Frequently Asked Questions
A list of the most common questions asked during the application process to the Olin and Chancellor's Graduate Fellowship.
Can I apply to the fellowship at the same time as I apply to my program.
Applicants who apply to their program via CollegeNET are able to apply to the Chancellor's and Spencer T. and Ann W. Olin fellowships at the same time.
I cannot find my degree program on the Program Selection page!
In general, this happens when you applied to your program using a different application system than the Fellowship. Please review the guide and the application procedures listed above carefully, but typically:
I have a master's degree from a U.S. institution. Am I eligible to apply for the Fellowship?
Neither the origin nor the completion of your master’s degree impacts your eligibility for this program. You must have an undergraduate degree from a U.S. institution in order to apply for and receive the fellowship.
My program deadline is before January. Do I have to submit my Fellowship materials at the same time as my program application?
The fellowship deadline is not tied to your program deadline.
For all PhD programs (with the exception of Public Health Sciences), the MFA in Dance, and the MAT and MAEd programs - If you have already submitted an application, navigate to your application portal checklist to upload your fellowship essay and CV. This upload must occur before the January Fellowship application deadline.
For all other programs, navigate to the application. When asked what program you are applying to on the demographics section (under Enrollment), select "Chancellor's and/or Spencer T. and Ann W. Olin Fellowship". Then select the program you applied to.
My degree program admissions application requires fewer/more than three letters of reference. How should I proceed?
We will accept the number of recommenders required by your program, though we recommend submitting at least 2 letters of recommendation to your program if you intend to apply to the Chancellor's or Spencer T. and Ann W. Olin Fellowship.
My degree program admissions application does not require test scores (GRE, etc). How should I proceed?
The Chancellor's and Spencer T. and Ann W. Olin Fellowships do not require submission of official or unofficial test scores.
Will the selection committee have access to the materials I have submitted with my admissions application?
Yes.
Do I need to send the Fellowship Program an official transcript and/or test score report?
No; the selection committee will review your application with unofficial versions uploaded in the application or via materials in your program application.
Application Guide
Those applying to:
- All PhD programs (excluding PhD in Public Health) | Master's programs in Teaching, Education, Writing, Dance, and Arts + Sciences
(see reference guide under Submitting your fellowship application within your program application portal)
- Master's programs in Architecture, Public Health, Business Administration, Illustration and Visual Culture, Social Work, Visual Art, and Urban Design | PhD in Public Health | Law
(see reference guide under Submitting your fellowship application through a separate application portal)
Submitting your fellowship application within your program application portal
This applies to the following programs:
- All PhD programs (excluding the PhD in Public Health)
- MAT, MAED in Education
- MFA in Writing
- MFA in Dance
- AM in Arts and Sciences (Chancellor’s Fellowship Program only)
Submitting fellowship materials prior to submitting the application to your program
Log in to your Washington University application portal, and click “Online Application”:
If you have not yet created an account, create an account and follow the instructions indicated on the screen. Once you have verified your new account, proceed to the next step.
Fill out the relevant Personal Information and Demographics sections of the application. On the demographics section under "enrollment", indicate that your undergraduate degree comes from/will come from a U.S. institution.
Navigate to Program Selection. Select your program of interest, and the term you wish to apply to.
Once you have selected your program and term, click “Next Page”:
If your program has program-specific questions, they will appear on this page first. Following those questions (if any), please check the box(es) next to the fellowship(s) you would like to apply to:
Checking the box will reveal the essay prompt, and is where you upload your essay.
Upload your resume/CV in the additional information and documents section. For programs that do not require a resume/CV please submit your resume/CV on the application checklist (see the section below for more information).
Submitting fellowship materials after submitting the application to your program
The deadline for both graduate fellowships is January 25th, well after most program deadlines. You can still apply to the fellowship after you have submitted your application. To do so, navigate to your application portal and select “Online Application”.
(Note: if you have started a second application, you will need to click “Save and Exit” at the bottom of the page)
Click “View Checklist”
(Note: it may take up to 24 hours for the checklist to appear on your application after you submit. If it has been more than 24 hours after submission and the “View Checklist” button has not appeared, please contact us.)
Scroll down to the bottom of the checklist to “Graduate Fellowships” to upload your fellowship materials:
Submitting your fellowship application through a separate application portal
This applies to the following programs:
- Architecture
- MPH in Public Health Sciences
- PHD in Public Health Sciences
- Law
- MBA in Business Administration
- Visual Art
- MSW in Social Work
- Urban Design
- MFA in Illustration and Visual Culture
Log in to the Washington University application portal, and click “Online Application”:
If you have not yet created an account, create an account and follow the instructions indicated on the screen. Once you have verified your new account, proceed to the next step. Fill out the relevant Personal Information and Demographics sections of the application. On the demographics section under, "enrollment", indicate you would like to apply to the “Chancellor’s and/or Spencer T. and Ann W. Olin Fellowship”:
Next, indicate that your undergraduate degree comes from/will come from a U.S. institution:
Navigate to Program Selection. Select your program of interest, and the term you wish to apply to. Once you have selected your program and term, click “Next Page” at the bottom right section of the page. On the Program Related Questions section, check the box(es) next to the fellowship(s) you would like to apply to. Checking the box will reveal the essay prompt, and is where you upload your essay.
Upload your resume/CV in the additional information and documents section.
Note about eligible programs
Not all programs are eligible to apply to the Chancellor’s Graduate Fellowship. If the checkbox for the Chancellor’s Graduate Fellowship Program does not appear, it is likely that the program is not eligible. Please check the fellowship website to see if your program is eligible to apply. If there appears to be an error and you are unable to apply to a fellowship you are eligible for, please contact us.
(Note: it may take up to 24 hours for the checklist to appear on your application after you submit. If it has been more than 24 hours after submission and the “View Checklist” button has not appeared, please contact us.)
Scroll down to the bottom of the checklist to “Graduate Fellowships” to upload your fellowship materials:
Contact Us
Send a fellowship inquiry on our contact form