Required Application Materials 

Items to be submitted by the candidate, in PDF format, using the application form: 

  1. Curriculum Vitae, which should include:
    • Personal Contact Information
    • Title of Proposed Project and Name of Mentor
    • Major and coursework relevant to proposed Mellon Project
    • Cumulative GPA and GPA in Major
    • Honors and Extracurricular Activities at Carleton
    • Activism/Community Involvement & Activities related to Teaching/Research
    • Citizenship (US citizenship, DACA or Green Card status is required for eligibility)
  2. Answers to the following essay questions:
    • Essay One: Initial Research Project Idea (3 pages):
      • Please describe the research project you would like to undertake as a fellow. Describe as fully and precisely as you can the subject or questions on which you would like to conduct sustained, but evolving, research over the next two years. Don’t be afraid to dream big but describe your dreams as precisely as possible. Draw on the knowledge you have gained in classes you have taken that have exposed you to academic study of this topic. Include a brief bibliography of scholarly works related to your topic.  For further details, consult the Guide to Writing the MMUF Research Proposal.
    • Essay Two: Personal Statement (1-2 pages):
      • Please describe why you are applying to the MMUF program and what you hope to gain from being a fellow, now and in the future. You should describe your motivations for pursuing your topic, as well as what draws you to the possibility of graduate study and an academic career.  

Items to be submitted separately, to fellowships@carleton.edu: 

  1. Current Carleton Transcript, requested via the Hub for purpose ‘other’ and sent to fellowships@carleton.edu.
    • Please note: although candidates with GPA between 3.0 and 3.3 will be considered for MMUF, preference is given to those with GPAs of 3.3 or higher.
  2. Two Letters of Recommendation from Carleton Faculty Members:
    • One of your letters of recommendation should be from your proposed mentor and should address the feasibility of your project.  Both letters should comment on your scholarly achievement and potential, the feasibility of the proposed project, and other personal or intellectual qualities that would make you a strong candidate for a research fellowship and for a potential academic career.
    • Recommendations should be submitted via email to the Office of Student Fellowships via fellowships@carleton.edu. 

NOTE:  Materials other than the transcript and letters of recommendation are submitted using the online application.

If you find that any portion of your application may be late, PLEASE contact Cherlon Ussery directly before the deadline. No late materials can be accepted without prior approval. 

Required Personal Interview 

Interviews of 20–25 minutes each will be scheduled as soon as possible after the application deadline.

During the interview, candidates will be asked questions about their long- and short-term academic interests and goals; their project proposal; their understanding of the MMUF mission and their connection it; and other relevant topics generated by the material in their applications. 

There will be an opportunity for candidates to ask questions about the program as part of every interview.

Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellowship website