Watson Fellowship Internal Application Instructions
This fellowship requires applicants to be nominated by Reed College. Complete the internal application in order to compete for a nomination from the college. Nomination decisions will be made by members of the Reed faculty Fellowships & Awards Committee.
Make sure to read through the Watson website, including the FAQ, and watch the 2024 webinar recording. The "Our Fellows" page gives you short project descriptions from all fellows over the last few years, and there are some more in-depth project reports down at the bottom of the page.
Internal Application Deadline
September 18th, 2024 at 12:00 PM noon, Pacific Time
Application Steps
Your internal application consists of the online application, internal letters of recommendation, and a waiver form. See the sections below for important details.
Online Application
You will fill out the online Watson application as part of the internal application process. Request access to the application by emailing clbrfellowships@reed.edu. Read through the whole application before beginning. Read below for further guidance on some of the application sections. Email clbrfellowships@reed.edu any time if you have questions about the application.
Fill out all sections of the Watson application by the internal deadline, with these exceptions:
- Do not register your recommenders in the application system for the internal deadline.
- Please note that you need to limit your personal statement and project proposal to 750 words maximum each for the internal deadline.
- The headshot photo is not necessary for the internal application.
- You will not be able to "Submit" your application in the Watson online portal for the internal deadline. The "Submit" button will only become available if you are nominated by Reed for the national competition.
- You will need to stop work on all parts of your application once the internal application deadline has passed.
Project Contacts
Include up to ten project contacts using the form in the online application. Applicants should provide convincing effort taken to secure contacts “on the ground” in their proposed countries. A list of project-related names/institutions obtained from an internet search cannot substitute for real communication.
You should maintain a separate sheet or document where you are tracking all of the people whom you plan to reach out to, and if you are nominated for the fellowship, you'll be welcome to bring a printout of that larger list to your final interview as a reference for yourself.
Proposed Project Countries
Your country list is not fixed, and there is no minimum or maximum number. Your countries list may evolve between the time of the application, the Watson interview, and during the Watson Year. Keep in mind as you plan that the Watson foundation requires you to remain outside countries that are US State Department Level 3 or 4 (or areas within countries listed as "Do Not Travel" and "Reconsider Travel") on US Treasury Sanction, or designated CDC Level 3.
Supplemental Material
You may submit supplemental materials in the form of web links. Such materials typically expand on activities, skills, or other personal strengths directly related to the proposed project. Supplemental materials may also include, in the case of married or soon to be married applicants, a statement of intent for their spouse. All materials should be concise, clear, and directly relevant to the proposal. Materials may not be added to the application post-deadline, unless requested by the interviewer.
Transcripts
Upload an unofficial copy of your Reed transcript in the application. You can obtain your unofficial transcript for free in IRIS "Student Information" via the instructions on the Registrar's website.
This application requires transcripts for all degree-related work from all higher education institutions attended by the applicant. Transcripts must include the institution’s name, applicant’s name, courses and grades. If you have transfer credits from another institution on your Reed transcript that don't include all of this information, then it is best to obtain a (official or unofficial) transcript from that institution.
Budget (optional)
The cost of a Watson Year varies widely based on regional cost of living, duration of stay, project design, and other variables. If your project year appears expensive, you should upload a budget supplement to verify that the stipend will provide for the year. For instance, if your year includes spending significant time in expensive countries with a high cost of living, then you should include a budget to show how your year is feasible within the limits of the stipend. The stipend is taxable and taxes should be accounted for in the budget. The stipend may be used to pay taxes.
Internal Letters of Recommendation
Find two recommenders, at least one of whom is from Reed (typically a faculty member), and have them send internal letters of support/recommendation to clbrfellowships@reed.edu by the internal application deadline. Review our guidance for students on requesting letters of recommendation and give your recommenders at least three weeks notice.
The Watson program looks for responses to specific questions in their recommendation process. Please refer your recommenders to Watson specific recommendation guidance after they have agreed to write in support of your application. Do not register your recommenders in the application for the internal deadline.
Waiver
You will need to complete this online waiver form as the final step in submitting your internal application.
Next Steps
Your application materials will be downloaded from the Watson application portal immediately after the internal deadline for review by the Reed faculty fellowship and awards committee. The committee will make an initial selection of applicants who will be invited for in-person interviews on-campus. Five to ten applicants will be selected for interviews and those not selected will be notified within two weeks of submitting their application. The interviews are 20-30 minutes long, and the panel will consist of faculty members of the committee, and one or two staff members from CLBR who assist the committee. The committee will then nominate up to four applicants to continue to the national competition. These interviews will take place sometime between September 30th and October 4th. Please watch your email closely during the preceding week for more details.
If nominated, you'll need to register your recommenders in the Watson application and continue to work on your application for submission by the national deadline in November. We strongly encourage that nominees work together on your applications; it is possible that all nominees could be awarded. All nominated candidates will receive an interview with a representative from the Watson Foundation. These typically occur in-person at Reed between November and February. Final announcements are typically made in March.