2024-25 THEME: Responsibilities and Rights
Applications for the 2024-25 cohort are now closed
Eligibility: Students must be rising juniors and we welcome students from any major in the School of Arts and Sciences. "Rising junior" status is based on a 4-year class graduation year and not academic credits accumulated. Candidates must therefore apply in the second year of a four-year degree program and participate in the Gardner Program their third year at RU. It is expected they will continue at Rutgers for a full senior year, engage in advanced work, and be part of a mentoring commitment.
Applications Require:
- A letter of application - please tell us about your interest in the Gardner Fellowship Program. What motivates you to apply and what do you hope to contribute? (One or two pages)
- Two letters of recommendation
- Unofficial transcripts
- Résumé
- A short essay (maximum of two pages) in response to a prompt. 2024-25 Application Essay Prompt: Events of the last years, including a global pandemic, political and media polarization, concerns about sustaining democracy, economic instability, protests for racial and social justice, debates about the priorities of education, new technologies and misinformation, extreme weather and disaster events, major warfare, conflicts, and upheavals have shaped a generation—your generation. Considerable pressures on political, economic, social, and cultural systems have framed an uncertain future. What do you think are the most challenging issues of responsibilities and rights in our current moment?
If you have any questions about the Fellowship or the application process, please email us at
