<p>As a junior in high school, what can I do to better my chances of becoming a Foundation Fellow? I've got the academic part covered, but I don't know what exactly sets the Fellows apart from the other kids who have also done well academically. Is it their extracurriculars, or is it something else as well?</p>
<p>The Foundation Fellowship has become really competitive over the years. The number of fellows accepted was cut in half too, so that makes it again twice as hard...</p>
<p>Any tips regarding things I can do to make me a better candidate?</p>
<p>I visited UGA a couple weeks ago, and they pretty much stressed that each Fellows recipient had a desire to change the world. i.e., heavily involved in community service and mission trips and etc. Also, I noticed many of the Fellows were heavily involved in science AP classes in high school, with pre-law and pre-med undergraduate tendencies in college.</p>
<p>I’d also say 35 or above on ACT and 4.5+ weighted GPA. It’s tough.</p>
<p>Well, you can decide best whether to rule it out, but it is extremely competitive. 1500+ SAT, 4.0+ core GPA, and lots of AP’s are the baseline. I think then you have to show the extra mile, like research in high school, leadership, etc. If you look over the profiles of current fellows on the website, you’ll get the idea. Remember, though, that everyone who is invited to the FF weekend for interviews is guaranteed at least a Ramsey scholarship, and there are about 200 Charter Scholarships of $1,000/yr also. If you are out of state, these may all come with an OOS waiver, which can save a lot. Apply for everything you can, but remember the realities. Good luck!</p>
<p>Don’t rule yourself out because you don’t have all the “numbers.” Some of the most successful fellows had “low” SAT scores in the 1400s. </p>
<p>Having a high GPA is important of course, but from the past few classes most fellows have 4.1+, not 4.5+. </p>
<p>And yeah, fellows tend to gravitate towards the pre-professional fields for some reason (perhaps it rhymes with “honey”?), but I have no doubt that’s not much of a factor when you’re applying. The key is being really good at what you do. Most fellows are extremely passionate about something, whether it’s community service, politics, art, music, sports, etc. Those kinds of passions can shine through on a good application. </p>
<p>No matter what the odds are though, it can’t hurt to apply and they’ve carefully revised the application over the past few years so that it’s actually a pretty interesting set of questions.</p>
<p>It’s not the stats I’m worried about, but the passion part of the application. I’ve got a perfect GPA for my classes (so far), and my SATs definitely fall above the requirement. I feel like I’m not doing anything special, though. I was invited to do some really extraordinary activities over the summer, but I’ve got to do GHP if i get selected.</p>
<p>The Honors program at UGA isn’t too shabby, so I’ve got something good to fall back on if I don’t get any offers from elsewhere!</p>
<p>Oh yes, sorry Jakeus I didn’t mean to sound as if you shouldn’t apply! I was only pointing out it’s highly competitive.</p>
<p>I applied for the Fellows this year; I am not expecting to receive it, but I figure may as well apply :)</p>
<p>Your numbers definitely sound as if you are fellows caliber. The essay questions were very different than other college essays I wrote this fall. I feel that if you have a passion in any area, even if it is not an area such as ecs, community service, etc., you really have the opportunity to highlight this on the essays.</p>
<p>Yeah don’t feel like you have to have already done a ton of things. GHP is a fine summer activity and plenty of fellows, ramseys, and honors program students have participated in it; don’t feel like you have to save the world over the summer to show a passion for something.</p>