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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.

Applications for 2026 will be due in March.

  • The First-Year Fellows stand on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial with the Washington Memorial in the background.

  • 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.

  • 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.

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

  • 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 the Washington, D.C. area at a public policy organization with a Dartmouth alumnus mentor.
  • Housing in Washington, D.C. area provided by the Rockefeller Center with a stipend for living expenses.
  • Stipend of $2000 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.

Application deadline for 2025 is Wednesday, March 19th, 2025.

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 research methods during the fall, winter or spring term of a Dartmouth student's first year, or have tested out of this Dartmouth requirement through an AP test or similar testing out mechanism. 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 and complete all requirements. Completion of D-LAB means completing all 7 sessions. You are considered to have attended a session if you participated either in-person or virtually or completed catch-up work.

Application

Interested applicants must submit:

  • A filled out application.
  • Resume. Save as a PDF with first and last name in the file name. Upload within the application.
  • Unofficial transcript. Ensure the transcript has the required research methods course and final winter term grades. Save as a PDF with first and last name in the file name. Applicants selected for interview will submit their unofficial transcript at the time of their interview.
  • Faculty/Administrator reference. 

Review the  FYF Application Tipsheet 2025 for relevant deadlines and more details.

Applications are due Wednesday, March 19th, 2025 at 11:59pm EST.

For more information, contact the Rockefeller Center.

Civic Skills Training

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