At the point of application to the Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellowship (MMUF), students are typically in their sophomore year. We know that, so early in your time in college, you may not be sure exactly what you want to do after you graduate. This is totally fine. The MMUF program is for those who are genuinely interested in learning about getting a PhD in the humanities or humanistic social sciences as one potential pathway for their future.

We are looking for students who are ready to prioritize this program in their academic and professional lives, during their time at Princeton and beyond. Be honest with yourself about your capacity. If you are already involved in more than one very time-consuming job or other activities on campus, you will need to let one of those commitments go in order to make space for the level of commitment that MMUF requires. If this is not something you can or will do, MMUF may not be right for you.

Students eligible for the fellowship will display all of the qualities below and be committed to being an proactive and participative member of the MMUF community.

Academic Qualities

• Intellectually curious
• Oriented toward learning and growth
• Generous and responsive in both sharing and receiving feedback

Community Qualities

• Committed to dedicating regular time to MMUF activities (full time, or 36.25 hours per week, during the summer and 10 hours per week during the academic year)
• Positive, supportive, and encouraging of all members of the community – students, staff, and faculty
• Excited to work collaboratively with others on the program
• Proactive in both giving and receiving mentorship

Professional Qualities

• Genuinely interested in learning about careers in academia
• Serious about considering and working toward a future as a college or university professor in the humanities or humanistic social sciences