innovation, self-discovery...
your ideas & research.

Student Checklist

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Before submitting your final proposal, please make sure you follow all submission requirements and guidelines listed below. Submissions that fail to meet the criteria will not be considered for the Fellowship.

• Project must be dynamic, feasible, and your own; Student-originated and/or student–directed.
  
  
• Proposals must be clear, organized, and well written (no typos!). You’re strongly encouraged to make use of Institute writing resources such as the Writing & Communication Center (x3-3090; writing-center@mit.edu; web.mit.edu/writing).
  
  
• Proposals need to be formatted properly and include:
  • Cover page w/name, MIT address, class year, major, & project title
  • Brief abstract (limit of 150 words) that presents a clear, concisce, and intriguing project overview and goals
  • Proposal of no more than 2000 words
  • Numbered pages
  • Budget, which outlines a realistic estimate of expenses
    
    
• You must have at least one letter of recommendation from an MIT faculty member who has reviewed your proposal, discussed it with you, and is familiar enough with your project to comment on its merit and feasibility. Additional recommendations (from MIT faculty or anyone else) are welcome. Recommendations are due by the proposal deadline. You should provide anyone writing you a recommendation a copy of the recommendation checklist.
  
  
• Supporting evidence such as letters of permission, qualifications, recommendations, budgets, timeline, and other materials that help explain/support your proposal (letters from sponsors/hosts, photographs, drawings, diagrams, etc.) if placed in appendices, will not apply to the word limit.

Recommendation Writer's Checklist

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The Eloranta Fellowship Committee asks those providing recommendations for Fellowship applicants to keep the following in mind when writing recommendations. A thoughtful letter of recommendation that speaks knowledgeably about the proposal and student can be a determining factor in whether or not a proposal is funded.

• Is the student’s proposal clear and well constructed, free of typographical, spelling, and grammatical errors? (if not, then the proposal will not be considered)

• Is the proposed project/research original, student-directed/-initiated, feasible, and something s/he can successfully accomplish over the summer? If other work has been done in the proposed area, has the student carefully examined the intersection between her/his work and previous work?

• Have you read and reviewed the student’s proposal? What are your thoughts and/or concerns about the project? Is the project/research valid and original? Is the proposed research in your field?

• What do you deem to be the outcomes of this endeavor?

• How long and in what capacity have you known the student?

• Why do you think the proposed project is worthy of an Eloranta Fellowship?
  
  
• Do you believe the student has the means and motivation to see this project through to completion?