MA Fellowships FAQ

When is the deadline to apply for a Mercatus Center MA Fellowship?

The deadline for applications for the Fall 2010 semester is March 14, 2010.

Can I apply for a Mercatus Center MA Fellowship before my application to GMU is complete?

Yes. Mercatus accepts and reviews all applications received before our deadlines. However you must ensure that all of your GMU paperwork has been correctly submitted and received by GMU before their deadlines in order to be accepted into the Mercatus Center Fellowship Program.

I have written a paper on X. Is this a good choice for the required writing sample?

We utilize the writing sample to examine each applicant’s writing style and ability, grasp of language, and clarity of thought. We are not particularly concerned with the specific content of the sample. Therefore you should choose whichever work you feel will give us the best impression of your skills as a writer.

I have applied for a Mercatus Center MA Fellowship. When will I receive my response?

We endeavor to give all students a written response to their applications within 6 weeks of our application deadlines. We occasionally are able to respond more quickly.

Mercatus was unable to accept me as a MA Fellow this year. Can I apply again?

Yes. We encourage all interested applicants to apply again for the program the next year.

I have been accepted as a Mercatus Graduate Fellow. Where should I live?

In general, Mercatus MA Fellows work and attend classes at GMU’s Arlington campus.

What is the typical week like for a Mercatus MA Fellow? What can I expect in terms of class load and workload?

Most MA fellows take three classes a semester, which meet one day a week per class. Typically, MA fellows are expected to work at the Mercatus Center for around 20 hours a week for a Mercatus scholar or department doing a variety of research-related tasks.

I still have questions about the Mercatus Fellowship Program.

General questions about the Fellowship – contact Dr. Virgil Storr, Director of Graduate Student Programs, vstorr@gmu.edu

Questions about your application status or application materials – contact Lane Conaway, Program Associate for Graduate Student Programs, lconaway@gmu.edu

Questions about the Mercatus Center in general or directions – contact Mercatus at (800) 815-5711

Questions about your application to GMU – Contact the Economics Department at (703) 993-1135