Step-by-step graduate admissions and funding guidance
Developed by ProFellow Founder, Dr. Vicki Johnson
The 2026 Fully Funded Course provides step-by-step guidance on the graduate school admissions and funding process for U.S. master's or doctoral programs through a self-paced, fully recorded course with video modules, workbooks, exercises, and templates. Course members can also book individual advising sessions with our coaches at up to 40% public pricing—book as needed! This affordable, flexible admissions course gives you the support you need to succeed.
See the online course curriculum below.
How It Works
Receive Step-by-Step Guidance Through Our Online Course
Receive immediate access to our self-paced 12-module (Master's Applicant) or 15-module (Doctorate Applicant) Fully Funded online course. The course provides step-by-step video guidance — plus workbooks, templates, and exercises — to help you apply successfully to top graduate schools with funding.
1:1 Coaching & Application Review Sessions at Special Pricing
Course members can purchase 1:1 mentoring sessions and application review sessions as needed with course creator and national admissions expert Dr. Vicki Johnson and our experienced coaches. Fully Funded Course members receive up to 50% off public pricing for individual advising.
Apply Confidently to Top Master's or Doctoral Programs Offering Funding
Our admissions strategies have been tested and proven for nearly a decade and have resulted in hundreds of success stories and full funding offers. This year's options are more affordable and flexible than ever! Now is the time to join and receive the guidance you need to enter graduate school with funding.
2026 Fully Funded Online Course Curriculum
Module 1: Set Up For Success
Success Framework, Winner's Mindset and Goal Setting
- Learn the MATCH ME Formula®, the 7 elements of a winning application
- Identify your major motivations for graduate school and your next career steps
- Embody winner's mindset, a key factor for success
- Learn the graduate school application steps and set goals using our Roadmap
Module 2: Find Best Fit Graduate Programs
Find Programs Suited to Your Career Goals
- Learn the academic pre-requisites for master's and doctorate programs in your field
- Determine how to find programs that are the best fit for your academic and professional background and career goals
- Learn how to research programs to prioritize schools based on your factors of importance, like program format, ranking, funding availability, and more
Module 3: Find Funding Options for You
Find Full Funding Opportunities & Fellowships
- Learn the HUGE funding differences between professional and research-based graduate programs, as well as on-campus and online programs
- Find 5 or more graduate programs in your field that offer FULL funding to all accepted applicants (awards and Assistantships valued at $40K to $400K+)
- Identify significant graduate fellowships and how to prepare for early fellowship deadlines
Module 4: Program Mission Research
Get Inside the Mind of the Selection Committee
- Learn how to identify what each school selection committee is really looking for in candidates
- Do your 3 step investigative background research on each program of interest
- Key questions to ask Admissions as you research programs
Module 5: Resume & CV Revamp
Prepare your Academic CV for Graduate Admissions
- Learn the key differences between professional resumes and academic CVs, and which to use for your applications
- Tailor your CV for each opportunity to create a stand-out document
- Learn how to update and leverage your LinkedIn profile and network for graduate school admissions
Module 6: PhD Faculty Outreach
(Doctorate Applicant Course Only)
Find and Network with Potential PhD Advisors
- Why faculty outreach is critical to PhD applicant success
- Learn how to find your dream faculty advisor and discover ideal PhD programs
- Email faculty and get a response, using our guidance and tested templates
Module 7: Winning Application Outline
Outline Your Winning Application Story for Each Program
- Apply the MATCH ME Formula® to outline your inspirational application story for each program
- Write your Perfect Candidate Bio
- Execute low-touch, high-impact networking strategies to strengthen your candidacy
Module 8: Personal Statements
Nail Your Pitch In Writing: The Personal Statement
- Learn our 5-Part Personal Statement Framework, the anatomy of a winning personal statement
- Complete unique writing exercises to choose the right opening story
- Nail every selection committee question within your word count
Module 9: PhD Statement of Purpose
(Doctorate Applicant Course Only)
Prepare an Exceptional Statement of Purpose / Dissertation Research Proposal
- Express your potential as a scholar, even when you have little to no research experience
- Learn how to summarize the literature, choose an appropriate research method, and effectively format your proposal to quell all selection committee questions
- Learn how to write a Statement of Purpose that addresses both your research proposal and personal background and career goals
Module 10: Create a Diversity Statement
Express Your Diversity in an Essay
- For applicants of all demographic backgrounds, learn how to express your diversity using our 3-part framework
- Updated guidance based on how the new Affirmative Action ban (2024) has impacted U.S. graduate admissions
Module 11: Recommendation Letters
Get Detailed Recommendation Letters that Stand Out
- Learn why an excellent recommendation letter is within your control
- Use our guidance and email templates to make your recommendation letter requests, even to people you have not spoken to in years
- Prepare your referee to create letters that are detailed and submitted on time
Module 12: Review & Submit 5+ Applications
How to Polish Your Applications & Submit on Time
- Use our guidance to get helpful feedback from your reviewers
- Know when to stick with your "gut"
- Submit your application by the early deadlines and celebrate your success
Module 13: The "Zing" Factor
Give Yourself (Another) Edge AFTER You Submit Your Applications
- Apply the “Zing” factor (our secret sauce!) to give your application an edge, even after you submit your applications
- Hone your verbal pitch for upcoming interviews
Module 14: Prepare for Interviews
(Doctorate Applicant Course Only)
Interview Secrets of Successful Candidates
- Learn what doctorate selection committees are looking for
- Prepare with these 3 things before your interview
- Respond like a pro when you get stumped with a question
- Nail the individual, panel, and group interviews
Module 15: Negotiate Your Offer
Negotiate Your Funding Offers & Off Wait Lists
- Learn how to increase your university funding offers by $5,000 to $50,000
- Prepare for funding negotiations like a pro
- Use our tested email templates and guidance tailored to your first and second choice schools
The MATCH ME Formula®
In this program, four-time Fellow Dr. Vicki Johnson teaches her award-winning MATCH ME Formula®: the 7 elements of a winning graduate school or fellowship application.
- Memorable
- Aligns with the program's mission
- Timely and urgent
- Capitalizes on the program's unique benefits
- Highly specific
- Mutually beneficial
- Elegant
The Fully Funded Course is the only graduate admissions course in the world where you can learn how to apply the MATCH ME Formula® to develop a winning application to top graduate schools and achieve full funding.
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