The fellowship

Two years.
One clear direction.

A structured two-year program that moves from foundational professionalization to substantive career development — with mentorship built into every step.

Two tracks. One fellowship.

Each year of the Opus Society fellowship has a distinct programmatic focus. Year One builds the floor. Year Two builds the future.

Year One

Foundation Track

Building the professional floor.

Fellows develop the skills, vocabulary, and awareness to compete for public service opportunities — regardless of major. By the end of Year One, every Opus Fellow knows what they're aiming for and has a concrete plan to get there.

  • Resume and LinkedIn tailored to government and policy roles
  • Federal internship and fellowship pipeline overview
  • Professional networking and communication skills
  • Introduction to the DC career landscape and key institutions
  • 1-on-1 mentorship with an Executive Board member
  • One substantive deliverable per semester
Year Two

Accelerator Track

Translating preparation into outcomes.

Fellows develop a career niche, pursue competitive opportunities, and build a real professional network before junior year. Year Two is where the work of Year One becomes concrete — applications submitted, connections made, directions set.

  • Career track specialization and targeted mentorship
  • Competitive fellowship application support (Truman, Rangel, Pickering, Udall)
  • Policy memo and briefing document writing
  • Alumni and professional speaker series
  • Washington D.C. or state capital exposure trip (subject to funding)
  • Capstone deliverable: policy brief or professional portfolio

Structured. Intentional. Built in.

Most organizations offer networking opportunities. Opus Society assigns a mentor, sets a meeting cadence, and ties deliverables to that relationship. The result is mentorship that actually works — because it's required to.

1

Matching

Every incoming Opus Fellow is matched with an Executive Board member based on career track interest and goals.

2

Cadence

Mentor-fellow pairs meet at minimum twice per month. Meetings are logged and tracked by the Director of Mentorship.

3

Deliverables

Each semester, fellows complete a substantive deliverable — a memo, application, or briefing — developed in partnership with their mentor.

4

Alumni network

Fellows who complete the program become Opus Alumni — invited back as mentors, speakers, and connectors for future cohorts.

When to apply.

Applications open each fall. The process is intentionally straightforward — we want to evaluate potential, not polish.

Late August

Applications open

The application goes live. Involvement fair tabling and outreach begins across campus. Interest form available for those who want early notice.

Mid-September

Applications close

Deadline for the Fall cohort. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis — applying early is encouraged.

Late September

Decisions sent

All applicants are notified. Accepted fellows receive onboarding materials and a welcome from the Executive Board.

October

Fellowship begins

Orientation, mentor matching, and the first cohort session. The Foundation Track is underway.

November

Executive Board elections

The incoming Executive Board is elected. Transitions occur before the spring semester begins.