Fellowship and Scholarship Opportunities

The San Francisco Conservatory of Music encourages and supports students interested in seeking scholarship opportunities for career development and project pursuits. The following is a collection of information pertaining to some of the most well-known scholarships and fellowships; it includes links to application materials and a general application timeline. 

The Fulbright Program

The Fulbright Program is an international educational exchange program sponsored by the U.S. government and is designed to increase cross-cultural understanding. The Fulbright Program annually awards approximately 8,000 new grants to individuals who then travel to 155 countries worldwide to pursue their projects. Note especially the sections regarding your chances for success in a particular country (i.e. number of applications vs. the number of grants awarded) and information about the projects of previous grantees. For more information visit http://us.fulbrightonline.org/. 

The Application Process

The Fulbright application is a labor intensive one. All interested applicants are encouraged to contemplate their goals, future plans, and tentative projects very carefully before committing to the Fulbright application. Typically the components of the Fulbright application will include:
  1. A Description of the Proposed Study or Project. This is your chance to justify and explain the reasons for your project (Why are you doing this? How will this help your career?) as well as all of the logistics (Will I be accepted at this university? Has a teacher agreed to take me as a student? How will I pick up the language, if I don’t know it yet? etc.).  It is vital to be as specific as possible; the more thought and research you dedicate to your project, the more articulate you can be in this proposal.
  2. Personal Statement. You must submit a personal statement, or a narrative describing yourself. Please note that this should not reiterate your proposal and to avoid clichés. Take time to think of how you will write this.
  3. An audition recording (optional). If your project proposal incorporates music or performance, you should think about submitting an audition recording. Check the requirements early and arrange a session with Recording Services at http://recording.notes.sfcm.edu/
  4. Letters of recommendation. You will need three (3) letters of recommendation in addition to the language evaluation.
Fulbright applications typically open approximately 15 months before the anticipated start date and have a due date of 11 months before the start date. For example, applications will open in May and are due in October for a start date of the following summer or fall. Please consult the time guideline at the bottom of this webpage.

The Jack Kent Cooke Foundation

The Jack Kent Cooke Foundation is a private, independent foundation established by Jack Kent Cooke to help students in financial need reach their full potential through education. There are a number of financial assistance programs for both undergraduate and graduate level students including the Graduate Arts Award, Dissertation Fellowship Award, in addition to other opportunities. For more information visit http://www.jkcf.org/.

The Application Process

The online application will be posted on the Foundation’s website in the early Fall. Before beginning your application, please review the Applicant and Portfolio Guidelines to make sure you are eligible for certain scholarships. If you meet all of the requirements, you will then complete Phase I of the application:
  1. Fill out an application online, which will include academic information, demographic information, financial information, and an electronic submission of various portfolio materials. You may edit any of this information before the Phase I late Fall due date. 

    As you prepare Phase I of the application we suggest preparing the materials for Phase II as to avoid confusion and late submissions. If you are selected as a semi-finalist based on Phase I of your application, you will then complete Phase II before the early February due date. Phase II includes:
  2. A continuation and completion of online application
  3. Two letters of recommendation. Have an idea of who you will ask to write you a letter of recommendation before you apply.
  4. Nomination from your Faculty Representative
  5. Student Financial Form, including a copy of the most recent Federal Tax Return
  6. Parent Financial Form, including a copy of the most recent Federal Tax Return (required for applicants under 30 years of age)
  7. Student Aid Report from the most recent FAFSA

Interested in Applying?

In order to allow for adequate time to thoroughly and thoughtfully complete scholarship applications, we require all interested students to announce their interest in scholarships early in order to allow for application preparation and advisor correspondence over the summer.   The Dean’s Office may not be able to assist you if you do not meet the deadlines below.
 
We strongly suggest using the following time table as a rough guideline:
  • Spring Commencement: You must announce your interest applying for a fall scholarship to the Dean before the school breaks for summer.
  • Over Summer Break: Draft personal statement and proposal; obtain letter of affiliation from host country if appropriate.
  • Before the Beginning of the Academic Year: register online, order transcripts, secure necessary letters of invitation, fill out the informational forms, draft a proposal and narrative CV, meet with the Dean to review drafts, identify recommenders, arrange recording sessions if necessary.
  • Early Fall – Review application with selected Faculty and the Dean
  • Mid to Late Fall – Application completion and submission
Be sure to periodically check-in with the scholarship foundation you are applying with to make sure you know the correct deadline dates. Completed applications are typically due mid to late fall.

Additional Scholarship Opportunities

Rhodes Scholarship

The Rhodes scholarship awards students from around the world with the opportunity to complete post-graduate studies at the University of Oxford, in the United Kingdom. For more information visit www.rhodesscholar.org.

Marshall Scholarship

The Marshall Scholarship is awarded to American students to pursue post-graduate studies at any prestigious institution (Oxford, Cambridge, etc.) in the United Kingdom. For more information and eligibility rules, visit http://www.marshallscholarship.org