Eligibility
Learn more about our eligibility requirements.
I am an international student, am I eligible to apply?
International students are eligible to apply only if they are authorized to work in the United States and do not require any visa assistance (Note: Summer Fellowship applicants who have CPT/OPT are eligible). At this time, Education Pioneers and our Partners are unable to sponsor international visas. If your current visa sponsorship allows you to work and participate for the duration of your placement, you are eligible to apply to our program. Please take note that due to our Onboarding process, applicants may only receive two weeks notice before they must start their position.
Do I need a graduate degree to apply?
You do not need a graduate degree to be eligible to apply. However, candidates who have enrolled in or completed a graduate degree typically fare better in our selection process.
I have been rejected from an Education Pioneers Fellowship in a previous year, can I apply again this year?
Yes, you are welcome to apply for an Education Pioneers Fellowship again as long as you are authorized to work in the United States, meet our current eligibility requirements, and have experience in our priority skill areas of data and analysis, strategy and planning, operations, and program and project management. Please keep in mind that the Summer Fellowship and the Impact Fellowship each have two admissions rounds and candidates not advancing in the priority round cannot apply again for the final round of admissions.
Admissions
Learn more about the admissions process for the Summer and Impact Fellowships.
Can I apply to both the Summer and Impact Fellowships?
While you can apply to both, be aware that you would have to participate in and complete two different admissions processes. We strongly encourage you to review the two Fellowships and choose the one that is the best fit for you.
How do I know if you have received my application?
After you submit your application, you'll receive a confirmation and follow-up email that explains the next steps in the process. You can also check the status of your application and continue to find important resources in the Applicant Center.
Is it advantageous to apply during Priority Round?
Our admissions and vetting is comprehensive, and to maximize your opportunities for placement, we highly encourage you to complete and submit your application during our early application windows. Candidates that apply in our priority round typically have the opportunity to go through multiple rounds of Onboarding and learn about potential placements earlier than candidates who apply at our final round deadline.
Do you require references as part of your admissions process?
Yes, we require two references as part of your admissions file. You can provide your references with your initial application or anytime before you complete your In-depth Interview. There is no penalty for submitting your references after submitting your application. We allow this option because we understand that it may take extra time to finalize your reference choices. If Education Pioneers decides to contact your references, we will do so after the In-Depth interview stage of our selection process and candidates will be notified a minimum of 72 hours in advance of your references being contacted.
My resume has changed substantially since I uploaded it, can I re-upload it?
Please reach out to recruiting@educationpioneers.org with your updated resume. We highly encourage all candidates to make sure their resumes are the most up-to-date. Please don't forget to review our "Guide to a Great Resume" to get insight on how to craft an impressive resume.
Onboarding
What is EP's Onboarding process?
EP's Onboarding process consists of matching and placement with the ultimate goal of Finalists confirming a placement with one of our Partners. The Onboarding process includes several steps: As part of Onboarding, Finalists will
- Learn if they've been matched to a project from one of our Partner organizations
- Finalists and Partners will confirm initial alignment to the match and complete interview activities
- Finalists and Partners provide feedback to EP on the interview process
- Partners extend an offer to the Finalist of their choosing
- Placements are confirmed after the Finalist has accepted the Partner organization's offer
After completing the above steps, EP provides support to both Partners and confirmed Fellows to complete any necessary compliance and hiring activities before the start of the Fellowship placement. While it is our hope that all Finalists receive at least one match and have the opportunity to interview with a Partner organization, we, unfortunately, cannot guarantee all Finalists will be matched to a project and furthermore, cannot guarantee that all Finalists will receive an offer from a Partner organization.
What cities do you place Fellows in?
For the 2023 Summer and Impact Fellowships, we will be placing Fellows in the below cities:
- Chicago
- Dallas
- DC Metro Area
- Houston
- San Francisco Bay Area
Does EP offer relocation money to move to my placement location?
Unfortunately, EP is currently not able to help our candidates with relocation efforts.
How long is an EP Summer Fellowship placement?
Summer Fellowship placements are 10 weeks and candidates must be available for full-time work for the duration of the placement.
Summer Fellowship placements start on one of two distinct dates: Monday, June 5, 2023, or Monday, June 12, 2023, and ends on Friday, August 11, 2023, or Friday, August 18, 2023.
How long is an EP Impact Fellowship placement?
Impact Fellowship placements are 10 months, and candidates must be available for full-time work for all 10 months.
Impact Fellowship placements start on one of two distinct dates: Monday, September 25, 2023, or Monday, October 23, 2023.
What are the dates for the professional and leadership development that accompanies EP Fellowships?
Programming for the Summer Fellowship typically runs from early-to-mid June through mid-August and programming for the Impact Fellowship typically runs from fall to late spring. Specific dates will be released prior to the Fellowship placement start dates.
Does being a finalist in the Onboarding process mean I am guaranteed to become a Fellow?
Unfortunately, no. We believe our Finalists have the potential to make a big impact on the education sector; however, becoming a Fellow is contingent on confirming a placement with one of our Partner organizations. We match candidates with projects that we think will be a good fit based on the information we have from you and the needs of our Partners. Finalists and Partner organizations will go through an interview and placement offer process in order to determine a mutual best fit and be confirmed as a Fellow. Not every Finalist will receive matches and not every match will result in a placement.
Miscellaneous
Can I speak to someone at EP on the phone?
To most effectively receive the information you desire, we recommend visiting the EP Applicant Center for resources and answers to your most frequently asked questions. Additionally, you can email us at recruiting@educationpioneers.org to ask your question and request to speak with an EP recruiter.
Can I speak with an EP Alumnus/a?
While we are not set up to facilitate one-off formal interactions, EP alumni are involved in various components of our recruitment, admissions, and onboarding process. As candidates progress through the overall process, there will be structured opportunities to engage and speak with EP alums. For example, as a part of admissions, you will most likely be interviewed by an EP alum - with the opportunity to not only share more about yourself but ask questions of their Fellowship experience. You can also learn more about our alumni here.