How do I apply to a Capital Fellows Program?
The Capital Fellows Programs applications are submitted entirely online. Please click here to apply.
When you first create your application account, you will be asked to register and list academic information, work experience, volunteer activities, and achievements.  This is considered a part of your application so make sure it is complete.  If you decide to save your application and finish later, you must click on the “My Profile” tab when you log in again, and finish filling it out.

Once your profile is complete, you can pick a program under the “search programs” tab and apply.  List 3 recommenders, complete the required essays, and submit transcripts for each application you submit.  All parts of your application, include the recommendation, are due at the same time.

I want to apply to more than one program.  Is this allowed?
Yes, you may apply to more than one Capital Fellows Program. Please note you must submit recommendation information, essay(s) and transcript(s) for each program to which you apply.

Is an attached resume acceptable?
No. Academic information, work experience, volunteer activities and achievement must all be filled out in the “My Profile” section of the website.

Where do I put my academic information, work experience, volunteer activities, awards and achievements?
This is located in the “My Profile” section of the online application.  You must fill out this section in its entirety before your application is considered complete.

My transcript is not available online.  Can I send you a hard copy instead?
The entire application must be submitted online.  If you only have a hardcopy of your transcript, please scan it as a PDF document and submit it with your online application.

Can I submit my application if the recommendation letters have not been submitted yet?
Yes.  Although recommendation letters are due on the same day as the applications, you may still submit your application when you have finished your portion.  Recommenders will be able to submit their recommendation letters separately.

I have more than one application started for a program.  How do I delete duplicate applications?
To delete duplicate applications, please go to the “Application Status” tab and click “Withdraw Application”.

I have submitted my application.  How do I know the status of my application?
The status is listed on the application website, under the “Application Status” tab. You will receive an email from the Center for California Studies once your application has been reviewed and marked as complete.

How are recommendations submitted?
When you apply to a Capital Fellows Program, you will be asked to provide your recommender’s contact information.  Once you have saved that part of the application, your recommender will receive an email from calstudies@csus.edu.  Recommenders will submit their recommendation letters online.  They are due on the same date as the application.  For more information regarding each program’s recommendation requirements, click here.

Can I use the same recommender for more than one application?
Yes.  You will need to list the recommender’s contact information in each application that you submit. Your recommender will receive a separate email each time they are added.  For more information about each program’s recommendation requirements, click here.

What should be included in the recommendation letter?
Each program has unique requirements for recommendation letters.  For more information regarding each program’s recommendation requirements, click here.

How do I know which recommenders have submitted letters?
You will receive an email from calstudies@csus.edu when your recommender has submitted their letter.  In each application, in the recommendation section, you will be able to see whether the recommendation is pending, completed or declined.

To whom should letters of recommendation be addressed?
The letters of recommendation should be addressed to program’s selection committee specifically or to the “Capital Fellows Selection Committee”.

How do I submit a recommendation?
If an applicant listed you as a recommender, you should have received one or more emails from calstudies@csus.edu.  Follow the directions in the email to login into the application website. Click on the “My Recommendations” tab and then click the icon under “Actions”.  All Recommendation requests can be found in the same location.

I don’t have a password to login into the system.  What should I do?
Please click the “forgot password” link on the login homepage and a password will be emailed to you.  Use this password, and your email to login into the recommendation system.

Why did I receive more than one email requesting a recommendation letter?
The Capital Fellows Programs consist of four individual fellowships: California Senate Fellows, Executive Fellowship, Jesse M. Unruh Assembly Fellowship and Judicial Administration Fellowship.  Applicants may apply to more than one of the programs, and may have requested more than one recommendation from you. A separate recommendation letter must be uploaded for each program. When you log into the recommendation system, you will see all your recommendation requests under the “My Recommendations” tab.

What should be included in the recommendation letter?
Each program has unique requirements for recommendation letters.  For more information regarding each program’s recommendation requirements, click here.

May I use the same recommendation letter for each program?
Each of the Capital Fellows Programs is very competitive, and each has its own selection criteria.  While you may use the same letter for each program, we strongly suggest that you address any unique program guidelines in each letter you craft.  For more information regarding each program’s recommendation requirements, click here.

How can I tell if I have successfully submitted my recommendation?
Under the “My Recommendations” tab, you will see the status of the recommendation request change from “Pending” to “Complete”.

What if I do not want to provide a recommendation for the applicant?
Please log into the system, go to the “My Recommendations” tab and click the “Decline” button next to each recommendation request.

Question: What are the qualifications for being a fellow?
Answer: The program is open to anyone who will be at least 20 years of age and a graduate from a university or four-year college by September 1, 2013. No preference is given to type of major or how recently the applicant has graduated. Individuals with advanced degrees and those in mid-career are encouraged to apply.

NOTE: The Capital Fellows Programs do not meet the requirements for a F-1 or J-1 visa.

Question: Do I have to have my four year degree at the time I apply?
Answer: No.  You must obtain your degree by September 1, 2013. All incoming fellows must provide proof of graduation from a university or four-year college prior to the start of the fellowship.

Question: How much does G.P.A. weigh in on your decision of who is accepted?
Answer: Although your G.P.A. is important, it is only one consideration among many that selection committees weigh.

Question: Do you have to be enrolled at Sacramento State in order to apply for a fellowship?
Answer: No. Anyone with a four-year degree from an accredited institution may apply.

Question: Are the Capital Fellows required to take the Graduate Record Examination (GRE)?
Answer: No.

Question: Are applicants already pursuing an M.A. degree evaluated on a different basis?
Answer: No, the only educational requirement for the programs is completion of a baccalaureate degree.

Question: I am interested in the fellowship opportunities and as a law school graduate I’m curious if there are legal-specific opportunities. I recognize that graduate students are encouraged to apply, but I would be particularly interested in making use of my legal degree.
Answer: Law school graduates have put their legal training to use in each of the four programs, and fellows are matched to placements that best utilize their education and skills. However, a specifically legal-related work assignment is not guaranteed.

Question: Since the transcripts do not have to be official, will a printout from the university website of my academic record be sufficient?
Answer: Yes. You can submit internet-generated transcripts as long as your name is included as part of the transcript.  Transcripts are submitted online as part of your application.

Question: I studied abroad last fall, and my transcript for that semester will not be available before the application deadline. Thus, my current academic work will not be reflected on the university transcript included in my application. What should I do?
Answer: If the transcript is not available, please notify the Center for California Studies at (916) 278-6906 or calstudies@csus.edu.

Question: I am a Permanent Resident, but not a citizen. Can I still apply?
Answer: Yes. Please see the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services website for further clarification.

Question: Do you accept international students or non-US citizens?
Answer: Yes, but note, since program participants are both graduate students and employees of the university, fellows must be either U.S. residents or have obtained a visa to work in the United States. Providing documentation of eligibility to work is the responsibility of the applicant; the University is not able to help with this process. Eligibility documentation must be provided prior to the personal interview.

The Capital Fellows Programs do not meet the requirements for a F-1 or J-1 visa.

Question: I am very interested in learning about the California government, but have never lived or studied in California. Will this affect my chances of being accepted?
Answer: No.  Applicants need not be residents or have studies in California.  However, applicants should be able to demonstrate knowledge of and a commitment to the state. 

Question: I have been accepted into Law School for this fall, but I would really like to defer my enrollment for one year and pursue a fellowship. Is an early departure from a program acceptable?
Answer: Fellows commit to remain in their placements until the program concludes; however, it is possible to make arrangements with the program director for an early departure necessitated by enrollment in an academic program the following fall.

Question: What is the public transportation system in Sacramento?
Answer: Sacramento Regional Transit (RT) has a bus line service and a light rail system that serves the greater Sacramento area. Visit www.sacrt.com for more details.

Question: Is there transportation aid for the fellows?
Answer: As Sacramento State employees, fellows are eligible to purchase a Sacramento Regional Transit District pass (valid through December 31) for a fee of $10. When fellows are enrolled as students in the spring, they are eligible to use local public transportation free of charge. Required program-related travel costs for the Judicial Administration Fellowship (a statewide program) are paid by the program.

Question: Does the fellowship provide housing options at Sacramento State or any off-campus locations?
Answer: No. Fellows are responsible for arranging their own housing. Current fellows are always a good resource and often fellows share housing with others in their class. Sacramento has many desirable neighborhoods and, in comparison with the Bay Area or parts of L.A., rent is typically more affordable.

Question: I would rather do my fellowship outside of Sacramento. Is this possible?
Answer:The Judicial Administration Program places Fellows in selected courts across California, and all Assembly, Executive and Senate Fellows work in Sacramento.

Question: Since I would earn credit at Sacramento State does that mean that I am enrolled in a graduate program at Sacramento State?
Answer:Upon acceptance into the program, fellows are automatically enrolled as unclassified graduate students at Sacramento State. A portion of the units earned may be applied to graduate programs upon completion of the fellowship. There is no standard rule, and units are accepted by graduate schools on a case-by-case basis.

Executive and Judicial Administration Fellows earn graduate credits through the Department of Public Policy and Administration; Assembly and Senate Fellows earn graduate credits through the Department of Government.

Question: I would like to submit an application for the fellowship, but I am currently abroad. Can I still apply?
Answer: Yes. The entire application must be completed and submitted online.

Question: When do applicants receive notification of their selection for interviews?
Answer: Invitations to interview will generally be sent April.

Question: When and where are the interviews? Is it possible to interview for multiple fellowships?
Answer: Interviews for all four programs generally take place in late April/early May (Sacramento interviews take generally place during the last week of April and Los Angeles interviews take place during the first week of May). It is possible to interview with more than one program and every effort will be made to coordinate your interview times.

Question: With the interviews taking place late April/early May, they may conflict with final exams week and/or commencement weekend. What can be done to accommodate for this?
Answer: All interviews must be conducted during the two interview periods. There are no exceptions.

Question: Is an in-person interview required for those applicants who are invited to interview or can it be conducted by teleconference?
Answer: Applicants who pass the paper screen must interview in person in either Sacramento or Los Angeles. No phone or teleconference interviews are conducted.

Question: Is it possible to defer your placement as a Capital Fellow?
Answer: No. Once the position is offered to you, you must decide to accept or decline for the current year.