1. WHAT KIND OF CANDIDATE IS THE SELECTION COMMITTEE LOOKING FOR? The ideal candidate possesses a strong personal commitment to solving problems and effecting change in the environmental arena. He/she should possess solid leadership and communication skills; have excellent technical and/or analytical backgrounds as well as superior academic credentials. Non-academic volunteer or community-based experience is also highly valued.

2. DO I NEED TO BE STUDYING IN A "HARD" SCIENCE AREA TO COMPETE SUCCESSFULLY? No. Fellowships are not limited by field of study. A good grounding in a science is considered a plus, but it will not prevent a candidate with other strong skills from competing successfully for a Fellowship as long as the candidate applies those skills to environmental improvement. A variety of fields and disciplines are supported.

3. WHAT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT FACTOR IN SUBMITTING A SUCCESSFUL APPLICATION? Preparation. It may seem obvious, but a thoughtful application is most appreciated. You should carefully read the Program guidelines and visit the website (www.switzernetwork.org) to understand as thoroughly as possible the objectives of the Switzer Foundation. Take the time to seek out prior Switzer Fellows who may be on your campus or in your area to ask about their experience. Your written materials, especially your essay, are the primary means by which your application will convey a sense of your aspirations and motivations.

4. WHO SHOULD WRITE MY TWO LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION? The letters of recommendation will have substantial weight in the evaluation of your application. It is critical that you obtain recommendations from individuals who can provide the best overall perspective on your professional potential, abilities, leadership capacity and dedication. You may choose faculty members, or former employers, community leaders or colleagues as references. We prefer that Applicants submit reference letters along with their application forms rather than having them arrive under separate cover. If the authors of the letters wish to have their letters remain confidential, please have them provide their letters (the original and appropriate number of copies) in a single signed, sealed envelope. It is your responsibility to ensure that your application is complete.

5. MAY I HAVE MY RECOMMENDATION LETTERS FAXED OR E-MAILED DIRECTLY TO YOU? We strongly prefer that application packets are submitted with recommendation letters enclosed. This minimizes the likelihood that your recommendations will be delayed or misplaced. If you are concerned about meeting the deadline, use overnight postal service rather than regular mail. If you must use fax or e-mail to submit a recommendation letter, the letter must arrive by the deadline and the Switzer Foundation office must be notified in advance. E-mail recommendations should not be forwarded by the applicant, but should be sent directly from the recommender.

6. HOW MANY "OFFICIAL" TRANSCRIPTS MUST BE SUBMITTED WITH THE APPLICATION? You may submit one official copy and the rest may be photocopies.

7. DO I NEED TO SUBMIT TRANSCRIPTS FROM UNDERGRADUATE WORK? No. All that is required is your graduate school transcripts. For individuals entering a one-year degree program, you will need to provide transcripts for the last year of prior academic study (graduate or undergraduate).

8. HOW MUCH DETAIL IS NEEDED FOR THE "OUTLINE OF COURSE OF STUDY"? You may summarize your thesis or dissertation topic, list courses to be taken and your research focus. Do not exceed four pages.

9. ARE THERE MORE SPECIFIC GUIDELINES FOR CONTENT & FORMAT OF THE ESSAY? No. Please read the essay requirements in the guidelines. The essay is the most critical component of your application for the initial screening and is the best way to convey your personal commitment to the field and to driving positive environmental change. A precis of your master's or doctoral thesis is NOT what we're looking for in the essay. The essay should be no more than two to three pages, may be double or single spaced with typeface 11 pt or larger.

10. CAN MY APPLICATION AND SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS BE SUBMITTED BY E-MAIL? Email submission is acceptable only if extenuating circumstances prevent mailing hard copies, and only with prior approval from The Switzer Foundation. We prefer that materials come together in one complete package to ensure completeness upon arrival. You are responsible for getting the complete application to the Foundation on time.

11. HOW IMPORTANT IS FINANCIAL NEED IN DETERMINING FELLOWSHIP AWARDS? This is NOT a need-based award. No candidate is screened out based on his/her financial circumstances. However, financial need can be a factor considered by the final selection committee, particularly in situations where candidates are equally qualified. If you feel your financial situation is a major factor in your ability to complete your studies, you should provide a narrative explaining your financial need, citing specifics if necessary. We rely on your honesty in providing us with this information.

12. I WILL COMPLETE MY STUDIES BEFORE THE END OF THE ACADEMIC YEAR 2008/2009, MAY I STILL SUBMIT AN APPLICATION FOR PARTIAL FUNDING? No. The Fellowship is intended to support full-time matriculation for an entire academic year.

13. DO I NEED TO BE ALREADY ENROLLED IN ORDER TO APPLY? Yes. Master's degree students must have completed at least one semester of coursework at the time an application is submitted. One exception to this is for students who will be enrolled in a one-year professional Master's degree program. These students may apply before they begin, but must have equivalent professional experience and must be fully accepted into their program to be granted an interview. PhD students must have completed at least two years of study or have passed their qualifying exams by May 1, 2008. Students planning to conduct research during the Fellowship year must specify their planned enrollment status for this time period.

14. CAN TERMINAL MASTER'S DEGREE STUDENTS COMPETE SUCCESSFULLY FOR SWITZER FELLOWSHIPS? Yes. The Switzer Fellowship Program is interested in seeing applications from strong Master's degree students. Master's students will compete against each other rather than against doctoral candidates.

15. CAN MID-CAREER STUDENTS COMPETE SUCCESSFULLY FOR SWITZER FELLOWSHIPS? Yes. The Switzer Fellowship Program is interested in candidates in all stages of their careers, as long as they have a clear focus in how their graduate education will position them to have greater influence on environmental issues and outcomes.

16. CAN STUDENTS AT INSTITUTIONS OUTSIDE OF NEW ENGLAND OR CALIFORNIA APPLY FOR THE FELLOWSHIP? No. The Switzer Fellowship is available only to students enrolled at accredited graduate institutions in California or the six New England states (CT, MA, RI, VT, NH, or ME).