Apply to Become a Writing Center Fellow
Writing Center Fellows are Princeton undergraduate and graduate students who work one-on-one with student writers. If you’re an excellent academic writer who enjoys giving feedback to other writers, especially on macro issues such as developing an argument and organizing ideas, a position as a Writing Center Fellow may be for you. You’ll have the chance to affect students’ academic lives in positive and meaningful ways. Perhaps as important, you’ll get the chance to hone your teaching skills—and your own writing skills—as you serve the University community.
Freshmen, sophomores, juniors, and all graduate students are invited to apply. We’re looking for representation from the full range of disciplines in the humanities, social sciences, and sciences and engineering. Since this is the best job on campus – not that we’re biased – competition for positions is fierce.
Application Deadline: Thursday, April 4, 2013, at 5:00 p.m.
Responsibilities
- Participate in an intensive two-day initial training session in September 2012.
- Attend monthly workshops and participate in other ongoing training activities throughout the year.
- Work with student writers for 50 hours total per semester. This usually means working 3 or 4 hours per week while classes are in session, with additional hours during periods of peak demand. During a typical semester those busy periods include Week 4, Week 7, Week 12, Reading Period, and (for Graduate Fellows) the weeks leading up to JP and Senior Thesis deadlines.
- Complete a report after each conference for the Writing Center’s confidential records.
- Assist with publicity efforts.
Note: Serving as a Writing Center Fellow is a serious, full-year commitment that requires dedication and time. Please consider your academic and extracurricular commitments before applying.
Pay Rates
Undergraduates: The position is “Grade I” on the student pay scale ($14.80/hr in AY13).
Graduate Students: The hourly wage is $17.
All time spent on the Writing Center responsibilities outlined above, including attending workshops and meetings, is compensated at these rates.
Application Process
E-mail your application to writing2@princeton.edu no later than 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, April 4. Late applications will not be considered.
Your application should consist of the following:
- A letter explaining your interest in serving as a Writing Center Fellow and reflecting in detail on your experience working with other students on their writing. Please address your letter to Keith Shaw, Associate Director, Princeton Writing Program.
- Your resume or c.v.
- A copy of your internal transcript from SCORE (unofficial version as a pdf).
- A 5-10 page sample of your academic writing (may be excerpted from a longer paper).
- Optional: A sample of written feedback you’ve provided to a peer writer. Rising sophomores might choose to submit a letter composed for a Writing Seminar draft workshop, but any form of written feedback is welcome.
Applications will be reviewed during April, and finalists will be invited for interviews in late April and early May. Hiring decisions will be made in late May. In past years, the large pool of candidates has made the hiring process highly competitive. We’re grateful for your enthusiasm!
Questions? Contact Keith Shaw at kmshaw@princeton.edu.
