Undergraduate Writing Fellows

The Undergraduate Writing Fellows Program, sponsored by The English Department, the Writing Across the Curriculum Program, and the College of Letters and Science, brings committed undergraduates and engaged faculty together in a cooperative effort to improve student writing. The program prepares selected students from a wide range of majors and backgrounds to serve as peer writing tutors, called Writing Fellows. Fellows work closely with professors and students on writing in specific courses across the College of Letters and Science. The program allows passionate, dedicated student writers to share their skills and intellectual curiosity with other undergraduates. Students apply in March to begin as Fellows the following September. Enrollment in the 3-credit Writing Fellows tutor education seminar, English 403, is required for all new Writing Fellows.


Eligibility Criteria
To be considered for the program, applicants must be in good academic standing at UW-Madison (or MATC) and have at least two semesters remaining at the University (including fall following the semester of application). Students selected to be Fellows must enroll in a three-credit, writing-intensive honors seminar on tutoring writing across the curriculum.


How to Apply
Applications will be due in March of each year and selected Fellows will begin their work the following Fall semester.

Prospective Fellows will submit a personal statement, short answers to several application questions, two academic writing samples (written for two different courses at UW-Madison), one letter of recommendation from a professor or teaching assistant at UW-Madison, and undergraduate transcript(s).

Selected applicants will be invited to a thirty-minute interview. If you have been selected for an interview you will hear from us by late March/early April. Decisions will be finalized by the end of April.


Selection Criteria
We are looking for highly motivated, independent, personable, and diplomatic students. We are most interested in students who are successful and enthusiastic writers and who also are dynamic and intellectually engaged in class discussions, who enjoy working with others, and who will be able to hold their own in conferences with faculty and with student peers.


Award Information
Accepted students will be invited to join the Writing Fellows Program, and will receive a scholarship of $1,100 for each semester of participation.


Conditions of Award
All accepted Writing Fellows must complete English 403, a three-credit, writing-intensive honors seminar on tutoring writing across the curriculum. They must be currently-enrolled undergraduates and must remain in good standing with the Writing Fellows Program.


Visit program site

Award
$1,100
Organizations
The Writing Fellows Program
Deadline
03/14/2025
Supplemental Questions
  1. Before you begin the application process, there are a few things we want you to know about our expectations and about the role you would play as a Writing Fellow.

    The Writing Fellows program welcomes undergraduate applicants from diverse majors, backgrounds, and experiences, and is committed to supporting their work with various writers across campus. Successful candidates will be those who demonstrate strong communication skills, have a range of writing experiences, and have a genuine interest in collaborating with a diverse student body.

    Becoming a Fellow is both an honor and a serious commitment. As you decide whether to apply, keep in mind that students selected to be Fellows must enroll in a three-credit, writing-intensive honors seminar on tutoring writing across the curriculum during their first semester as a Fellow. At the same time, Writing Fellows are assigned to work with a faculty member who is teaching a writing-intensive, Communications B, or FIG course. The Fellows work with 10-15 students in the class, reading drafts, giving thoughtful written feedback, and holding conferences with students to offer suggestions for revision. Fellows work in two-week blocks twice during the semester, offering feedback in the first week and meeting with students in the second. Because Fellows work within the established deadlines of specific courses, they must possess excellent time management skills.

    Once Writing Fellows are accepted into the program, it is our hope and expectation that they will be able to continue in the program throughout their time at the university.

    Please answer the questions listed below. Be sure to note the required questions (indicated by asterisks) and the maximum word count. Responses may be revised until the time you submit your application. (You may wish to compose your responses in a separate document and paste them into the boxes provided.) Please be sure to save your work at regular intervals.

    Applications are due Friday, March 14, 2025 at 5:00 p.m. If you are selected for an interview, you will hear from the committee via your campus email by early to mid-April.

    I have read and understand the statements above.
  2. If you would you like to share your pronouns, you may do so here:
  3. Will you be enrolled as an undergraduate at UW-Madison in Fall 2025 and have room for the three-credit Writing Fellows seminar in your schedule?
  4. How did you hear about the Writing Fellows Program?
  5. Have you previously applied to the Writing Fellows program? If so, when?
  6. Have you taken a course where you worked with a Writing Fellow? If so, which course and when?
  7. What is/are your major(s) (current or expected)?
  8. What is your expected date of graduation (month and year)?
  9. Letters of recommendation help us determine what academic and writing skills you would bring to the Writing Fellows Program. Please list the name of a professor or teaching assistant who has taught you in a course at UW-Madison and who can speak to your written work and your role in the classroom, and they will be contacted directly through the Scholarship Hub. Be sure to click the button so that your recommender gets the request. Also, contact your recommender before you list them on this application. We recommend asking them at least two to three weeks in advance. (MATC applicants may request a letter from a MATC instructor.) If your instructor does not receive the form after several attempts, you should ask them to: access the recommendation request by logging in with their NetID/Password at https://wisc.academicworks.com/reference/requests.
  10. List any major extra-curricular activities in which you have been a participant or served in a leadership role. (Restrict yourself to activities since high school unless you have an especially noteworthy or relevant high school experience to include.)
  11. List any honors or awards you have received since high school.
  12. Do you have any teaching, tutoring, or mentoring experience? If so, what kind of experience? Where did you teach/tutor/mentor? How long? Whom did you teach/tutor/mentor?
  13. Personal Statement: Write a 1–2 page (600 words max.) letter discussing why you want to be a Writing Fellow and what you would like us to know about you. Describe any relevant skills or special perspectives you would bring to the program as well as any specific experiences that illustrate your ability to do Writing Fellows work. (In addition to related work experience, you might include experience writing in a variety of disciplines or fields, participating in peer review, or reflecting on your own writing process.)
  14. Two Samples of Your Writing: Include clean copies (free of professor’s or TA’s comments) of two course papers written for courses at UW-Madison (excluding papers written during high school) that represent your best work. Choose papers from courses in different areas of study and be sure to include at least one, preferably two, pieces of analytical or argumentative writing (feel free to include a lab report as long as it illustrates your analytical writing – e.g. the Introduction and/or Discussion sections). We look for papers that can show your critical thinking skills, clear expression of ideas, and ability to adapt writing to two different disciplines or writing scenarios. Number all pages and try to keep the total number of pages (including both papers) under 15. Sections of longer papers are acceptable, but please provide context.

    For each selected paper, you will need to write a description of the assignment and a brief explanation of why you have selected it for us to review. Please also indicate the name and course number of the class for which each paper was written. If you have only written papers at another college or university, please note that in your description. Papers must be written in English.
    • Course Paper #1
    • Course Paper #2
    • For Course Paper #1 (submitted above), please write a brief description of the assignment and a brief explanation of why you have selected it for us to review. Please include no more than 200 words explaining the submitted paper.
    • For Course Paper #2 (submitted above), please write a brief description of the assignment and a brief explanation of why you have selected it for us to review. Please include no more than 200 words explaining the submitted paper.
  15. Use student center to retrieve and upload your unofficial transcript. To do so, click "View Unofficial Transcripts" on the Academic Records tile. If you need an additional assistance on how to download your unofficial transcript, please refer to these instructions.
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