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Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellowship

About
MMUF at NU
Fellows
Apply

Becoming a Fellow

Program Application

Applications are typically accepted during winter quarter.

Please visit https://mmuf.northwestern.edu to apply.

Contact mmuf@northwestern.edu if you have any questions about the fellowship or application process.

Questions to Consider Before Applying

In order to determine whether or not your goals and the mission of the MMUF program are in alignment, please consider researching and discussing the following questions with faculty and graduate students:

  1. What are my research interests and what would make a strong MMUF project?
  2. Is there a faculty member that I would like to work with over the summer on a research project?
  3. Would the type of research I want to pursue lead to a PhD in one of the MMUF designated fields? (listed here: http://www.northwestern.edu/president/mmuf/about.html)
  4. What is graduate study like and what could I do with a PhD?
  5. What do faculty members do and would I want to be a faculty member?
  6. What is it like to be a graduate student?

Applicant Requirements

  1. Sophomore student planning or considering graduate study toward a PhD in one of the Mellon designated fields
  2. A strong interest and/or demonstrated commitment to eradicating racial disparities
  3. US Citizen or permanent resident of the U.S.

To Apply

Application for the Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellowship is highly competitive. Applicants must submit a brief online application and the following supporting documents:

  1. Personal Statement Essays (4 essays, 250 words each, typed, double-space)
  2. Academic Record (unofficial transcript)
  3. Resume that includes extracurricular Activities & Honors/Awards or Resume (Limit 2 pages)
  4. Writing Sample (Limit 10 pages)
  5. Faculty Recommendation

Program Timeline

  1. Sophomore year, Winter and Spring Term
    • MMUF application and selection process begins.
    • Fellowship is awarded.
    • Students select a faculty mentor for the upcoming summer.
    • Students attend an MMUF Orientation and Welcome Dinner.
       
  2. Sophomore year, Following Summer
    • Students receive a summer stipend.
    • Students participate in a mandatory eight-week summer program at Northwestern that includes faculty-supervised research, enrichment activities that prepare undergraduates for the fellowship (i.e., IRB presentations, writing workshops, research roundtables, etc.), and a research conference.
    • Students meet regularly with MMUF coordinators and the cohort to discuss their progress.

    (Please note that students who have made alternate summer plans may still apply for the MMUF fellowship but must note this in their initial application.)

  3. Junior and Senior Years
    • Students receive two stipends throughout the academic year.
    • During the academic year, students will work and meet regularly with a faculty member on a research project.
    • Participate in biweekly meetings for current MMUF fellows in which students will present their ongoing research, and participate in Mellon organized activities that promote graduate school success and collaboration in the academic community.
    • Selected fellows will also be expected to participate in the Midwest Regional MMUF Conference, the Northwestern Undergraduate Research Symposium, and other relevant conferences.
    • Throughout their time in the fellowship, students are encouraged to seek out additional experiences, fellowships, abroad experiences, and conferences related to their research interests and may have access to additional funding for such purposes.
       
  4. Senior Year
    • Students should work on their senior thesis. Fellows are expected to submit their senior project/thesis for publication in the MMUF Journal.
    • Considering/applying for PhD programs.
       
  5. Following graduation
    • Mellon fellows continue to receive graduate school application support and general mentoring upon their graduation from Northwestern.
    • Alumni are frequently invited back for programming and social events.
    • Fellows who enroll in a PhD program within 29 months of graduation are eligible for undergraduate loan reimbursement from the Mellon Foundation.