And what about the fellowship itself?
"The fellowship program provides fellows an opportunity for a focused and disciplined year of their own devising—a period in which they can have some surcease from the lockstep of prescribed educational and career paths in order to explore a particular interest thoroughly. During their year abroad, fellows have an unusual, sustained, and demanding opportunity to take stock of themselves, to test their aspirations and abilities, to view their lives and American society in greater perspective, and to develop a more informed sense of international concern.
Administered in cooperation with fifty outstanding private colleges and universities throughout the United States, the Watson Fellowship provides a grant of $25,000 to each recipient. (Fellows whose spouse or dependent child will accompany them may be eligible for a grant of $35,000.) In addition, the fellowship program will supply, as a supplement to the stipend, an amount equal to twelve-months' payment of eligible federally guaranteed and/or institutional student loans issued in the fellow's name. The purpose of the loan program is to help ease the financial burden of Watson Fellows during their fellowship year, and to provide encouragement for all students, regardless of student loan debt, to apply for Watson Fellowships."
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