AAUW Selected Professions Fellowship 2025: Secure a $20,000 Stipend

Navigating the world of graduate school funding can feel like a labyrinth, but the AAUW Selected Professions Fellowship 2025 offers a clear and powerful path forward for women dedicated to breaking barriers. If you are a woman entering a master’s or professional degree program where women have historically been underrepresented, this $20,000 award is more than just financial support—it’s an investment in your potential and a welcome into a legacy of female leadership. This guide is designed to be your trusted partner, transforming a complex application process into a series of clear, manageable steps toward achieving your academic and professional dreams.

AAUW Selected Professions Fellowship 2025

he AAUW Selected Professions Fellowship is a transformative opportunity to fund your education and launch a career with impact. By carefully aligning your application with the fellowship’s mission and clearly articulating your vision, you can present a powerful case for yourself. Remember, the goal is not just to show that you are an excellent student, but that you are a future leader who will pay it forward.

Take a deep breath, get organized, and start telling your story. Your dedication has brought you this far, and this fellowship could be the key to unlocking the next chapter of your professional journey.

Are You the Ideal Candidate for This $20,000 Fellowship?

Before you begin the application, it’s crucial to ensure you align with the fellowship’s specific goals. AAUW is looking for future leaders who will not only excel in their fields but also carry the torch of equity and opportunity for other women.

Core Eligibility: The Non-Negotiables

First, let’s cover the foundational requirements. To be eligible for the Selected Professions Fellowship, you must:

• Identify as a woman.
• Be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident.
• Be applying for your first full-time master’s or professional degree. You cannot already hold a master’s, professional, or doctoral degree.
• Plan to enroll in a U.S.-accredited institution for the 2026-2027 academic year.

Designated Fields of Study: Where Passion Meets Opportunity

This fellowship specifically targets disciplines where women’s voices are most needed. You must be pursuing a degree in one of the following areas:

• Architecture (M.Arch, M.S. in Architecture)
• Computer/Information Sciences (M.S.)
• Engineering (M.E., M.S.)
• Mathematics/Statistics (M.S.)

Recognizing that additional barriers exist for women of color in specific professions, AAUW also offers the fellowship to women from ethnic minority groups pursuing degrees in:

• Business Administration (MBA)
• Law (J.D.)
• Medicine (M.D., D.O.)

Crafting Your Winning Application for the AAUW Selected Professions Fellowship 2025

A successful application is a story well told—one that weaves together your academic achievements, personal experiences, and future aspirations. In my experience advising students, the most compelling narratives are those that authentically connect a candidate’s personal history to their potential for future impact.

Step 1: Mark Your Calendar – Key Dates & Deadlines

Timing is everything. Missing a deadline is the quickest way to be disqualified, so get these dates into your calendar now.

• August 1, 2025: The application portal opens.
• September 30, 2025: The application portal closes. No exceptions are made.
• April 15, 2026: Applicants are notified of their status.
• July 1, 2026 – June 30, 2027: The fellowship year begins and ends.

Step 2: Assemble Your Narrative – The Personal Essays

This is your chance to speak directly to the selection committee. Your essays should be clear, concise, and compelling. According to AAUW’s own guidance, you need to articulate:

• Your well-defined career goals. What impact do you want to make in your chosen field?
• Your passion and commitment to your profession. How have your past actions—academically or through extracurriculars—demonstrated this commitment?
• Your dedication to supporting women and girls. Provide specific examples of how you have contributed to your community or how you intend to use your career to advance equity.

Step 3: Secure Powerful Letters of Recommendation

Choose recommenders who know you well, both academically and professionally. A letter from a famous professor who barely knows you is far less effective than a heartfelt, detailed letter from a mentor who can speak to your specific strengths and potential.

Provide your recommenders with:

• A copy of your resume or CV.
• Your personal statement or essays.
• A clear summary of the fellowship and why you are applying.
• The submission deadline and instructions, well in advance.

Step 4: Prepare Your Supporting Documents

Ensure you have all necessary documentation ready to go. This typically includes:

• Official transcripts from all undergraduate institutions.
• Proof of your bachelor’s degree.
• For Architecture Students: 4-6 reproductions of your design projects that showcase your range and skill.

AAUW has announced the opening of the application cycle on their official channels.

Beyond the Paper: What the Selection Committee Is Really Looking For

Meeting the eligibility criteria is just the first step. To stand out, your application must shine. The selection committee evaluates candidates based on several key principles:

1. Academic Excellence: Your grades and academic achievements matter. They demonstrate your capability and preparedness for graduate-level work.
2. Potential to Make a Contribution: The committee looks for applicants who show promise of becoming leaders and role models in their fields.
3. Commitment to Women and Girls: This is core to AAUW’s mission. Your application must show a clear, demonstrated commitment to community service or other activities that support female empowerment.
4. Financial Need: The fellowship aims to alleviate the financial burden of graduate education, so be transparent about your financial situation.
5. Special Consideration: AAUW gives special consideration to applicants who have overcome significant challenges, are first-generation college graduates, or plan to serve under-resourced communities.

Hear directly from those involved to better understand the organization’s mission.

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FAQs

Q1:Can I apply if I am in a joint-degree program?

Yes, you can apply, but only if you plan to pursue full-time coursework in one of the approved degree programs for the entire fellowship year. The funds cannot be used for coursework in other fields.

Q2:I already have a master’s degree in a different field. Am I eligible?

Unfortunately, no. This fellowship is strictly for women pursuing their first master’s or professional degree.

Q3:Is this fellowship available to non-U.S. citizens?

The Selected Professions Fellowship is only for U.S. citizens and permanent residents. However, AAUW offers a separate International Fellowship for non-U.S. citizens.

Q4:How is the $20,000 stipend disbursed?

The stipend is paid directly to the fellow in two equal installments, one at the beginning of the fellowship term and one at the midpoint.