Apply for more than one fellowship and increase your chance of receiving at least one. Search all possible fellowships, researching what they have to offer, and apply for as many as possible. If you receive more than one award, ask about options for combining the funding.
Plan your goals for your research project thoroughly. The best way to impress a fellowship committee is to demonstrate your dedication and willingness to do your homework. The more organized and clear your goals and plans for using your award, the better chance you have at receiving your desired fellowship.
Have solid and professional references. Ask people working in your field of study to write your letters of reference, which will give your application more credibility and increase your chance of receiving the award. Make sure your references know as much about the fellowship and your planned research project as possible in order to write clear and concise letters of reference.
Speak to a fellowship recipient if possible. If you are applying for a fellowship through your college or university, ask the scholarship advisor for contact information of past recipients. Ask to read their application essays and project plans and see if they might offer advice about increasing your chances for receiving the fellowship.
Read about former fellowship recipients on the committee's main webpage. Almost every foundation will proudly display their recipients online, along with information about their personal lives, their projects and their successes. Reading about former recipients can give you an idea of what the foundation is looking for and help you better format your essay and application.
Find a professional in your field to proofread your project proposal and essay. A person experienced in your field can give you ideas you may not have thought about, help you with technical issues and fine-tune your application. A concise and informational project and essay will greatly increase your chance of winning an award.
Be professional, down to the last detail. No part of your application should be handwritten, including the envelope in which you mail your application. Always double, and triple, check for spelling or grammatical errors. Fill out the application exactly as the directions state and send your application in as early as possible, before the deadline.
Be patient. Don't bombard the fellowship committee with inquiries about your award status. If you feel the need to send an inquiry, wait until the set award date has past before calling or sending an email. Don't become frustrated with rejections, fellowships are competitive; with patience and persistence you are bound to find the right fellowship for you.