Matthew Isakowitz Fellowship Alumni
With just one month left to apply for the Matthew Isakowitz Fellowship Program—an incredible summer experience for students passionate about commercial spaceflight—we wanted to share some advice from previous Fellows on the application process!
When asked about the essays, Fellows advised…
“Start early! Brainstorm topics for your essays over time, so that you can create new ideas.”
“Be yourself! The MIFP Team wants to learn more about who you are and why you're excited about commercial space, so make sure that comes across. Think about the main points you want to convey, and take a step back to reflect on all your application materials to ensure those points come across in some way or another. Make sure your essays clearly answer the prompts in a thoughtful, effective, and concise manner.”
“For Essay #2, pick the prompt that most resonates with you and will allow you to provide the information that you most want the MIFP Team to know.”
“Ask others to proofread and provide feedback! Fresh eyes can be helpful to make sure your essays are clear and have the key takeaways that you want them to.”
When asking for recommendation letters, the Fellows recommend that you:
“Ask for rec letters from people who know you well and can give specific examples or stories that demonstrate some of your key characteristics. The relationship you have with a rec letter writer is more important than their perceived status.”
“Think about how the rec letters will complement both each other and the information being provided in the rest of your application materials.”
“Ask for rec letters as early as possible, and make sure you follow up frequently and respectfully. Lots of people care about your success and want to help, but they might have a lot going on. “
On the interview process:
“Remember to relax! You want to show your personality and passion, not appear stiff and anxious.”
“Be yourself! The MIFP Team wants to learn more about who you are and why you're excited about commercial space. Be prepared. Do some research on the aspects of the program and/or the commercial space industry that are most interesting/exciting to you. Have questions for your interviewer, either about MIFP or in general. Think of it as an opportunity to geek out about space and have a conversation with a really awesome person. Most importantly, have fun! It can be intimidating to talk to a prominent leader in the industry, but everyone on the MIFP Team is extremely kind and enjoyable to talk to. Impostor syndrome is common, but you've earned the interview! You belong in this industry, and whether you're chosen or not, you're going to do awesome things :).”
“Include fun anecdotes to show why are excited about space. We all have a unique reason for pursuing this industry, so make yours stand out with something unique.”
And in general, Fellows advised:
“Dream big! If you could make anything happen in the future, what would it be?”
“It's important to honestly represent yourself in the application process. Remember to let your values lead the way as you write your essays. Both personality and technical skill play a role in selection.”
“Don't be afraid to let your personality and outside interests shine! What sets you apart from other engineers, scientists, businesspeople, artists, and visionaries? Don't be afraid to think big and consider specifically what role you'd like to have in realizing your vision of the future. How might the host companies and mentor list play a role in aiding you on your journey toward such a future?”
Have more questions about the process? Reach out to apply@mattfellowship.org or send us questions over at our Instagram (@mattfellowship). The Summer 2021 application is due Friday, November 13, 2020. Visit www.matthewisakowitzfellowship.org to apply!
