H ow to app ly f or FTE Doc tor al Fe l lowsh ip s

Wh at Stud ents are S aying

“FTE went beyond the call of duty in assisting me in attaining my Ph.D. and in my
job search. The FTE Dissertation Fellowship allowed me to focus on my work
without having to worry about finances. I believe persons who are
underrepresented in the field could benefit from this organization.” Stephanie
Buckhanon Crowder 1999 Dissertation Fellow

“Through my journey with FTE, I became confident that while the tasks ahead
were formidable, I had access to the intellectual and spiritual resources, as well
as the social networks, needed to excel as a scholar of religion.” Josef Sorett,
2001 Doctoral Fellow

Af ter sever al yea r s o f fellow ship competitions, we h ave a c ommon

under s t anding of w h a t m ake s a succe s s ful fellowship application
“s t and out” f rom all the other s. O utlined below a re some of the
component s o f the applic ation along w i t h a se t o f ob serv ations o r
tip s th a t should a s s i s t you in c r a f ti ng your applica tion. While
following thi s ou tline w ill not gu a r a ntee s u c ce s s , i t i s of fered a s a
w ay to encour age you in the proce s s.

The FTE Application

Be sure to complete the application completely and thoroughly, answering all
questions on the application form and sending all other supporting credentials
requested. It is important that you review the application to be sure that is clear,
typed (or word processed) and checked for spelling errors.

A selection committee will review and make final decisions on your application.
Committee members will review all parts of the application. In particular, they
will examine your gr ade s in your area /intended area of study and related fields;
recommendations from facul ty member s familiar with your work; and the
ess ay in whi ch you are a sked to reflect on your vo cational vi sion
outlining both your academic goals and commitment to theological education. In
addition, you are also asked to send a copy of your cur ri culum vit ae, which
should outline your qualifications, special achievements and other activities and a
budget st atement outlining your estimated income and expenses for the
following year. The budget statement is an estimate of projected income and
expenses and should be thoroughly completed. Finally, a photocopy of your
sco re s on the Gener al Te st o f the G r ad uate Record E x amination (GRE)
is required of Doctoral and North American Doctoral applicants. (GRE scores are
not required for the dissertation year fellowship.)

Transcripts
Transcripts may be sent in a sealed envelope with your fellowship application or
mailed separately from an institution. If your transcripts are being sent from an
institution, please make an early request to ensure they arrive on or before the
deadline. Some students find it necessary to include a “special note” explaining
ambiguities or low grades in their transcripts. This is especially important if there
have been extenuating circumstances (i.e. an illness, etc) where you may have
taken a leave or there is an “incomplete grade.”

Your application is incomplete without transcripts on file. Candidates entering a

doctoral program must provide transcripts from both their undergraduate and
Master’s degree programs. Candidates already enrolled in programs must submit
transcripts from their current doctoral degree program.

Letters of Re comme nd ation

Perhaps one of the most common questions asked in completing the fellowship
application is “Who should I ask to write a letter of reference?” You should ask
two faculty members familiar with your past academic work and therefore in a
position to judge your capacity to do (or complete) graduate studies. The
recommendation should be an informed evaluation of your academic capacities,
motivation, and intellectual gifts. Faculty you choose to write these letters should
be positive about the contributions you will make to theological education and if
possible, should be in your proposed area or related to the area(s) in which you
plan to do your graduate study.

If you choose to waive your right to read the letters (granted by the 1974 Buckley
Amendment), you may check the appropriate box on the recommendation form.
Most students know their recommenders well and will waive their right to read
the recommendation. You should let the recommender know of your decision
regarding the confidentiality of the letter ahead of time.

App li cation Essay

The essay is a very important part of the fellowship application and should focus
on your vocational vision, addressing your academic goals and commitment to
theological teaching and scholarship. (Dissertation applicants are asked to submit

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a summary of the dissertation perspective and a list of their committee members
instead of the essay.)

Key questions/themes you may wish to consider in writing this essay:

• How do your past intellectual interests and previous course work in theology
inform or impact your interests and goals for the future?
• Why have you chosen your specific area of inquiry? (You may wish to discuss
which faculty member(s) you hope to work with in a particular department and
why).

Finally, the e s s ay i s a n import a nt e x a m ple of your w ri ting skill s. Be

sure that it is well organized and communicates your goals and ideas as you
intended. You may have a faculty member read it in final draft stage prior to
submission.

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