About two years ago, in November 2022, Open AI burst into our lives with the unveiling of ChatGPT. That was the year when many of us realised the full potential of artificial intelligence, for better and for worse. 

As is always the case when humanity unlocks a new technology, it becomes evident that the problem isn’t actually the tool itself but how it’s used. And if it were up to people like Jan Carbonell alone, artificial intelligence couldn’t be in better hands. As far as Jan’s concerned, AI can improve people's lives and his aim is to help democratise it, so that everyone can learn how to use it and apply it in their own fields. 

In fact, helping people is what drives Jan. He did so at the height of the pandemic when he and his team were involved in creating the first officially approved low-cost ventilator for COVID-19 patients. He did so when he founded the non-profit organisation Saturdays.ai and also when he wrote this letter to help potential fellows apply for a postgraduate fellowship abroad. 

Dear future fellow,

First of all, congratulations on deciding to apply for a "la Caixa" Foundation fellowship! Over the next few years you’ll have one of the most enriching and life-changing experiences at both a professional and personal level. The purpose of this letter is to share a few tips based on my own experiences during this time, so you can make the most of this opportunity. And if you’re still deciding whether the programme’s right for you, I hope these words will help you make an informed decision.

Due to my own background in industrial engineering, startups and programming, I’ve written these recommendations with technology and business students in mind. However, I’ve seen how the programme has also helped a large number of my scientific colleagues and people from other backgrounds in fields as diverse as art, law and sport. But here I’m going to focus solely on my own experience and how "la Caixa" Foundation has helped me, from the moment I entered the programme until I graduated from Cornell Tech (NYC). I’ve been able to enjoy the opportunity to study in the United States largely thanks to the advice of other fellows and the help given by Belén and Elsa, from the Fellowship programme, in our day-to-day lives.

Here's an outline of how I plan to structure this letter. I’ll summarise each of the stages of the application process and, at the same time, tell you about the three most important lessons learned at each stage: 

• What have you done so far and what are your goals? This part concerns self-discovery and defining objectives that are in line with your values and goals in order to apply for the fellowship.
• How to choose the university that best suits what you want to do. Once you’ve been awarded a fellowship, it’s important to compare programmes and choose the best university for you.
• How to enjoy and take advantage of all the opportunities offered by the programme. Tips on how to enjoy your time as a fellow and continue your personal and professional growth.
   

PHASE 1
Prepare yourself to apply for the fellowship and tell your story: what have you done so far and what are your goals?

The application process for a "la Caixa" Foundation fellowship can seem daunting and, in fact, you may not be successful the first time you apply - as happened to me. However, there are several things you can do to try to stand out among the candidates. Here are some key steps:

• Statement of Purpose: this is perhaps the most important part of the process and is very similar to the letters you have to prepare later for American universities. 

My advice is that you should be able to convey your story, your professional achievements and why you’ve chosen that particular university both clearly and convincingly. Explain how you’re uniquely qualified to address a specific problem and how you’ll apply what you’ve learned when you return to Spain. I’d recommend spending a good deal of time reflecting on your achievements and your academic and professional goals, and how the fellowship will help you reach them. Try writing to the lecturers on the programmes you’re interested in and their areas of interest. In a world where anyone can use ChatGPT, being authentic, clear and concise can help.

• Letters of recommendation: it’s important for each letter to highlight different aspects of your ability, character and potential based on the academic and professional experience of each person writing a letter of recommendation for you. Learn from my mistake and avoid asking for letters of recommendation at the last minute.
• Interviews: if you make it to the interview stage, you have to prepare two things: be ready to summarise your Statement of Purpose and to defend the reason why you’re doing the programme or the problem you want to resolve. Interviews are in English. You can also ask other fellows to do mock interviews with you or to tell you how they did it in their day – then just be yourself and the best of luck!

STAGE 2
You've been selected: now what? How do you choose the university that best suits what you want to do?

Once you’ve been selected for the fellowship, the next step is to choose the university that’s most in line with your academic and career goals. Having the fellowship helps when applying to universities, so don't hesitate to aim as high as you want. Each application will require time and adaptations. It’s highly advisable to apply before the deadlines because of how universities handle rolling admissions. 

Here are some tips for this stage:

1. Investigate different academic programmes: look at the programmes, talk to former students and try to get to grips with the particular features of each programme. In the United States, they’re very good at marketing; they’re the ones who have to sell you the programme once it fits your profile. Draw up a list to compare the positive and negative points of each programme. Gauge the outcomes and the experiences and feelings of former students when talking to Admissions. It’s also a great idea to talk to any "la Caixa" Foundation fellows who’ve already done the programme as they’ll give you an honest account of their experience and can write good letters of recommendation. 
2. Location and culture: consider the trade-off between geographical location, academic quality and university culture. One good example of this contrast is the different experiences offered by Columbia and Cornell Tech (NYC) or Harvard and MIT (Boston) despite both being in the same city. There are also universities that are located in cities where people don’t tend to stay after their fellowship but they offer the best programmes in their fields (such as CMU for computer science and Wharton for finance).
3. Visit the campus in person: going for an in-person visit is expensive but it’s well worth it for two reasons. The first is that you’ll be able to see the marketing first hand. The second is that, if you organise a tour of several universities, the Admissions departments of each university will realise that you’re looking at several options and they’ll try to give you an answer regarding your application.

STAGE 3
You’ve arrived at your destination: how do you enjoy and take full advantage of all the opportunities offered by the programme?

Finally, once you’ve chosen your university and settled in, it’s important for you to enjoy the experience and make the most of your stay in the United States. I recommend you focus particularly on the following: 

1. Internships and work: work is highly valued in the United States. This can be subdivided into who you work for and what you work on. Doing an internship at a renowned company (e.g. FAANG) will open a lot of doors to you and the same thing can happen if you get an internship with a university professor with a good reputation. You’ll be competing with all the other students in this process so make sure you spend time preparing for the interviews. For example, in terms of software you must know how to do medium-hard LeetCode. Don't hesitate to write to former fellows with a startup in the sector, for example Toni Rosiñol from StackAI. They know you’re talented and will try to help out, even if they can't actually offer you a job in their firm.
2. Networking: it’s very important to be able to establish a network as soon as you arrive in the United States. Meritocracy is much more highly valued here, so pay particular attention to getting good grades, answering emails and offering value before you ask for it. The good thing is that, if you do things right, your lecturers or alumni contacts won’t hesitate to help you with whatever you need. 
3. Cultural immersion: take the chance to explore events in your host city and to bond with other fellows or students from your university. The American experience is more intense than we’re used to, especially if you live on campus. You'll be able to make great friends and study with eminent people in your field - enjoy this unique experience!
    

One example of this experience was how we got to sing Lose Yourself with Pablo Omeñaca during karaoke with other fellows; we discovered our passion for startups, we did the MIT Sandbox and MIT Fuse programme together, and we both coincided in the summer at an internship on startups for "la Caixa" Foundation fellows in San Francisco (StackAI and Krea.ai)

I hope this letter has given you a better idea of how you can prepare yourself for the application process for a "la Caixa" Foundation fellowship.

Make the most of your opportunities and your time as a "la Caixa" Foundation intern. I'm sure it’ll help you focus on your goals. Don't give in to impostor syndrome and don't hesitate to ask for help whenever you need it. If you've taken the time to read this, I'm sure you deserve to be here. I wish you the very best of luck with your fellowship application and hope you’ll remember to offer your help to future fellows who might need it.

If you have any questions about the application or need help, don't hesitate to email me. And if you're ever in San Francisco, drop me a line and we’ll meet up!

All the best,
Jan Carbonell

This letter from Jan has come to us at the perfect time because the 2025 call for the Postgraduate Fellowships Abroad programme is open right now. If you’re thinking of doing postgraduate studies and would love to do them abroad, you’ve got time to prepare your fellowship application (we recommend you follow Jan's advice) until 5 February 2025 - your talent will take you wherever you want to go!