Application Submission Procedures

I see the application deadline, but wondering if that means I need to have it postmarked by that date or in your hands physically by that date?

  • It means that HumRRO must have in hand a complete application package for each applicant no later than the specified deadline. That is, all application materials must reach HumRRO on or by the application deadline date.

May I mail in some portions of my application and submit other portions electronically?

  • Yes. However, all application material must arrive to HumRRO on or before the deadline.

May I submit portions of my application at separate times?

  • Yes. However, complete application materials must arrive to HumRRO on or before the deadline.

I realize it is after the deadline, but I just saw your advertisement. Is it too late to apply?

  • If it is after our deadline, then it is too late to apply for the fellowship this year. You may want to check the SIOP website for suggestions of other fellowships.

Applicant Eligibility

I’m an international student, will you consider my application?

  • Yes. However, all application materials, including transcripts and recommendations, must be submitted in English as we do not have the resources to translate documents.

I am a part-time student, will you consider my application?

  • Yes. However, selection is competitive and applicants will be evaluated on the basis of their research promise, academic achievement, and professional productivity. Although possible, it is less likely that a part-time student will be competitive in terms of the number of research projects completed, professional presentations made, and peer-reviewed articles published. All candidates should look carefully at the Application Form and consider whether their qualifications are a strong match to our requirements.

I am enrolled in an Organizational Development program in a Business School. Am I eligible for the fellowship?

  • Yes. Students in business school programs with coursework closely aligned to Industrial-Organizational (I-O) Psychology are encouraged to apply. Our ratings focus heavily on areas of study in traditional I-O Psychology programs; therefore candidates from related fields should look carefully at the Application Form and consider whether their qualifications are a strong match to our requirements.

I am graduating in December and all I have left to do is defend my dissertation. Am I eligible for the fellowship?

  • No. One of the purposes of the fellowship is to provide financial support while the student completes his/her dissertation, therefore the applicant should be actively involved in the process of completing his/her dissertation (e.g., collecting and/or analyzing data), but not substantially completed or finished at the time of application. We consider a student who is ready to defend his/her dissertation to be substantially completed with his/her graduate program.

I have just finished collecting data for my dissertation. I will be analyzing data and writing throughout the next year and plan to graduate next spring. Am I eligible for the fellowship?

  • Yes. We consider a student with one year of research remaining as actively involved in the dissertation process.

My dissertation proposal will be ready by the application deadline, but I will not be able to propose by the deadline. Will you consider my application?

  • In general, no. If your dissertation proposal defense is within 1-2 weeks of our deadline then you can proceed with the application and inform us when your proposal meeting will take place. Following the meeting, you will need to confirm with HumRRO that your dissertation proposal was approved and provide proof, such as committee signatures. We may, on a case-by-case basis, consider a candidate who is ready to propose but unable to present his/her proposal by the application deadline due to university/faculty schedules.

My general dissertation topic area has been approved; however my specific study and proposal have not been approved yet. Am I eligible for the fellowship?

  • Probably not. Your dissertation needs to have been formally proposed. The only exception is if your proposal defense is within 1-2 weeks of our deadline then you can proceed with the application and inform us when your proposal meeting will take place. Following the meeting, you will need to confirm with HumRRO approval of your dissertation proposal by providing your committee signatures. We may, on a case-by-case basis, consider a candidate who is ready to propose but unable to present his/her proposal by the application deadline due to university/faculty schedules.

Application Package

Resume/CV

Should I submit a curriculum vitae (CV) or a resume; or should I send both?

  • You should respond to the questions on the application form. If your CV or resume answers a question(s), then you may submit it and refer reviewers to it. However, we would prefer that you extract the relevant information from your CV or resume and provide it in the Application Form.

Transcripts

Do I need to send a transcript from my previous graduate work from another program?

  • Yes. We expect a graduate transcript from each program/institution where you have taken graduate coursework.

What if I can’t get you an official copy of my transcript by the deadline?

  • Although an official transcript(s) is preferred, we will accept an unofficial version(s) for consideration of your application. However, if you are selected, you must send an official copy of your graduate transcript(s) before we can award the fellowship to you. It is suggested that you request your official graduate school transcript(s) early to meet our deadline.

I attended graduate school in a foreign country and it will be difficult to get an official transcript. Will you accept an unofficial copy?

  • Although an official transcript(s) is preferred, we will accept an unofficial version(s) for consideration of your application. However, if you are selected, you must send an official copy of your graduate transcript(s) before we can award the fellowship to you. It is suggested that you request your official graduate school transcript(s) early to meet our deadline. Further, we request that transcripts be in English.

Personal Statement

Should I submit my dissertation proposal?

  • No. We don’t have time to review your complete dissertation proposal. We ask that you provide a summary of your dissertation research as part of your personal statement.

Characteristics of Strong Applicants/Applications

The fellowship announcement says the candidate has to demonstrate exceptional research skills. What specific research skills are you referring to?

  • Selection is competitive and applicants will be evaluated on the basis of their research promise, academic achievement, and professional productivity. To be competitive, an applicant should have completed a number of research projects, given professional presentations, and published in peer-reviewed journals. All candidates should look carefully at the Application Form to see what types of skills we are looking for when we review application packages.

What are the characteristics of a strong application package?

  • Our fellowship is extremely competitive, so we use stringent criteria to narrow down our list of candidates to a manageable number for review. We offer the following suggestions based on strong applications we received in the past.
    • Prepare and present your materials in an organized and logical manner.
    • Respond directly to each question on the application; tailor your responses to the application questions.
    • Clearly demonstrate your qualifications.
    • Proofread your application package for errors in spelling, grammar, and syntax.
    • Do not wait until the last minute to submit your application.
    • If it is not apparent on your transcript, it is often helpful to include a summary of relevant research methods/statistical experience or coursework. Some course titles are vague on transcripts.