Emily Seelen
What year are you in school?
Junior
What Fellowship did you get and what does it involve?
I received the 2011 Greater Research Opportunities Fellowship from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The Fellowship provides $19,700 per year for both my junior and
senior years and $9,500 for a three-month summer internship at an EPA facility.
What motivated you to apply for a Fellowship?
I was first motivated by a professor who set me up with Alisa. Once I met with Alisa and learned a little more about what the Fellowship entailed I was ready to give it a shot.
What was the hardest part of the Fellowship applying process?
The hardest part was writing about myself in the essay. Most papers I write are for science classes and are in a much different format than the essay was written so it took
a while to get used to.
What was the most rewarding part of the Fellowship applying process?
I would say the process itself was very rewarding- I feel like I learned so much about the application process from writing essays to creating a resume and filling out forms
that I would not have learned if I had not applied. I also learned a lot about myself
which was pretty cool.
Do you have any advice for people applying?
Start early and use the resources Gustavus provides for you! Alisa and the career center as well as a few professors were a big help along the way. Also, even if you do not think
you have a shot, try anyway! Even if I would have not received the fellowship I would
still have my resume and experience with applying that will be valuable for my future.