• Research
• BRANDEIS HOME

Sorensen Fellowship 2013 Application

Info session for Sorensen 2014: Thursday, May 2, 2013, 2:30 pm, Abraham Shapiro Academic Complex (ASAC) Atrium, across from Heller

The 2013 application deadline has passed. Check out the information below to see what the process might look like in 2014. (The 2014 application will be available in summer 2013.)

2013 Application Deadlines:

First, a note from the Ethics Center: Completing a Sorensen Fellowship application is hard work. You will be required to look closely at who you are and what you want to do to make the world a better place. You will make contact with organizations as you research internship leads. You will approach professors for recommendations and write at length about yourself, your past, present and future. And this is just the application process! The Sorensen Fellowship is a year-long commitment to bridging your academic learning with experiences in the field, and to sharing your experiences with your peers and the Brandeis community.

No matter how far you get, we commend you for taking these first steps. We have heard from students that the application was tough, but an invaluable tool in guiding them toward achieving their goals, whether or not they received a Fellowship. Start early, ask questions, and dig deep.

GETTING STARTED:

1. Read a quick summary of the program.
2. Download the information packet to learn about the Fellowship and how to apply.
3. View due dates and Ethics Center contact info.
4. Read "Brandeis and the World" to figure out how to be a Sorensen Fellow AND study abroad if you want to do both.
5. Get ideas from former Fellows from last year and from all years by viewing "Student Fellow Profiles" at right. Download the 2011 Fellows' final papers, compiled in a publication entitled Voices in Solidarity: Six Friends Reaching for Healing Across the World.
6. View the PAX 89 course syllabus for fall 2012. (Note: the syllabus may change.)

1. Review safety and security considerations as you choose a location.
2. Think about how religion, sexual preference, dietary needs, or ethnicity concerns might influence your selection of location. You'll want to strike a balance between your professional goals and your personal needs. View some excellent resources for helping you think through which region might be the best match for your needs, and how you might manage various factors as you make your choice.

1. See internship ideas and leads.
2. Get tips on contacting a potential internship site.
3. Send the Internship Site Description to potential internship sites as you request your letter or email of interest.

1. Give the Recommender's Instructions to your recommenders -- far in advance. We suggest giving your recommenders a deadline of at least one week before application materials are due. Recommendations received after the Oct. 29 deadline will not be opened. YOU must submit your recommendations in signed, sealed envelopes. Recommendations will not be accepted by email unless you are studying abroad.
   
2. Read the Ethics Center mission statement and principles.
3. Read the award-winning application essays of 2012 Fellows (flaws and all!) to see how former Fellows presented themselves in their applications.

• Essay 1
• Essay 2
• Essay 3
• Essay 4
• Essay 5

1. Click here to submit a Preliminary Application by Wednesday, October 3, 2012
   at 5 pm.  
   

   Although not required, submitting a Preliminary Application for review is strongly recommended so you can get useful feedback on your ideas. Preliminary materials will not become part of your final application, so it is fine if the proposal is incomplete or in rough draft form.
   
   In addition to the online Preliminary Application, we appreciate a double-spaced, hard copy of your essay, delivered to the Ethics Center office, Abraham Shapiro Academic Complex (ASAC) Room 309, by Wednesday, October 3, 2012 at 5 pm. However, hard copies of application materials are optional for the Preliminary Application. 
   
   NOTE: Do NOT use the Preliminary Application link above to submit your final application. To submit a final application, see the "Final Application" instructions below.

2. Attend the Proposal Writing Workshop on Wednesday, October 10, 2012, 5:15-6:15 pm  in the Abraham Shapiro Academic Complex (ASAC) Atrium, across the loop road from the Heller School. This workshop will offer specific suggestions about how best to present your ideas and how to write a compelling proposal. It’s particularly aimed at those who have submitted a Preliminary Application, but all are welcome.