Cover
Letter Information
Welcome
to Natural History's on-line internship application
process. Here is information about preparing and
submitting a cover letter for your Smithsonian
internship.
Click
here - - Cover
Letter On-line Form - - to go directly to
the location to prepare and submit a Cover
Letter.
MORE
INFORMATION
If
you have questions about preparing and submitting
a cover letter, here you will find some answers
to commonly asked questions.
-
Why is a cover letter required?
-
What should be included
in the cover letter?
-
How long should the cover
letter be?
-
What are the technical
notes about adding text to the on-line form?
WHY
IS THE COVER LETTER REQUIRED?
The
most critical part of the application materials
required for petition to participate in the Research
Training Program is the cover letter. Here
is where reviewers evaluating and ranking RTP
applications glean the most information to separate
candidates.
This one-page letter provides an opportunity for
applicants to define their interest in participating
in the program, include pertinent information
not requested in the application form, and offer
insight into their natural history background
and interests. The cover letter must be prepared
in English by the applicant, and be an accurate
reflection of their written communication skills.
The cover letter should not be a recording of
facts already included in the application form
and a resume may not be substituted for the cover
letter requirement.
WHAT
SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN THE COVER LETTER?
The
RTP cover letter may include details about the
applicant excluded from the other application
materials, such as:
- special
interests
- career
plans
- life
goals
- motivation
for applying for participation in the RTP
- intellectual
development influences
The
cover letter is also a good opportunity for applicants
to discuss the educational and cultural opportunities
they have been exposed to and the ways in which
these experiences (or lack of) have affected their
life and career goals.
RTP reviewers are particularly interested in why
each applicant wants to participate in the RTP
and what individuals hope to gain by participating
in this program. There are many interesting and
worthwhile research opportunities available to
undergraduates. Reviewers want to know from each
applicant:
- "Why
do you want to invest one of your few, and very
valuable, summers during your undergraduate
career participating in this particular program?"
- "What
resources and research expertise can Smithsonian
scientists and facilities contribute toward
your career aspirations?"
COVER
LETTER LENGTH
The
cover letter should be no more than one page long.
There is no word count limit or suggestion. Applicants
are encouraged to use their best discretion in
interpreting these general guidelines. The cover
letter should be concise, yet include necessary
information for reviewers to successfully evaluate
the applicant.
TECHNICAL
NOTES ABOUT ADDING TEXT TO THE ON-LINE FORM
To
submit your cover letter please send as an e-mail
attachment. The subject of the e-mail must read
"RTP '09 Application Document Submission."
RTP
HOW TO APPLY:
The Application Procedure
- Check
requirements
- (program dates, application deadlines, etc.).
- Select
a Project Advisor - information
and advisor list.
- Prepare
a Cover Letter - information and on-line
form.
You are HERE. To continue select the next option.
- Prepare
the RTP Application Form -
information and on-line
form.
- Select
two References - information and on-line
recommendation form.
