Some major fellowships require that prospective applicants compete at the institutional or campus level for the opportunity to represent their school in the national competition. 

At the University of Iowa, this process is led by the Office of Scholar Development (OSD) and supported by the Associate Provost for Undergraduate Education and our nominating committees, a spectrum of faculty, staff, community members and past scholars whose relevant knowledge and experience inform the selection and preparation of our candidates for major national fellowships.

Students who are interested in the following national fellowships - Rhodes, Marshall, Churchill, Gaither Jr. Fellows, Goldwater, Truman, Udall, and Beinecke - must participate in the corresponding campus competition to be considered for nomination. This includes submitting a complete campus application (typically a draft version of the official application that you've worked with Kelly Thornburg and your faculty mentor(s) to develop) and in some cases, participating in campus interviews or social events to allow us to gauge your skill and comfort levels in these contexts. Each opportunity has its own timeline, application requirements and process, which are outlined in their individual opportunity profiles which can be found under our "Conduct Your Search" tab on OSD's website.

Students who advance as institutional nominees are expected to work closely with our Director and select committee members, as well as with their own community of support – including faculty or research mentors, past scholars, and professional staff – to develop their ideas, draft their strongest application package, and prepare for interview experiences. 

Please note! If you are interested in applying for an opportunity that does NOT require institutional endorsement (most do not!), the Office of Scholar Development is excited to help you develop an application development strategy, craft original essays, support your recommenders, and prepare for finalist interviews.