive additional candidates from our pool of applicants to interview, they can. However, you are guaranteed a fellowship position at their site, and are part of all of our fellowship components as a member of the new class of fellows.