Frequently Asked Questions
1. Who are Coro Fellows?
Coro Fellows are bright, self-motivated men and women who are committed to public service. Fellows come from all academic disciplines, careers, and racial, ethnic, and socio-economic backgrounds with demonstrated leadership potential, concern for the well-being of communities, and civic involvement. Recent classes have ranged in age from 22 to 58.
Meet the 2008-2009 Coro NY Fellows (pdf) »
Meet the 2007-2008 Coro NY Fellows (pdf) »
Meet the 2006-2007 Coro NY Fellows (pdf) »
2. What kinds of organizations do Fellows work with?
Through the course of the nine-month program, Coro Fellows are engaged full-time in a series of individually tailored field placements in a variety of sectors: business, labor, government, non-profit/philanthropy, political campaigns, and an independent placement chosen by the Fellow. The high level of access available to all Fellows ensures a remarkable behind-the-scenes view of boardrooms, strategy meetings, and negotiating sessions.
Last year, Fellows were hosted by such organizations as the Office of the Bronx Borough President, Goldman Sachs & Co., Service Employees International Union (SEIU), Polo Ralph Lauren, the Citizens Union, the NYC Department of Youth and Community Development, and Open Society Institute.
See a list of past field placement hosts »
3. What do Seminars, Focus Weeks and Interviews entail?
Each week, New York Fellows meet on Tuesday evening and all day Friday for seminars. In seminars, Fellows are introduced to a number of tools that sharpen key skills, such as public speaking, communicating, and facilitating. They also provide a forum for critical issues facing individual participants, the collective group or the public affairs arena at-large. In addition, Fellows use the time to examine and discuss their sector placements and issues affecting the city, such as education, health care, or the budget.
Interspersed between placements are Focus Weeks, where Fellows engage in concentrated examinations of a particular sector or issue that is relevant to the public affairs arena. During these weeks, Fellows explore such issues as public finance, communication, state government, media, and federal government through experiential learning, interviews, discussions, and projects.
In addition to seminars and focus weeks, interviews with prominent leaders in the public affairs arena add yet another vital dimension to the Fellows Program. From members of Congress to CEO's of Fortune 500 companies to grassroots community members, these interviews provide Fellows with the rare opportunity to explore the motivation, method and logic of leaders. Interviews also facilitate their development of disciplined inquiry and observation skills, along with a host of other valuable skills to apply in their future public, private and non-profit sector careers.
Read a recent Media Focus Week schedule (pdf) »
4. What do Fellows do after they graduate?
Recent alumni have gone on to pursue careers in private consulting, government, education, corporate enterprises, media outlets, non-profit agencies and more. Others have gone on to complete their graduate studies in Public Policy (MPA), Business Administration programs (MBA), law (JD), and even medicine (MD).
Notable alumni of the Fellows Program include Senator Dianne Feinstein (CA-D), Congressman Jerry Lewis (CA-R), Helen Dewar of the Washington Post, Center for Court Innovation Executive Director Greg Berman, Global Strategy Group partner Jeffrey Plaut, and Gene Siskel, former Chicago Tribune film critic.
Read about one grad after the Fellows Program »
5. Can international students apply to the Fellows Program in Public Affairs?
While the Fellows Program is open to individuals of all backgrounds and nationalities, Coro does not provide visa assistance, residency or other sponsorship to foreign nationals. Upon request, Coro will supply documentation of a Fellow’s participation in the program to facilitate his/her independent appeal for legal residence, citizenship or other legal immigrant status. However, at this time we are unable to offer direct support in making such arrangements on behalf of international applicants.
6. What financial aid is available to Fellows?
Certain Coro centers waive the $3500 tuition in part or in full, excluding a $350 deposit. Fellows are awarded stipends based on documented financial need. Other forms of assistance may include tuition and student loan deferment, subsidized housing, and health coverage options, depending on the center.
Candidates do not need to apply for financial aid with their full applications. Those who are invited to participate in the daylong assessment in March at one of the five Coro centers will be asked to submit a financial aid form to qualify for stipends and other benefits on that day.
Coro also has partnerships with a number of graduate programs, including the Milano Graduate School of Management and Urban Policy at the New School University, the Heinz School of Public Policy and Management at Carnegie Mellon University, and the George Warren Brown School of Social Work at Washington University, offering graduates of the Fellows Program benefits ranging from automatic admission to credits toward a degree and scholarships.
Read more in the Financial Fact Sheet (pdf) »
7. What do I need to apply?
Get started today by filling out the pre-application form. By submitting this form, you will not only get a head-start on the full application, but you will also automatically sign up for the mailing list to receive periodic information on the Coro Fellows Program, including when the full application will be available. The full application consists of 3 essays, 3 letters of recommendation, a resume, official transcripts, and an application fee. Visit www.coro.org/fellowsapp to learn more about applying to the Coro Fellows Program.
8. Who should I ask to serve as a recommender for my Fellows Program application?
The three letters of recommendation for each applicant to the Fellows Program are classified under separate categories – professional, academic, and community reference – to ensure a diversity of perspectives and testimonies for each candidate’s application. However, these classifications are simply a guideline and not a requirement. Examples of recommenders are professors, current or past work supervisors, advisors to a club or organization you have been involved with, a team coach, and partners from a community impact project in which you have taken part.
If you are able to obtain a stronger recommendation from, for example, a second professional or academic reference in place of a community reference, a substitution is acceptable. However, with the purpose of these separate reference categories in mind, each recommendation should present a distinct and unique perspective of your skills and capabilities – one that does not simply echo those of your other two references.
9. Where can I find more information?
Learn more about the Fellows Program at www.coro.org or email recruitny@coro.org if you have any questions.
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