The Nelson A. Rockefeller Center for Public Policy and the Social Sciences

First-Year Fellows

The First-Year Fellows program gives first-year students the opportunity to engage in public policy early in their Dartmouth careers. Each year, 20-25 students are selected for summer placement in a diverse range of policy internships in Washington, D.C. with Dartmouth alumni mentors. Students gain valuable professional experience, live with their peers, and develop leadership, writing, and critical thinking skills during the fellowships.

18X FYF Capitol Hill

The Class of 2021 First-Year Fellows on Capitol Hill during the Civic Skills Training week in Washington, D.C. prior to the start of their eight-week fellowships.

Students with U.S. Senator Rob Portman '78

Class of 2018 First-Year Fellows being briefed by U.S. Senator Rob Portman '78 at Capitol Hill during Civic Skills Training week in Washington, D.C.

18X Student and Alumni Reception

The annual Student and Alumni Reception during Civic Skills Training provides an opportunity for First-Year Fellows to meet alumni mentors, supervisors, and other friends of the Center.

18X FYF Civic Skills Training

First-Year Fellow Sarah Solomon '21 during Civic Skills Training prior to the start of her eight-week fellowship at the Congressional Research Service.

17X FYF

Class of 2020 First-Year Fellows volunteering at the N Street Village nonprofit while in Washignton, D.C. for their eight-week internships.

Fellowship Includes

  • Placement in an eight-week fellowship in Washington, D.C. at a public policy organization with a Dartmouth alumnus mentor
  • Housing in Washington, D.C. provided by the Rockefeller Center with a stipend of $1,500 for living expenses
  • Civic Skills Training which covers public speaking, networking, resource mobilization, media relations, goal setting, program management, workplace skills, professionalism, and much more
  • Attendance at the Dartmouth Alumni & Friends Reception in Washington, D.C.

Applications are accepted in the spring.

Prerequisites for Participation

  • Complete Public Policy 5: Introduction to Public Policy (PBPL 5) during the winter term
  • Complete a course conveying quantitative or qualitative social science statistical methods during the fall, winter or spring term of your first year. Options include: Public Policy 10, Economics 10, Government 10, Mathematics 10, Psychology 10, Sociology 10, Quantitative Social Science 15, Geography 11, Geography 50, Sociology 11, or Education 11
  • Participate in the Dartmouth Leadership Attitudes and Behaviors (D-LAB) program during the winter term.

Application Requirements

Your application must include:

  • Resume. Save as a PDF with your first and last name in the file name. Upload within the application.
  • Unofficial transcript. Ensure the transcript has your statistical methods course on it and your final winter term grades. Save as a PDF with your first and last name in the file name. Upload within the application.

Faculty/Administrator recommendation. Don't forget to give them the recommendation handout so they have a chance to draft responses in advance and have the URL directly.

Review the tip sheet!

For more information, contact Eric Janisch, program officer.

17X Civic Skills Training

Civic Skills Training

A component of the First Year Fellows Program, Civic Skills Training (CST) provides the skills necessary to excel in internships and beyond. 

 

Current First-Year Fellows

Meet this year’s Fellows and find out where they are interning.

Class of 2021 First-Year Fellows
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Program Alumni

Close to 200 students have participated in the First-Year Fellows program and nearly 50 Dartmouth alumni have served as mentors.

Last updated: October 30, 2018
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The Nelson A. Rockefeller Center for Public Policy and the Social Sciences