Welcome to the Office of the Fellowship Secretary: Gervase Programs: Learning to Lead

Introduction

While the Office of the Fellowship Secretary is interested in helping students win competitive fellowships, that is not our primary purpose. We are here to assist students in a crucial process of self-realization. We assist students in realizing the direction best suited to their individual passions and talents, and we also help them learn how best to convey these interests to others. The skills they develop in this process, while directly relevant to fellowship competitions, are broadly applicable for a wide range of both academic and professional situations.

Each fellowship that our office administers is a competitive award, and each foundation is looking for a very specific person. In most cases the targeted student is one who can:
- demonstrate commitment to a cause
- prove transformative leadership abilities
- perform inquiry-based research
- communicate persuasively in writing and speaking.

These fellowships are not simply study-abroad programs; rather, each award is a prize that is given to an individual with extraordinary achievement, intense passion and deep intellectual curiosity, someone who has already made that passion and curiosity bear fruit. As such, fellowships are not easily won. They require time, energy and determination but there are things that you can do to begin preparing now.

One thing you can do is to take the Presentation Skills Workshop offered by this office on Fridays during the Spring term from 3.15-5.05pm.

Please note: The Fellowships Office endorses students for competitions that require official selection by the university. This office does not cover general issues of financing graduate and professional education. Students interested in such information are advised to check the Graduate Guide to Grants on the website of the Graduate School of Harvard University.

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