Ford Fellowship - Qualifications

[mosquito0016]

I would really, really appreciate some sort of answer to this. : )

It's a question that has been asked before but never actually responded to, as far as I can tell.

If you are a white male, what are the chances of winning a Ford? If there is any chance, must your white maleness be overcome by proven diversity work, to the tune of 5+ years commitment to one or more causes, plus academic interests in the subject? Or (and I believe the answer to this is no, but would love to be wrong) is it enough to have only a small background in diversity causes/work, as long as the policy you lay out for bringing diversity into your future classroom is novel and passionate?

In the latter scenario, how imperative is a history of peer-reviewed published articles?

Essentially, can you win this thing with only three real demonstrable achievements: extremely well written, persuasive essays, outstanding recommendations, and perfect grades (summa cum laude in undergrad, equivalent level so far in grad, etc...)?

[koolherc]

A different question, but I figured I'd post it in here:

How strict are the two-page limits on the short essays? If I'm over by a line or two, are they gonna burn my app and throw the ashes into the sea?

Thanks!

[eco_env]

As a white person, I wouldn't bother applying to a fellowship that has "diversity" in the title or the first sentence of its description (in the context of human race/ethnicity).

[Anthro14]

on the ford website, there is a listing for 'eligible' categories of race/ethnicity. "Membership in one or more of the following groups whose underrepresentation in the American professoriate has been severe and longstanding:"

Alaska Natives (Aleut, Eskimo or other Indigenous People of Alaska)

Black/African-Americans

Mexican Americans/Chicanas/Chicanos

Native American Indians

Native Pacific Islanders (Hawaiian/Polynesian/Micronesian)

Puerto Ricans

check out this website http://sites.nationalacademies.org/PGA/FordFellowships/PGA_047958 for eligibility criteria

[Martin Chamorro]

on the ford website, there is a listing for 'eligible' categories of race/ethnicity. "Membership in one or more of the following groups whose underrepresentation in the American professoriate has been severe and longstanding:"

Alaska Natives (Aleut, Eskimo or other Indigenous People of Alaska)

Black/African-Americans

Mexican Americans/Chicanas/Chicanos

Native American Indians

Native Pacific Islanders (Hawaiian/Polynesian/Micronesian)

Puerto Ricans

check out this website http://sites.nationa...hips/PGA_047958 for eligibility criteria

That's not for eligibility. It clearly says the application is open to ALL US Citizens but that people who fall into one of the categories you listed will get special consideration.

[Anthro14]

oooo OK. good catch! sorry for misleading. regardless though, i feel like with such few fellowships to be given out, most tend to get filtered to people falling under those categories (as you say, special consideration). who knows!? guess we'll all have to wait and wait and wait.... and then find out