Introduction
Public Service Fellowships program provides MIT students with the opportunity to use their education, skills, and talents to address the needs of underserved communities around the world. Past Fellows have worked to build capacity for communities and organizations in 22 countries on four continents.
MIT students can develop fellowship projects in a variety of ways. You can work on a project by yourself, with friends, or apply to join a team selected by the Public Service Fellowships staff. You can create your own project or select an advertised project to work on from this website.
Most Fellows work over the summer break or IAP, but we also have opportunities for semester-time fellowships.
All projects must build capacity for an underserved community or organization.
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Selection Criteria
Main Criteria
Potential for sustainable benefit to an underserved community (direct benefit or through a community organization or non-profit organization)
Potential for the Fellow's growth/educational value convincingly explained
Evidence of strong motivation to carry out the project
Potential for effective supervisor-student relationship
Application materials explain how the project matches the community's needs
Project seems realistic and feasible: scope matches student qualifications, time frame, supervisor expertise and input, etc.
Other Assets
Evidence that community service is a central value for the student (or is likely to become a stronger value through the project)
Potential future partnership with the chosen community (for the student or for MIT)
Application contains sufficient information and makes a good case: complete packet, good proposal, strong recommendation, qualifications apparent from resume, etc.
Possible discounts
Evidence of issues or problems: e.g. recommendations are neutral or negative; application materials are poorly written or say questionable things; we know of past problems or issues with the project, applicant, or community partner
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