John A. Golden ’66 Fellowship

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This prestigious fellowship provides summer internship funding, in addition to advising, programmatic, and financial support for students interested in pursuing law school or medical school. 

The application for the 2026 Golden Fellowship is open for sophomores and juniors until 11:59 p.m. on January 7, 2026.

Apply now

To be eligible to apply, students must have a résumé that is certified for the current academic year. Schedule an advising appointment and review our résumé guide in the Career Services Toolkit. Applicants may also download a preview of the application questions.

Join the virtual information session on January 5, 2026, to learn more.

Applications will be evaluated on the following criteria:

1) Clarity of purpose and active steps toward career interest,
2) Articulation of leadership potential,
3) Articulation of alignment with fellowship goals
4) Essay originality, organization, and writing quality
 

Applicants will be notified of their interview status by January 15. Virtual 20-minute interviews will take place from January 20–22, 2026.

About the Fellowship

Established in 2006 by John A. Golden ’66 and the Golden Family Foundation, Golden Fellows are selected on a competitive basis for their interest in pursuing law school or medical school, demonstrated leadership potential, and the ability to maintain a GPA of 3.4 or higher.

Qualified sophomores and juniors are encouraged to apply. Students maintain membership in this cohort — including access to the benefits listed below — throughout their remaining enrollment at Colgate as long as their GPA and career interests align with the Golden Fellowship.

Meet the current Golden Fellows
Read about the 2025–26 Golden Fellows on Colgate News

Benefits of the Golden Fellowship

  • Financial: Fellows receive support for un/underpaid internships, admission test (LSAT, MCAT) preparation services, costs related to the graduate admission process, and travel costs associated with off-campus Golden Fellowship events.
  • Advising: Fellows participate in individual and group advising designed and timed to increase a student's clarity of career direction and competitiveness for professional school admission.
  • Programmatic: Fellows are leaders on campus and work with pre-professional advisers and each other to bring interdisciplinary programming and new ideas to the Colgate community. Additionally, fellows take advantage of events featuring industry leaders, alumni, and deans of admission.

Selection and Application

The application requires:

  • A short essay describing the student's interest in law or medicine.
  • A copy of one's unofficial transcript. Please follow the format for unofficial transcripts outlined in Career Services' toolkit
  • A resume certified by Career Services during the 2025-2026 academic year.
  • Students must be currently enrolled at Colgate or participating in an approved off-campus study program (including Colgate study groups) to be eligible for selection.

 

Applications will be reviewed by the Golden Fellowship Committee. Candidates who are selected to advance will be invited to interview with the committee. All candidates will be notified of their outcome in this process.

Please note: applicants with an interest in attending law school and medical school (Allopathic or Osteopathic) will be evaluated equally. 

Please address any questions to James Reed (jareed@colgate.edu) or Whitney Harper (wharper@colgate.edu) in Career Services.

Listen

Join John Golden ’66 for a conversation about the Golden Fellowship at Colgate University.