General Application Tips

The below suggestions serve as a general guideline for writing your application. Your application and proposal should detail your chosen location, time frame, and project purpose.

Designing Your Proposal

1. Start early. As you prepare your application, you should consider the following:

- What is your purpose?
- Why are you applying to this award?
- How will you benefit?
- Will this allow you undertake research for completion of an undergraduate, masters or PhD thesis/dissertation?
- Will this internship allow you to complete a requirement for graduation?
- How does this fit into career plans or goals?

2. Meet with advisors and/or faculty to discuss your proposal.

Bring details of the award and your ideas and plans about the proposed project or internship to these meetings. It is crucial to solicit feedback and input on your application even before submitting.

3. If you are applying for multiple awards, or if your project has multiple locations with different timelines or projected expenses, then you should indicate this in your proposal.

Organization will be key - consider writing an introduction that focuses on your research or internship and outlines the basics: where will you go, when, what will you do, why are you applying? If you have a project with more than one location and timeline, be sure to also indicate this in your project expense sheet.

Example:

Thesis statement: I seek funding to support international research for my dissertation focused on postcolonial relations and history education in Japan and South Korea. My research will include interviews and archival research in both Tokyo, Japan and Seoul, South Korea between May 31 and December 1, 2019.

Location 1: Tokyo, Japan (May 31 - Aug 30, 2019): include description of time in country, what you will do, how it will impact you/your research, etc.

Location 2: Seoul, South Korea (Aug 30 - Dec 1, 2019): include description of time in country, what you will do, how it will impact you/your research, etc.

Feasibility

1. FOR RESEARCH APPLICANTS: It is important to be realistic.

Can you do what you want to do in the proposed time frame and with the resources provided? Is it overly ambitious? Will you be able to complete the project in the time you have estimated?

2. ALL APPLICANTS: Budget

What do you need to fund this project: costs for travel, living expenses, tutoring, equipment? Are these expenses covered by the award? If not, will you apply for other funding to cover costs?

Writing Your Proposal

1.Brainstorm / Organize

Be sure to take note of the award application components or requirements. It does not make sense to apply unless you fit the requirements, eligibility of the award. Begin by outlining your proposal around the following: WHERE (will you go & for how long?), WHAT (will you do?), WHO (will you work with?), HOW (will you do this - methods and rationale), WHY (is this necessary for degree progress? this country, location, internship placement?)

For budget, research costs on what will you need to fund your proposal: travel costs, living expenses, equipment, etc. Use travel sites to estimate cost of airfare or cost of living expenses. If any expenses will be covered, be sure to indicate this in your proposal.

2. Draft

Use content from your outline to begin drafting your statement and budget.

FOR RESEARCH APPLICANTS: Avoid field specific jargon - write to non-specialists. For technical and field-specific questions, turn to faculty, P.I.s, grad student instructors for input and help.

3.Proofread

Ask advisors, professors, family & friends to read drafts. Ask someone to critique your writing if you are unsure about your ability to construct correct, effective sentences.